FREE ESSAY ON THE MAIDENHEAD OF OPHELIA

THE MAIDENHEAD OF OPHELIA

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the character of Ophelia is masqueraded as a demure,
innocent, adolescent girl. However, the behavior disguised by this fa?ade is much more
interesting than we are led to believe. Throughout Hamlet, Ophelia is the target of
numerous sexual innuendoes and later the confessor of her own sexual experience. When
these occurrences become apparent, Ophelia no longer holds the virginal qualities we were
once led to believe she possessed.
Ophelia is first portrayed as an innocent, or as her father, Polonius, describes, "a
green girl" (1.3.101). The concern lies not with Ophelia's behavior, but with Hamlet's
lustful desires for her--she is told to see him no more. Polonius then confronts Gertrude
and Claudius, Hamlet's mother and uncle/father, with Hamlet's attempts to seduce his
daughter. As evidence, he has confiscated a love letter written to Ophelia by Hamlet.
Claudius challenges Polonius's accusations by asking, "But how hath she received his
love?" (2.2.127-28). This response is the first implication of the possible absence of
Ophelia's chastity. 
The strongest suggestions toward Ophelia are made by Hamlet, himself. These seem to be
the most significant of any, because if anyone were to know of her purity, or lack of, it
would most likely be Hamlet. He questions Ophelia's honesty and her fairness. He tells
her that "the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd..."
(3.1.111-12). A bawd is a reference to a brothel-keeper. Hamlet declares that he loved
Ophelia once. He warns her that she should not have believed him, because virtue is not
something that can be replaced and they are now tainted. He informs her that he never
loved her. Perhaps the harshest line with a reference to Ophelia's state of virginity is
when Hamlet announces, "Get thee to a nunnery -- why wouldst thou be a breeder of
sinners?" (3.1.119-20). He clearly states that Ophelia is a sinner and any offspring
would be sinners. Hamlet tells her she should "marry a fool" (3.1.134), and that instead
of being honest, she pretends her immorality comes from innocence, rather than
experience. These declarations promptly dissolve the fa?ade surrounding Ophelia, leaving
no questions concerning her maidenhead.
Hamlet continues with the insults, becoming more crude with each. He asks Ophelia if he
should lie his head in her lap. When she declines, he remarks, "That's a fair thought to
lie between maids' legs" (3.2.105). In reference to the play Hamlet has written, Ophelia
asks about the meaning. Hamlet responds, "Ay, or any show that you'll show him. Be not
you ashamed to show, he'll not shame to tell you what it means" (3.2.127). One of the
last innuendoes he has a chance to make was in telling Ophelia that "It would cost you a
groaning to take off mine edge" (3.2.226). Shortly afterwards, Ophelia was driven to
madness.
Ophelia's own confession that she has lost her virginity comes in her state of madness.
She sings, "Then up he rose and donned his clothes / And dupped the chamber door; / Let
in the maid that out a maid / Never departed more" (4.5.52-55). However, the most evident
passage comes shortly after when Ophelia sings, "Young men will do't if they come to't -
/ By Cock they are to blame. / Quoth she, 'Before you tumbled me, / You promised me to
wed.' / He answers -- / So would I ha' done, by yonder sun, / And thou hadst not come to
my bed." Ophelia is talking about the promises Hamlet made to her before she had sex with
him. Since he has told her that he no longer loves her, there is no reason for her to
protect their activities any more. Although in a state of madness, Ophelia has finally
spoken the truth about her relationship with Hamlet. She no longer carries the personae
of an innocent, chaste young girl. 
Upon the first reading of Hamlet, several of these accounts can easily be overlooked.
Yet, when we look at the attitudes of other characters concerning Ophelia, we begin to
notice that there are questions about her actions. Her father, Polonius, seems to think
it is Hamlet's fault. Claudius and Gertrude question Ophelia's character. Hamlet knows
the truth, and speaks of it rather bluntly. Ophelia finally reveals the truth to
everyone. We no longer have a reason to question whether she is virginal or not; she
tells us quite distinctly in her song.