Content Category
Literary Criticism
Abstract/Description
This research paper will discuss the various treatments of a woman's virginity, especially the overvaluing of it as seen in Shakespeare's writing as well as biblical texts. It mostly focuses on the treatment of Ophelia in Hamlet, but it also looks at virginity within a biblical and Renaissance context. One biblical allusion that is made in the play and will be examined is that of Jephthah's daughter as their are many comparisons made to this biblical story. The ancient Israelite laws regarding the punishments associated with taking a women's virginity will also be looked at in order to establish the long tradition of valuing a woman's virginity above all else, even her life. In looking towards a Renaissance tradition of virginity, we look towards the Virgin Queen, Queen Elizabeth and her chaste relationship to her people as a source of power and control. Two textual emendations are looked at that provide alternate readings of Hamlet in regards to Ophelia's sexuality and relationship with Hamlet. The first is found in Polonius' speech found in the first act, scene four with the second coming from a conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia in Act 3 scene 1. Both of these emendations serve to question Ophelia's virginity and confirm the extreme emphasis placed on it. The final conclusion is that Ophelia's virginity is a sign of power and that while she still possesses her virginity she can control her own destiny within the play. It is Ophelia's virginity that condemns those responsible for her death, namely her father Polonius as well as Hamlet.
Copyright and Licensing of My Content
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Origin of Submission
as part of a class
Faculty Involvement
Brandie Siegfried
Bewailing Virginity
This research paper will discuss the various treatments of a woman's virginity, especially the overvaluing of it as seen in Shakespeare's writing as well as biblical texts. It mostly focuses on the treatment of Ophelia in Hamlet, but it also looks at virginity within a biblical and Renaissance context. One biblical allusion that is made in the play and will be examined is that of Jephthah's daughter as their are many comparisons made to this biblical story. The ancient Israelite laws regarding the punishments associated with taking a women's virginity will also be looked at in order to establish the long tradition of valuing a woman's virginity above all else, even her life. In looking towards a Renaissance tradition of virginity, we look towards the Virgin Queen, Queen Elizabeth and her chaste relationship to her people as a source of power and control. Two textual emendations are looked at that provide alternate readings of Hamlet in regards to Ophelia's sexuality and relationship with Hamlet. The first is found in Polonius' speech found in the first act, scene four with the second coming from a conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia in Act 3 scene 1. Both of these emendations serve to question Ophelia's virginity and confirm the extreme emphasis placed on it. The final conclusion is that Ophelia's virginity is a sign of power and that while she still possesses her virginity she can control her own destiny within the play. It is Ophelia's virginity that condemns those responsible for her death, namely her father Polonius as well as Hamlet.