Sweet Summer, 1912, John William Waterhouse
Ophelia is waiting for her lover in the sultry summer sun.
For him, she has shunned her family and cast aside her morals, her instincts and above all, her better judgement.
The garden appears to be sheltered and obscured from the view of passers-by. However there is a place in the wall where, if you place your eye just so, you will be rewarded with the full spectacle of the fountain, the camellias, the lawn and anyone who cares to rest within.
Ophelia knows this and she also knows who else knows this. Isn’t this hidden gem where the lords and ladies of the kingdom, inflamed with their desires and wants, their peccadillos, flock to catch a glimpse of their hearts’ desires?
She can feel the heat of them, these eyes. She can imagine the carefully plucked eyebrows rising in shock to see her, the future king’s potential wife, lying here in such disarray.
She is imprudent with desire. It will take very little to tip her over into the sweet, dark abyss.
To her at least, in this moment, it will be worth it.
——
Here’s my latest entry to Magpie Tales. Waterhouse is another one of my favourite artists, along with Millais. This painting to me is reminiscent of Waterhouse’s Ophelia, so I was drawn to writing about the tragic young noblewoman who took her own life in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. A great deal of poetic licence has been taken, of course.
I hope you enjoy it, and that the sense of madness comes through.
The title ‘Like sweet bells jangled’, comes from Ophelia’s speech when she is fretting on Hamlet’s seeming loss of mind:
“Oh, what a noble mind is here o’erthrown!—
The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword,
Th’ expectancy and rose of the fair state,
The glass of fashion and the mould of form,
Th’ observed of all observers, quite, quite down!
And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,
That sucked the honey of his music vows,
Now see that noble and most sovereign reason
Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;
That unmatched form and feature of blown youth
Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me,
T’ have seen what I have seen, see what I see!”
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Freya Writes... 
ha. that she knows and how it affects her to be known…to be seen…oh my…
me thinks that lover had best hurry…ha
I think she’s a bit of a one, as we say in some parts over here…. 😉
To know you are watched and enjoying it.. playing the lure to the stalker… what an interesting twist to the Ophelia character…
Ophelia has no chance to be a tragic heroine in Hamlet – she just becomes tragic. So, I thought she should regain a little power…
This is so bewitching. Completely drew me in. And I had to look up “peccadillos”–what a fantastic word!! Thanks for expanding my vocabulary.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And learning a new word is always a bonus )
Poor Ophelia! As you say so rightly, she has tragedy thrust upon her. Such a tricky part to play as a result. How does the actor establish enough self-substance before the character is swept away?
I don’t know, to be honest, it must be very difficult indeed.
i enjoyed reading ophelia carefree whims… her desire to be known and talked of is a common desire for which many people loose their jus=dgement!!i
Indeed it is!
She is very much like Ophelia…her dress folds gently like water…
Yes, it does, indeed.
Very interesting! Vital and freed!
Thank you, Irene.
“She is imprudent with desire.” But she won’t be covering that place in the wall any time soon.
No, I don’t think she will. Naughty woman!
Sweet , dark abyss of desire , an exothermic reaction of the earth itself , of which we are but molecules ….
Yes, you are quite right. I need to use ‘exothermic’ in a story… 🙂
I like a gutsy woman.
Me too!
oh no! I only see tragedy in her recklessness. You did a good adaptation of Ophelia’s story. 🙂
Thank you, Imelda. It’s funny – I was aiming for tragedy when I wrote this, and everyone has picked up on the sensuous, except for you! Not that I mind – I love reading how people interpret what I have written 🙂
Another sensual poem, and an interesting take on the mood of the subject and the sweetness of summer.
Thank you, Cait!
I think she will lie there until she gets what she wants.
You paint a very colourful picture of the painting
I think she will.. whatever that may be! Thank you, Eddie.