The Quiet Rain

Calming the raging water,
trying not to drown,
fighting the inevitable,
will not be dragged down.

Dark skies overhead,
another sleepless night,
when I lay down my head,
eyes, closed-shut tight.

Fighting tears, roaring down,
pouring down my face,
to others they make not one sound,
but leave the slightest trace.

This love that she cannot contain,
overwhelming her pounding heart;
but from revealing it, she must refrain.
She can only do her part.

Silently, she must go on,
hoping for the best,
waiting for the coming dawn,
enduring this trying test.

By Heart: A Lamentation for Lost Lost

Inside, my mind is reeling;
My vision is all bent.
A tidal wave of feeling,
my heart left with a dent;
In need of a strong sealing,
releasing me from this never-ending torment.

My heart he's slyly stealing,
with my heart's complete consent.
Yet his love, he is concealing, 
leaving my soul to lament...
A sad song my heart is singing,
its wonted happy tune, the wounds prevent.

All along, I keep wanting, wishing,
for things to be wholly different...

Ophelia and Laertes (her brother) Scene

Ophelia and Laertes: A Brother's Words for Protection
by: bball10ash

Here is a video I made of Laertes warning his sister Ophelia of the poor intentions of Hamlet.  I love Ophelia's response to this warning.  Below is the original script along with a modern translation.  The video is rough, but I am hoping to make an edited version soon.
[A room in the house of Polonius.]
Enter Laertes, and Ophelia, his sister.	Modern Translation:
LAERTES: My necessaries are embark'd. Farewell. And, sister, as the winds give benefit And convoy is assistant, do not sleep, But let me hear from you.	LAERTES: The things I need are all on the ship. Goodbye. And, sister, as the winds will be favorable And the ships are strong to sail, don’t sleep, Until you let me hear from you.
OPHELIA: Do you doubt that?(5)	OPHELIA: Do you doubt that?
LAERTES: For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favours, Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood; A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting; The perfume and suppliance of a minute;(10) No more.	LAERTES: As for Hamlet and the foolishness of his attentions, Think that it is only a phase and a toy in blood. A violet in the youth of nature that is in its prime, Bold, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, The burning passion and extreme wanting of a moment, Nothing more.
OPHELIA: No more but so?	OPHELIA: Nothing more than that?
LAERTES: Think it no more. For nature, crescent, does not grow alone In thews and bulk; but as this temple waxes,(15) The inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will; but you must fear, His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;(20) For he himself is subject to his birth. He may not, as unvalued persons do, Carve for himself; for on his choice depends The safety and health of this whole state, And therefore must his choice be circumscribed(25) Unto the voice and yielding of that body Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, It fits your wisdom so far to believe it As he in his particular act and place May give his saying deed; which is no further(30) Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain If with too credent ear you list his songs, Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open To his unmast'red importunity.(35) Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, And keep you in the rear of your affection, Out of the shot and danger of desire. The chariest maid is prodigal enough If she unmask her beauty to the moon.(40) Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes. The canker galls the infants of the spring Too oft before their buttons be disclosed, And in the morn and liquid dew of youth Contagious blastments are most imminent.(45) Be wary then; best safety lies in fear. Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.	LAERTES: Stop thinking about it, Because nature, the moon, does not grow alone In strength and size, but as this temple grows, The inward duty of the mind and soul Grows wide along with the rest. Maybe he loves you now, And now no dirt nor trick dims the luster of The purity of his intentions, but you must fear him. His greatness considered, his intentions are not his own, He himself is subject to his birth as a prince. He may not, as lower persons do, Select for himself, for on his choice depends The safety and health of this whole state, And therefore must his choice be subject To the voice and consent of that state That he is the head of. Then if he says he loves you, You would be wise to believe it Because then being in his particular act and place May do what he says, which is what The majority of people in of Denmark go along with. So decide what loss your honor may receive If you listen to his songs with a too believing ear, Or lose your heart, or lose your virginity To his wild sense of bad timing. Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, And keep your affections deep within you, Out of the range and danger of desire. The most careful maid is wasteful enough If she unmasks her beauty to the moon. Virtue itself doesn’t aim at lying deeds. An ugly disease afflicts the new flowers of the spring Too often before they have bloomed, And in the morning and liquid dew of youth Contagious shriveling is the most imminent. Be careful then. The safest way lies in fear. Youth rebels against itself, even if no one else is near.
OPHELIA: I shall the effect of this good lesson keep As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,(50) Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads And recks not his own rede.	OPHELIA: I shall keep the purpose of this good lesson As watchman to my heart. But, my good brother, Don’t, as some insincere ministers do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, While, like a proud and reckless wild man, Preaches against the primrose path of sin And does not practice what he preaches.
LAERTES: O, fear me not!(55) Enter Polonius. I stay too long. But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second leave.	LAERTES: O, don’t be afraid of me. I’ve stayed too long. But here comes my father. A double blessing is a double grace, It’s a better occasion to smile at saying goodbye again.

Thoughts on Ophelia Project

I have been exploring ways to apply my paper on Ophelia to a modern issue.  While talking with Dr. Burton last semester, we had a few thoughts on what I could do.  One idea that has been clicking was actually the issue with my own paper.  All of my blog posts with pictures of Ophelia allowed my blog readers to be able to connect with her character.  Both Dr. Burton and I felt that my paper would be better if I could use different media sources to compliment my ideas.  Media sources are not currently an accepted part of an academic research paper.  My idea is to revamp my research paper with complimentary material, including a puppet show to illustrate the power struggle experience by Ophelia and other characters in Hamlet, along with the student's creativity being challenged by the rigid structure of the classic academic paper.  This idea for a puppet show came from a post on Google+.

Jared Axelrod

Apr 24, 2012  -  Public

Best/Worst Idea: A production of HAMLET, where half the characters are puppets. Ophelia is operated by Polonius. Claudius and Getrude control Rosencratz and Guilderstern. Laretes gets his own puppeteer, until the end, where he slips comfortably on Claudius's hand. Hamlet is both a puppet and and actor, thereby allowing him to talk to himself properly. #HAMLETpuppetshow

I want to also include interactive material such as questionnaires, pictures, mini presentations, quizzes, videos, discussions, etc. to allow readers of my paper to better understand my ideas and though process about Ophelia, control, and social roles.  If anyone has any ideas to make this idea work, I would love your input.

Ophelia's Death

This video, "Ophelia's Death," really allows the viewer to connect with the character of Ophelia.  I liked how the music complimented the mood of this time as Ophelia makes the decision for her death. 

Ophelia Wordle made from words used in research paper

Ophelia Picture Compilation

As Dr. Burton has mentioned about my blog, I have found a lot of inspiration from the pictures of Ophelia I have found online.  While searching YouTube, I found this video of a compilation of pictures set to music.  Many of these I have seen while doing my research.  Enjoy!