what are the circumstances of ophelia's death?

She has no way to prevent the death of her father, and no way to reason with the loss of Hamlets affection. Print of Sir John Everett Millais Ophelia (Shakespeares Hamlet, Act 4, Scene 7) by James Stephenson;John Everett Millais, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Painting Ophelia was no walk in the park for Millais, and he weathered the elements around him, reportedly from early in the morning to the evening, for around five months, but in the end, he created a composition that was almost photographic. This behavior is consistent with Ophelias having gone to the brook intending to kill herself. I think both her fathers death and her relationship with Hamlet made her depressed and unfortunately made her commit this awful act of suicide. Towards the middle foreground is a mossy/algae patch with small white flowers growing from it, which could be stream water crowfoot. John Everett Millais painted so close to nature that you would think the Ophelia painting is a photograph. Furthermore, if Ophelias death was, indeed, a subliminal expression of an unconscious desire to die, it is essential to discuss the reason for this unconscious desire; whether or not it was A close-up of Ophelias face in John Everett Millais Ophelia (1851-1852) painting;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Webin Hamlet's fifth soliloquy how do the circumstances of this soliloquy differ from those surrounding the previous four? Note that Gertrude depicts Ophelia as less than human: she is mermaid-like, as well sees her as a passive creature held captive by tragic circumstances only to be freed in death. Did Hamlet sleep with his mother? Ophelias madness is perhaps overtaking her so much so that she does not even recognize whom she is talking to in this instanceher brother Laertes. Why do the gravediggers question Ophelia's burial in this cemetery? Its implied through several of Ophelias songs, the one you mentioned, and her one just before that where she sings Let in the maid, that out a maid / Never departed more (4.5.54-55). According to religious doctrine, suicides may not receive Christian burial. There with fantastic garlands did she come Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them; There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds Clamb'ring to hang, an envious sliver broke, When down her weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. The painting depicts the moment Ophelia is about to drown, surrounded by a myriad of flowers symbolizing aspects of what she experienced, from life and love to death. Why does the priest not want to give Ophelia a proper burial? BBC News. In the midst of readings performances and one particular question has remained open and unresolved: was Ophelia's death an accident or a suicide? Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home Of bell and burial. WebSARAH: That's right, Ralph part of what makes this scene so poignant is that Ophelia no longer belongs anywhere among the living her father is dead, and her lover has been While it is evident that Ophelia is grieving over the death of her father, Polonius, as Horatio says of her She speaks much of her father, says she hears / Theres tricks in the world, and hems, and beats her heart (4.5.4-5), a secondary cause of Ophelias madness may be in fact about her failed relationship with Hamlet as well. An independent inquiry into the circumstances of Ms Sturgess' death will continue this year. Subsection. RALPH: These two images of Ophelia in fact are complementary Ophelia is tragically unaware that she is about to die, and yet visually she also seems at home here in this brook, as her madness has finally taken her completely out of her unhappy situation back at the court. Lush foliage surrounds the almost drowned figure of Ophelia. Lee had made his way down to Wilmer to sell narcotics two these two individuals. I do think that she is a tragic character in this play, and I do think that it is in a pitiable way, because of the events that she has gone through. WebThe combination of her former lovers cruelty and her fathers death sends Ophelia into a fit of grief. The gravedigger believed that political favors were granted. Her death comes in the denouement of the play following the Act 3 climax. Answers. Sam, There are a few reasons for why Hamlet treats Ophelia so badly. The first is her connection to Polonius. By keeping her off guard, Hamlet keeps Polonius and the King confused as well. The play leaves Hamlets awareness open ended. Hamlet could not know whether Ophelia was actively involved or simply being used. Section. WebWhen reporting Ophelias death, Gertrude states that there is a willow grows askant the brook (4.7. Soon after, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius. 2007, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/describe-the-fate-of-ophelia-as-reported-by-441. I agree with your point in saying that the sexual references in Ophelias songs do account for her love of Hamlet. STORY: Vincenzo Luciano is telling us he raced to the beach from his house, which is nearby, jumped into the water with his clothes on, and pulled out a little boy.He's a fisherman here in Steccato di Cutro, Italy - the scene of that massive shipwreck on Sunday (February 26) that killed at least 67 migrants trying to cross into Europe, including One theory is that she deliberately drowned herself in the river out of despair over her own situation and the loss of Hamlet. With the loss of her father, brother, and her lover all extremely close together is enough to make anyone go mad I suppose. And mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up; Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes, Or like a creature native and endued unto. At that point in time, it seemed to be an attribute to Ophelia letting herself go; but since you are comparing and including it within the madness of Ophelia I now find myself second guessing whether or not it was her letting herself go or if she was in fact mad. Her death can be viewed as a suicide which is what I had originally thought, but now after reading what you wrote, it can be viewed as Ophelia seriously becoming mad from all the tragedy she faced all at once. Ophelia cannot trust her beloved father or her lover, Hamlet, because they are all simply using her against each other. By this logic, of course she went insane. Carol Camden wrote a fantastic article titled Ophelias Madness in which she pretty neatly goes over a variety of theories and quotes several critics. I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. WebOphelias death is, arguably, an honorable one, characterized by her willingness to let go of her submissive, earth-bound self and leave the world no longer a victim. Although the loss of Ophelia was an accident that could have got avoided if Ennis had got himself some glasses to saw. Get the latest information and tips about everything Art with our bi-weekly newsletter. Shes being torn between two very influential men in her life. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At the point in the play that you referenced in your question Ophelia, is of course, drowned. It is almost as though the natural order has been disturbed by the death of King Hamlet and Ofelia is a casualty in the war to get the state of Denmark to not be quite so rotten. I assumed her song at 4.5.62-64, insinuates an alleged intimacy she had with Hamlet, and his promise to marry her if she were to agree to intimacy. She is used as a ploy by her father to test Hamlets maddness. Ophelia (18511852) by John Everett Millais on display at the Tate Britain;John Everett Millais, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. In Act IV, Scene 7, Gertrude enters with news that Ophelia has drowned in the stream as she tried to hang flower garlands on the willow branches. I also think that before Ophelia died Hamlet had a huge effect on her which might have played a huge role with her death. I never picked up on those lines of her song in relation to Hamlet breaking his promise of marrying her. But long it could not be Till that her garments, heavy with their drink, Pulled the poor wretch from her melodious lay To muddy death. However you dont have to take her description at face value. Ophelia seems to be much a more complex character the more that I read about her and I think she is underrated because of that. I really liked the points you brought up about Ophelia, I wrote about her in my blog post as well. As daughter of the Kings Chief Chamberlain, she is part of the Queens Court Ladies. Her madness stems from the death of her father but carries over once shes lost Hamlet. Because Polonius was such a vital figure in her life, she is likely bereaved beyond help and thus does not recognize her brother. We see in act III that Ophelia is shaken by how Hamlet is treating her harshly where before he was kind and gentle. The walker caught in the ventilation fan fell on top of her and took a chuck out of her clavicle. Also, in the description of her death it is obviously displaying Ophelia 's madness. It is interesting to analyze this scene to see that both her fathers death and Hamlets act led to her madness. Ophelia is forced to give up the one she loves due to what others are telling her to do so, and because of her fathers prying he ultimately dies. At The famous Ophelia (18511852) oil-on-canvas was painted by John Everett Millais, who was part of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood art group, and one of its founders. There's no evidence in the text to suggest that he did. Pin 1. She is depicted in a beautiful, soft dress barely keeping her buoyant and her midsection is submerged in the water. John Everett Millais painted from nature at the Hogsmill River in Ewell, Surrey, which is in South East England. After Ophelia has gone, Claudius agonizes over her madness and over the stir created by the return of an angry Laertes. RALPH: Gertrude describes how her clothing spread out over the surface of the water, keeping her afloat for a moment, while she sang songs of praise, or perhaps hymns. However, she is caught in the middle of the conflict between Hamlet and his family, and her own loyalties are torn between her love for Hamlet and her duty to her father and brother. The priest refuses, saying that, because she committed suicide, he must deny Ophelia the requiem mass and other trappings of a Christian burial, even though Ophelia will be buried on sacred ground. Also Hamlet's own madness and isolation is a cause in Ophelia's deteriorating mental condition. Ophelia exists as a tragic character inHamletand one that is entirely pitiable because of unfortunate circumstances that she has been put through. At such an early age, her life was taken. Ophelia's death is an unplayed scene; it does not appear on stage. Home; Quem Somos; As Nossas Marcas; Responsabilidade Social; what are the circumstances of ophelia's death? More than likely, she fell into the brook or was swept downstream by the current. The fact that the water completely weighs her down and she doesnt even car is shocking because she shouldnt have died but her showing that shows how depressed she was. After all, the young woman has gone mad, and apparently did nothing to try and escape her watery death. WebThrough Ophelias interactions with the men of the play, the audience can see that the male-dominated society brings inequality, distrust, and destruction. I loved your analysis on Ophelia and your text examples on how she viewed each horrific death of her loved ones. We see in act III that Ophelia is shaken by how Hamlet is treating her harshly where before he was kind and gentle. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Act II, Scenes 12 Summary and Analysis, Act III, Scenes 12 Summary and Analysis, Act III, Scenes 34 Summary and Analysis, Act IV, Scenes 14 Summary and Analysis, Act IV, Scenes 57 Summary and Analysis, Framing Ophelia: Representation and the Pictorial Tradition, Grinning Death's-Head: Hamlet and the Vision of the Grotesque, Mourning and Misogyny: Hamlet, The Revenger's Tragedy, and the Final Progress of Elizabeth I, 1600-1607, Nobler in the Mind: The Dialect in Hamlet, The 'Heart of My Mystery': Hamlet and Secrets, The First Quarto of Hamlet: Reforming Widow Gertred. I wonder which had more an effect? Well written! Well written! Sam, It depicts the scene of Ophelias death described by Queen Gertrude in Act 4, Scene 7. She also stated that while Ophelia was drowning, she seemed oblivious to her plight. The pain of losing his beloved Sister fill Ophelia by John Everett Millais has invited many a discourse, from feminism and how women are depicted in art, their role in a patriarchal society, and Ophelia herself as the subject for many paintings during the 19th century, to the Victorian eras penchant for flowers, their significance, and symbolic meanings. horatio queen gertrude marcellus a messenger the answer is Marcel 1) Looking at I think that Hamlet and Laertes carried on Ophelias madness when she passed away and they both jumped into her grave. Ophelia (18511852), painted by John Everett Millais, was based on the character from William Shakespeares famous play Hamlet (c. 15991601). Then, Ophelia's funeral procession takes place, and Hamlet and Ophelia's brother Laertes confront each other. Sam, Despite whether or not the cause of her madness is her fathers death or the loss of her boyfriend or something entirely different, Ofelia almost falls into madness. Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? Why didn't Hamlet kill Claudius when he had the chance at the end of act 3, scene 3? SARAH: Ophelia continues to float on the surface of the water for just a brief moment then her clothing becomes waterlogged and pulls her under. In Act Four she spirals into madness and dies under ambiguous circumstances. I really liked the points you made about Ophelia and her madness. He utilized a lush mixture of hues to create the tonal contrasts of color, especially between the darker shadier parts of the foliage and the lighter parts illuminated by natural light. Upvoting all ! Problems that could have prompted her to end her life which include being thought of as an obedient piece of property. Even the priest questions her Christian burial, since suicides are not supposed to be laid in hallowed ground. In the top left corner, atop one of the thin branches, is a robin. Ophelias subservience is taken to an entirely new level through the event of her death. Ophelia was a very unique character and was portrayed to us as a female character unlike many of the others weve read about this semester. She appears almost unaware of the fact that she is drowning (As one incapable of her own distress), and she is still singing, as per Queen Ophelias description of her in Hamlet (Act 4, Scene 7), which was mentioned earlier in the article. I like that you included her singing in what you believed to be madness, because I too brought up her mindless singing in my post about her death. I know the focus is mainly on Hamlet and his questionable madness, but in a way I definitely see how Ophelia went somewhat mad as well! Laertess father, Polonius, was also killed by Claudius. Contextual Analysis: A Brief Socio-Historical Overview, Formal Analysis: A Brief Compositional Overview, A close-up of Ophelias face in John Everett Millais, Note the use of horizontal lines in the painting. I also wondered why she doesnt reach out to her brother for comfort, with him being so determined to seek revenge for their father, and I wonder how the plot would have changed as he stepped in to comfort her like he should have. WebDeath is the pervading theme of the play. Her death could be either interpreted as an accident or suicide. In Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," Ophelia is a tragic figure whose untimely death serves as a catalyst for the events of the play. In the begining of the play Ophelia knows that Hamlet loves her yet decides to keep her distance because her brother tells her to. horatio queen gertrude marcellus a messenger. I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in way? Only Shakespeare knew for sure. The daughter of Polonius, a high-ranking official in the Danish court, Ophelia is a sweet and innocent young woman who is deeply in love with the prince of Denmark, Hamlet. Though she is demeaned by Laertes, Polonius, and Hamlet, Ophelia exhibits intelligence and independence and ultimately resorts to suicide in order to free herself from the power of the men around her. Check out our page on William Shakespeare's Hamlet here! Gertrude reports that she fell into the brook and that her clothes became heavy with water and pulled her under. While doing so, she slipped and fell into the brook. When Laertes breaks in on Claudius and Gertrude, Claudius asserts his innocence with regard to Poloniuss death. I really enjoyed your post any how you revolved it around what you considered to be Ophelias madness. Webwhat are the circumstances of ophelia's death?how to make an infinite block in minecraft. Both of Ophelias hands are floating just above the water, her palms are facing up and her hands appear cupped. It is interesting to me that you believe her suicide is due to both her fathers death AND her complex relationship with Hamlet. There arent any other characters in the play that her references to promised love could be accountable for In a fit of anger, Hamlet impulsively kills the man behind the curtain, thinking it was Claudius. Through this face, Ophelias death is attached with beauty and tenderness rather than fear and ugliness. She is a victim of circumstances beyond her control, and her ultimate demise serves as a poignant reminder of the destructive power of manipulation and betrayal. The evidence suggesting that she is simply mourning her father is obvious, as lines from one of her many songs points towards grieving over an aged relative His beard as white as snow / All flaxen was his poll with flaxen here indicating a white or grayed head of hair (4.5.190-191). Hi Sam, I like your post and your analysis of Ophelias character. These include a variety, from the diamond-like and oval shapes of the leaves to the circular and patterned shapes of the flowers. Yet in the scene of The Gravediggers, Hamlet later contends that Ophelia must have purposefully taken her own life. Ophelia (18511852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. The evidence suggesting that she is simply mourning her father is obvious, as lines from one of her many songs points towards grieving over an aged relative His beard as white as snow / All flaxen was his poll with flaxen here indicating a white or grayed head of hair (4.5.190-191). Already a member? I too agree you regarding Ophelia as a pitiable character in this Shakespeare play. The gravediggers are used to clearly foreshadow that more deaths will occur in this tragic play, and the audience is made to wonder for whom the next grave will be readied. Shakespeare and the Question of Theory. Cirencione detailed the circumstances that led to the death of Brandon M. Zurkan, 31, of Warren, Pa., during a media briefing at the sheriffs office Wednesday. Her death is reported by Queen Gertrude, Hamlets mother, in great poetic However, later, at the burial site, the two grave makers are discussing Ophelia's death. The fact that the water completely weighs her down and she doesnt even car is shocking because she shouldnt have died but her showing that shows how depressed she was. Her madness affects her death because she is oblivious to the danger which surrounds her. Well written! The Ophelia painting depicts organic shapes and forms that are found in nature versus geometric shapes and forms. Hamlet performs a soliloquy. Whether or not her death was a suicide is the subject of much debate among Shakespearean scholars. She modeled for Millais in a bathtub, floating in the water and wearing a thin dress. She does not decide to save herself, or to even deliver herself onto death, but ultimately ignores her freedom to choose and continues to abide by her own indifference. Alongside its appearances in pop culture like film, television, and music, the Ophelia painting has influenced modern artists like the Surrealist Salvador Dal, who also produced an iteration of the scene titled Ophelias Death (1973). Hamlet in the Graveyard Act 5 Scene 1 of Hamlet opens in a graveyard. I too wrote about Ophelia, however based it on her heartbreaking death. The queen, however, describes it in detail. Wiltshire. There are also several other flowers like a red poppy, daisies, a deep violet/blue cornflower, white jasmine, pansies, marsh marigolds, a cabbage rose, Irises, fritillaries, and more floating down the waters current, mostly along Ophelias right side (our left). In memory of the BARCS late employee passing, a celebration of life will be held on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Chasseur, 3328 Foster Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224. WebOphelia obeys, but her action sends Hamlet into a fit of misogynistic rage. Sam, Her actions display not only this awareness, but also maturity in her non-confrontational discussions. As the scene opens, two gravediggers are conversing about the suspicious manner of Ophelia's death. This is compounded on by a following line, You promised me to wed, / So would I a done, by yonder sun, / An thou hadst not come to my bed. and it is this part of Ophelias song that likely damns Hamlet as a cause of her mental fracturing (4.5.62-64). Ophelia, a decided and determined young photographer, leaves So Vicente, by water, to swim across the sea until she reaches Ubatuba, where she believes her father is located. She is a tragic figure who is caught in the crosshairs of the power struggle between Hamlet and his family, and her love for Hamlet ultimately leads to her downfall. It is likely that Ophelia has fixated upon Hamlets detestable oath breaking so much so that in not requiting her love, Hamlet has broken both her heart and her poor mind. The host of Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan says the circumstances surrounding the death of Georgia mother Debbie Collier have left him befuddled, following the Georgia Bureau of Investigations determination that the death was a suicide. This description might support Ophelia's accidental death as a result of her madness. Maybe if Hamlet wasnt such an ass to her she wouldnt have committed suicide because I think that was truly the last straw for her. I think your suggestion that Ophelias madness is also the consequential result of her failed relationship with Hamlet is totally credible. Note the use of horizontal lines in the painting Ophelia (1851-1852) by John Everett Millais;John Everett Millais, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. This can also be conveyed through various other elements like color, shapes, and the scale of objects, as well as how much detail is depicted, which is noticeable in Millaiss Ophelia painting. He was also made Baronet in 1885. The views and opinions expressed by the authors and other contributors to this blog are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of SUNY New Paltz or any employee thereof. RALPH: The second image of Ophelia that Gertrude proposes is as if she were "a creature native and endued unto that element" in other words, as if Ophelia were a water nymph, or, as Gertrude said a few lines earlier, a mermaid, who fits in so well with this scene that its as if she belonged there, as if it were her home. Jessica Tovey. At least Daniel got to put his daughter down before she resurrected. I think that you did a great job analyzing Ophelias character, and I think that it helpful as a reader to see the different aspects of her character development to understand what she is going through. He was born in Southampton, Hampshire in England. She also disclose s that this pain and suffering had been the prime cause of her tragic end and took her to the death bed. Question 28 options: Horatio Queen Gertrude Marcellus a messenger His astonishment, though, places him in danger. Over all, your post cleared up some misconceptions for me and went in depth on a character I would have liked to discuss more in class. The philosophical themes that dominate the soliloquy are concerned with the Its upsetting to see anyone go through all of these unfortunate circumstances because it realistically can happen to anybody. Furthermore, the background of the composition acts almost as a backdrop of fauna and flora, which brings Ophelias figure closer into our space, also making the picture space shallower. Further explicit references to Ophelias father, such as I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. Ophelias random singing was the first sign of madness when I first read it because instead of trying to save herself from drowning she was just calmly singing and letting the heavy water pile on top of her and her clothing. Great points! I like that you included her singing in what you believed to be madness, because I too brought up her mindless singing in my post about her death. Hi Sam, Latest answer posted February 17, 2021 at 12:04:07 PM. Webhow many gigatons of carbon were released in 2019. To the right of the composition is more greenery and an assortment of plants. Ophelia was the character most greatly impacted by Hamlet's feigned and real madness - she first lost her father, her sanity, and then her life. In the foreground, in the bottom left corner, is a plant with vertical strips of leaves (referred to as monocot leaves), possibly the greater pond sedge, and just in front of it in the near foreground are forget-me-not flowers. WebOphelia was caught up in the political and emotional intrigue and died in mysterious circumstances. Claudius then promises to have a monument constructed in her memory. Video journalist: Emma Colman. It is a tragic loss that underscores the human cost of the events of the play, and serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of being caught in the middle of such conflicts. The painting Ophelia (18511852) by John Everett Millais explores several themes, from death, love, life, madness, and nature. Or would her fate be the same? WebThe constant pressure from her father, Polonius, and Claudius to spy on Hamlet is a major factor in the increasing madness of Ophelia. SARAH: Gertrude offers two different visions here of Ophelia singing as she sinks into the water the first is of someone unaware of her life-threatening danger, and seems to convey Ophelia's actual state. With lines like Young men will dot if they come tot / By Cock, they are to blame signifies a strange and perhaps oblique reference to a promiscuous or simply flighty man who promises love (or sex here with the word cock) but backs out after a brief time (4.5.59-60). WebYet much speculation remains about the details of her death. This week, they killed off Ofelia. WebThere are suspicions surrounding the circumstances of Ophelia's death. But sometimes that just don't matter. Hamlets madness is directly correlated to his fathers death and the appearance of his fathers ghost. Or would her fate be the same? Sir John Everett Millais was born on June 8, 1829, and died on August 13, 1896. Or would her fate be the same? In the top right corner is another plant with purple flowers, which could possibly be the purple loosestrife, and directly below it are forget-me-nots on the embankment. This is compounded on by a following line, You promised me to wed, / So would I a done, by yonder sun, / An thou hadst not come to my bed. and it is this part of Ophelias song that likely damns Hamlet as a cause of her mental fracturing (4.5.62-64). In the begining of the play Ophelia knows that Hamlet loves her yet decides to keep her distance because her brother tells her to. WebOphelias death is most likely an accident because Gertrude never implied anything about suicide. The death of a woman is under investigation after authorities said she was found in her apartment on Stella Link Road. There are several possible interpretations of the circumstances surrounding Ophelia's death. Sam, I definitely feel that before Polonius dies she is effected by how Hamlet treats her, which the argument I made in my post. While it is evident that Ophelia is grieving over the death of her father, Polonius, as Horatio says of her She speaks much of her father, says she hears / Theres tricks in the world, and hems, and beats her heart (4.5.4-5), a secondary cause of Ophelias madness may be in fact about her failed relationship with Hamlet as well. Vote everyone! Lacking refined sensibility herself, she cannot well enter into the feelings of others. SARAH: That's right, Ralph part of what makes this scene so poignant is that Ophelia no longer belongs anywhere among the living her father is dead, and her lover has been brutally unkind to her it's not clear what her future would have been had her life not ended here. Would she have been more proactive with trying to fight the current of the stream? what star wars does luke train with yoda how to build a privacy fence on a deck. But, we cant ignore the lines that signify the other figure her grieving is fixated upon: Hamlet. Accessed 4 Mar. In the final scene, the violence, so long delayed, erupts with dizzying speed. WebGertrude speech makes Ophelias death not only more beautiful and tragic to the characters listening but also, to us the audience. She has made a number of comments that seem to have a hidden truth in them and has presented Leartes and the king and queen with flowers (either real or imaginary) that also have significant symbolic meaning. We both wrote about Ophelia! As the play progresses, Ophelia becomes increasingly isolated and distressed as she is manipulated by the men in her life, particularly her father and brother, who forbid her from seeing Hamlet. I wonder if her father didnt die would she have reacted to this accident in the same way? There are numerous flowers depicted and each holds symbolic meanings that relate to the themes of the story, which is based on the play Hamlet (c. 15991601) by William Shakespeare.

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