5/9/2023 0 Comments Raising ophelia![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() There are reasons why there exist more visual representations of Ophelia on the riverbank than Juliet in the tomb. These are themes that can be found again and again within all types of storytelling, as seen in the tale of Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet. The combination of romantic heartbreak, death and youth is undoubtedly an alluring one. A young, beautiful noblewoman who comes oh-so-close close to marrying her prince, but madness and obsession on his part lead to his cruel rejection of her, ultimately leading to her drowning after a branch breaks on the willow tree on which she is reclining. Much of the appeal is, of course, the romantic tragedy of the scenario. Repeatedly, we see one particular version of Ophelia recreated by artists, one which is cemented within the popular imagination and reflected in subsequent pop culture. 1894, oil on canvas by John William Waterhouse (1849–1917) ![]()
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