In their demented states, both Ophelia and Helen convey a lack of femininity. Femininity is generally characterized as the possession of qualities such as weakness, gentleness and delicacy. Although femininely weak and gentle, Ophelia lacks the womanly virtue of delicacy. Because of her "bawdy songs and verbal license," she is portrayed as a "sexually explicit madwoman" (Showalter 224). She illustrates her loss of delicacy in these "bawdy songs" (Showalter 224) in which she sings of bein

Showalter, Elaine. "Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism." Ed. Susanne L. Wofford. Boston: Bedford. 1994. Pages 220-240.

Although Hide and Seek and Hamlet were written in very different eras, the similarity in how the insane women are portrayed is uncanny. The women convey a lack of femininity, a childlike nature, and a value for flowers, thus proving how these women, controlled by madness, have many of the same characteristics.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Susanne L. Wofford. Boston: Bedford. 1994.

g "tumbled" and loss of virginity (4.5.63). These unladylike subjects are considered an "offence against decorum" (Showalter, 224). In contrast, Helen lacks the weakness and gentleness generally associated with femininity. She proves this in her violent fits of rage, resulting in beating her husband to death with a baseball bat a

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Approximate Word count = 607
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)