Ophelia + Water

Photo by Leandro de Maman

I was completely happy in that moment
within the water.

One idea

I had this idea that Ophelia is crazy, actually technically and physically crazy
But it is result of syphilis
Syphilis that Hamlet passed onto her
And she could be saved only if people realized what was wrong, if only they realized she was ill and needed help,
instead of deciding she was crazy and leaving her to be
Ophelia is crazy as a result of other peoples actions

And I decided to research syphilis, read medical journals
Find the syptoms, what they cause the body and mind to do
Use the syptoms, turn them into repetitive actions

Could the repetitive interpretation of a physical/scientific syptom be understood as madness, instead of acting the madness?
just a thought.

Bathtub

Photo source: http://factoidz.com/bath-time-get-in-the-tub/

Photo by Antigoni Spanou

Photo source: http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/country-house-rescue/ruth-watson-s-top-5-tips-for-running-a-country-house-business-08-11-28_p_2.html

In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, it is not made clear whether Ophelia commits suicide or she dies by accident.
What if her death was planned?
What if Ophelia decided to give an end to her life and it took place inside the house, within an object all of us are very familiar with; within a bathtub.
My Ophelia decides to give an end to her life, to experience a watery death. My object of choice is the bathtub.

Images of beauty/death

When down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide;
And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up:
Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes;
As one incapable of her own distress,
Or like a creature native and indued
Unto that element: but long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.

William Shakespeare - Hamlet Act 4, Scene VII

What do we know about Ophelia?

who is she trully, except the object of Hamlet's desire?

what do we really know about her?
we see her fall in love with Hamlet, believing his words, believing in him
we see her lose her mind
we hear her songs
we hear of her death