When Hamlet discovers Ophelia's drowned body, he reacts with a mix of grief, anger, and confusion. In part, he says: "Alas, that this too too solid flesh would melt... How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world!... an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature...
Hamlet is deeply disturbed and saddened by Ophelia's death, yet he takes no responsibility for her suicide. His philosophy is lived in words, not actions. Nevertheless, his rational and reductive view is sucking all the marrow out of the bone.
This painting depicts Ophelia in a serene, resting state, which can symbolize the peace she may have found, ironically, only in death, contrasting with the turmoil she faced in life.
While the darker hues used surrounding the body reflect Hamlet's own dark and melancholic perspective on life and death, Skyler’s use of vibrant colors such as green, yellow, and rich brown in depicting Ophelia suggests a stark contrast to Hamlet's dark musings about death and decay. Further, the vivid blues and other bright hues in the painting symbolize a more nuanced or even positive aspect of Ophelia’s life, which has dissolved in the pond.
The painting, acrylic paint and marker on a digital ink print, also features a couple of stars and a moon within a nighttime scene. The stars are shown as simple, five-pointed designs placed in the upper portion of the canvas, adding a touch of celestial charm to the painting. The moon, situated in the top-left corner, is represented as a bright, radiant shape, contributing positive energy to the nocturnal atmosphere. The abstract, colorful elements complement the overall whimsical and vibrant nature of the artwork.
The painting communicates the message: “Beware the truth tellers because they only tell you their truth!” This is further augmented by imagining Ophelia as a black person to Hamlet’s entitled princely white.
