The Reinterpretation of The Fate of Ophelia episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 23, 2025 · 1H 19M

The Reinterpretation of The Fate of Ophelia

from The Swiftie and The Scholar · host Angela McDow | Dr. Jerry Coats

We have officially entered our Showgirl era, and we’re kicking it off with The Fate of Ophelia. Uncle Jerry teaches us all about Ophelia’s role in Hamlet, one of the Ophelia paintings Taylor may have drawn inspiration from, and a couple of feminist critics’ takes on Ophelia. We then get into the song, Angela weaves in a few nuggets of Tay-lore, and they round it out by discussing the feminist issues with the track,  watching the music video and listening to the voice memo of the writing of the song. Works Cited:Hamlet – William Shakespeare – Affiliate LinkWhat are Foil Characters?Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism  – Elaine ShowalterHearing Ophelia: Gender and Tragic Discourse in "Hamlet" – Sandra K. FischerDesolation Row – Bob DylanThe Story of Ophelia – The TatePre-Raphaelite Women – Jan MarshDante Gabriel Rossetti – Ash RussellThe Essential Pre-Raphaelites – Lucinda Hawksley – Aff LinkThe Language of Flowers – Margaret Pickston – Aff LinkThe Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady – Edith Holden – Aff LinkThe King’s Two Bodies – Ernst Kantorowicz – Aff LinkFollow Us:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Angela’s Instagram⁠

We have officially entered our Showgirl era, and we’re kicking it off with The Fate of Ophelia. Uncle Jerry teaches us all about Ophelia’s role in Hamlet, one of the Ophelia paintings Taylor may have drawn inspiration from, and a couple of feminist critics’ takes on Ophelia. We then get into the song, Angela weaves in a few nuggets of Tay-lore, and they round it out by discussing the feminist issues with the track,  watching the music video and listening to the voice memo of the writing of the song. Works Cited:Hamlet – William Shakespeare – Affiliate LinkWhat are Foil Characters?Representing Ophelia: Women, Madness, and the Responsibilities of Feminist Criticism  – Elaine ShowalterHearing Ophelia: Gender and Tragic Discourse in "Hamlet" – Sandra K. FischerDesolation Row – Bob DylanThe Story of Ophelia – The TatePre-Raphaelite Women – Jan MarshDante Gabriel Rossetti – Ash RussellThe Essential Pre-Raphaelites – Lucinda Hawksley – Aff LinkThe Language of Flowers – Margaret Pickston – Aff LinkThe Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady – Edith Holden – Aff LinkThe King’s Two Bodies – Ernst Kantorowicz – Aff LinkFollow Us:⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠Angela’s Instagram⁠

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The Reinterpretation of The Fate of Ophelia

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This episode was published on October 23, 2025.

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We have officially entered our Showgirl era, and we’re kicking it off with The Fate of Ophelia. Uncle Jerry teaches us all about Ophelia’s role in Hamlet, one of the Ophelia paintings Taylor may have drawn inspiration from, and a couple of feminist...

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