as like the certified molly o'shea expert, I was wondering on whether you think calling molly o'shea a lady ophelia-like character would be an accurate descriptor for her? I know they share some surface level similarities but I'm not too well versed on shakespeare.
As both a theatre enjoyer and a Molly O'Shea enthusiast, I’d say the similarities are definitely there. Obviously it isn’t a perfect one to one comparison, but both women suffer at the hands of the men in their lives. The “madness” as a result of their suffering at the hands of the men around them, including a romantic connection, and the eventual tragic suicide are their two biggest comparisons. Molly is a lot more immediately outspoken, she’s not an overall passive character as she has no qualms about loudly confronting Karen and eventually Dutch about her issues with them, but in her conversations in chapter 2 and 3 with Dutch, there’s a noticeable apprehension and passivity in the way she talks to him. She most certainly lacks agency in her relationship with Dutch because of her status as a young woman (and an Irish immigrant) who relies on him for comfort, love, shelter, food, survival, everything. She feels that pressure to stay in his good favour that shapes a lot of her early behaviour before all of the fighting starts. I also think that Molly has a really interesting connection with water which could easily be another Ophelia comparison, but that’s its own conversation
kaledo-art
areudirty
dededos
theartofmadeline
dailybridgerton
