Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go

Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go

In William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, the character of Ophelia is subjected to a barrage of insults and manipulation from those around her, particularly from Hamlet himself. One of the most famous lines directed at Ophelia is when Hamlet tells her to "be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go." This line is a reflection of the societal expectations placed on women during Shakespeare's time, as well as a reflection of Hamlet's own conflicted feelings towards Ophelia.

The first part of the line, "be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow," speaks to the idealized image of women as pure and virtuous beings. Women were expected to be chaste and modest, and any deviation from this ideal was met with harsh judgment and condemnation. Ophelia, as a young woman in a patriarchal society, is expected to embody these qualities, and Hamlet's words serve as a reminder of the societal pressures placed upon her.

The second part of the line, "thou shalt not escape calumny," highlights the inevitability of gossip and slander in Ophelia's life. Despite her best efforts to conform to societal expectations, Ophelia is still subject to the judgment and scrutiny of those around her. This line serves as a warning to Ophelia that no matter how pure and virtuous she may be, she will still be the target of malicious rumors and accusations.

Finally, Hamlet's command for Ophelia to "get thee to a nunnery, go" can be seen as a rejection of Ophelia as a potential romantic partner. By telling her to go to a nunnery, Hamlet is essentially telling her to remove herself from his life and to renounce any romantic feelings she may have for him. This command further reinforces the idea that Ophelia is trapped in a society that restricts her agency and autonomy.

Overall, Hamlet's words to Ophelia in this line serve as a reflection of the societal expectations placed on women during Shakespeare's time, as well as a reflection of the complex and conflicted relationships between men and women in the play.