Step 1) This is a painting depicting the death of Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet. She is laying dead in a stream or river, wearing a dress, holding flowers and there are bright, luscious landscapes surrounding her.
Step 2) Even though this painting is depicting suicide, which is usually gruesome and sad, Ophelia looks serene and peaceful. She is wearing a very extravagant gown. Her hands are facing outwards, in a passive and offertory positioning. It is interesting that there are such bright and bold colors in an image that represents something so dark.
Step 3) The beauty of the flowers are associated with the beauty of a woman. In the historical era of this painting, women were subservient to men. They were supposed to "stand there and look pretty." Even in her death, Ophelia is made to look beautiful. The passivity in her hands shows that this is for someone else. She is as delicate as the flowers she is holding in her hand.
Step 4) I think that the main message of this painting is that women were supposed to be lesser than men- even in death. Ophelia's beauty, extravagant gown, and serene setting are all images of beauty that would be desirable to man's eye.
In your step 3...I completely agree that the figure in the paining could be paralleled with a standard that people had for women to act during this time. They needed to always be beautiful and be passive, as if to be saying what can I do for you or how can I help you? Women and men are equal; however, even in death women are to be this glorified version of themselves that does not reflect reality.
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