Ophelia

/oʊˈfɪliə/ noun

Definition

A character from Shakespeare's 'Hamlet,' known as a tragic figure who descends into madness.

Etymology

From Greek 'ophelia,' possibly meaning 'help' or 'aid,' though the etymology is debated. Shakespeare created the character in the early 1600s, and her name has become synonymous with tragic female characters since then.

Kelly Says

Ophelia's drowning death has inspired countless paintings and artworks—particularly John Everett Millais's famous 1852 painting—making her arguably one of the most visually represented fictional characters in art history.

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