The Depiction of Ophelia's Pregnancy in Hamlet
Ophelia is probably pregnant. There is a bit to suggest the sexual nature of Ophelia and Hamlet’s relationship. Polonius, Ophelia's father suggests this when he asks her about all the time alone she has been spending with Hamlet. “Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you; and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. . .” (1.3.91-94). Here Shakespeares is establishing that the couple does in fact spend a great deal of time alone together which was fairly uncommon for that time period and Polonius was also just being a precatious father, but the details do in fact arise that they spend a lot of time alone together. Ophelia innocently replies, “ My lord, he hath importuned me with love In honourable fashion” (1.3.110-111). Hamlet also suggests the sexual nature of their relations at the end of his soliloquy to her, “The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons
Be all my sins remember'd” (1.3.90-91). Author and literary critic Alex Epstein states, “If Hamlet has importuned Ophelia in honorable fashion, why should his sins be remembered in her prayers? The implication is that they have sinned together.” Again this reinforces that they are most likely sleeping together, and sleeping together has a tendency to lead to pregnancy. Ophelia also demonstrates the likelihood of her pregnancy whilst singing her mad songs after Hamlet has left and Polonius’ death (courtesy of Hamlet). In her deranged stupor she sings of sorrow and betrayed love, “ To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes, And dupp'd the chamber-door; Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more” (4.6. 48-55). Ophelia is most likely speaking of Hamlet and how he essentially left her, the maid, in a simplified song of how a man left a maid after spending the night together. Ophelia gets down to the point even more when she sings, “Quoth she, before you
Be all my sins remember'd” (1.3.90-91). Author and literary critic Alex Epstein states, “If Hamlet has importuned Ophelia in honorable fashion, why should his sins be remembered in her prayers? The implication is that they have sinned together.” Again this reinforces that they are most likely sleeping together, and sleeping together has a tendency to lead to pregnancy. Ophelia also demonstrates the likelihood of her pregnancy whilst singing her mad songs after Hamlet has left and Polonius’ death (courtesy of Hamlet). In her deranged stupor she sings of sorrow and betrayed love, “ To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, All in the morning betime, And I a maid at your window, To be your Valentine. Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes, And dupp'd the chamber-door; Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more” (4.6. 48-55). Ophelia is most likely speaking of Hamlet and how he essentially left her, the maid, in a simplified song of how a man left a maid after spending the night together. Ophelia gets down to the point even more when she sings, “Quoth she, before you