Ophelia, emotionally broken by her circumstances, has descended into madness. I've painted her as she collects flowers by the weeping brook, before her tragic death as described by Queen Gertrude in Act 4, Scene 7 of Shakespeare's Hamlet. I was inspired to paint Ophelia because she is a sympathetic character who evokes emotion through her frailty and melancholy. I chose to emphasize her innocence and beauty, and chose the vibrant colors of the flowers and the lush greenery to contrast with her ultimate tragic ending.