Eulogy for Ophelia

      In all my years alive I have never seen a young lady as beautiful as Ophelia. I have also never seen someone as mad as her. Oh dear, what could have caused you to choose death over life. Was it your father's death or a broken heart or was it both. Di you feel guilty over the death of your father. I hear you believed you are the reason you father is dead. You blamed Hamlet's madness on yourself. How could such a beautiful and fair lady put such a burden on her shoulder. I'll tell you who the real culprits are. They are those men who spoke lies into your ears. The en who spoke of Hamlet's madness and blamed it on you. They asked you for so much and then are surprised to see you beneath the ground. They ask you leave a man you love, they ask you to return his things, and they ask you to spy on him. And you like the obedient girl you are listen. You listened until you finally broke and could do anymore. Those are the men that drove you mad.

      Your father's death was a surprise to us all. Please I beg you do not feel guilty about your father's death. It was not your fault, it was Hamlet's madness. Oh, but you say that Hamlet's madness was your fault therefore you are also to blame for your father's death. The only reason you believe that Hamlet's insanity is your fault is because other men had told you so. you perhaps did not know the real reason for his madness. But I cannot blame you because what other reason could you believe to be true when all you ever heard was how Hamlet's madness could be your fault. However, my dearest Ophelia, I cannot fathom that you would just cut your string so easily. Perhaps you fell from that branch and fought your hardest, but then later gave up. But I find that a little difficult to believe. Your father is dead and you believed Hamlet did not love you, but what about your brother? His father died too and you were going to leave him as well? No that cannot be.

      My dear, I cannot explain how deeply your death has impacted me. Throughout the night ans day I think to myself and check off all the reason that led to your death. But there is one part of your death that I could never figure out. I heard of your death from Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. She came to me and explained your death with excruciating detail. How did she know so much? Its as if she were there next to you as your dress was slowly enveloped in water. If she were there, why did she not save you? How could she not save a mad beauty like yourself. This madness of yours was not caused by Hamlet himself but by everyone around you. My dearest Ophelia, you were simply too much of a good girl who could not deal with the consequences of the actions forced upon you. Actions that if you had a say in them would not have happened.