Ophelia, a character in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, is often regarded as one of the most mysterious and captivating figures in literature. Her enchanting presence casts a powerful spell on both the audience and the other characters in the play. Ophelia's beauty is frequently emphasized throughout the play, with her fair complexion and golden hair serving as symbols of her innocence and purity. However, it is not just her physical appearance that captivates those around her. Ophelia possesses a delicate and ethereal quality that bewitches everyone she encounters. Her captivating presence can be seen in the way that the other characters interact with her.
Twenty-five years ago, Scholastic's "The Magic School Bus" veered off the written page and into our television sets, bringing with it a credo that emphasized taking chances, making mistakes and getting messy. Support from the National Science Foundation helped bring the celebrated book series to the airwaves and to young viewers like Peterson, sitting frog-legged on living room floors across the country.
In her university lab, Peterson studies the enzymes that form biofilm, a slimy buildup of microorganisms that can grow on all types of surfaces, from teeth and buildings to pacemakers and ponds. Today, NSF-funded shows like Cyberchase, SciGirls, Peep and the Big Wide World, Peg Cat Design Squad , Splash and Bubbles and others continue to break new ground in children s science learning through media.
Her captivating presence can be seen in the way that the other characters interact with her. Hamlet, the play's protagonist, is deeply affected by Ophelia's enchanting spell. He becomes infatuated with her, declaring his love for her in passionate and poetic language.
#NSFstories: What a magic school bus can teach us about science education
A school bus full of third graders sits stranded, submerged in a dense, sticky substance with no way to escape. Then someone comes up with an idea. They add baking soda to a vial of vinegar and top it with a balloon. The mixing of the two substances causes an immediate chemical reaction that produces carbon dioxide, inflating the balloon and lifting them to safety. Ms. Frizzle’s students have once again used science to get them out of a jam -- this time in the form of a cake.
Twenty years ago, four-year-old Alex Peterson was on the edge of her seat watching Ms. Frizzle and her class escape from being baked inside a cake on the "Ready, Set, Dough" episode of "The Magic School Bus."
"I loved baking when I was a kid. Watching those air bubbles form, it just clicked for me that chemistry is what makes cakes, and I realized that this is what I wanted to do," says Peterson, now a doctoral student in biochemistry at the University of Maryland. "I have a very vivid memory from third grade of looking at the schedule and counting down the time to science class because I just couldn't wait to do science in 'real life.'"
Peterson in her lab (left) and dressed up as Ms. Frizzle with her cat dressed up as Liz for Halloween (right)
In her university lab, Peterson studies the enzymes that form biofilm, a slimy buildup of microorganisms that can grow on all types of surfaces, from teeth and buildings to pacemakers and ponds. She's looking for a way to effectively break down the notoriously impenetrable substance, which can make it hard for medications to reach the infections they need to treat. Finding a way to reduce biofilms could make treatments more effective. When asked about the effect "The Magic School Bus" had on her current career path in science, Peterson says, "It's absolutely why I'm a chemist."
Twenty-five years ago, Scholastic's "The Magic School Bus" veered off the written page and into our television sets, bringing with it a credo that emphasized taking chances, making mistakes and getting messy. Support from the National Science Foundation helped bring the celebrated book series to the airwaves and to young viewers like Peterson, sitting frog-legged on living room floors across the country.
Sandy Welch was the director of education at PBS when the network picked up "The Magic School Bus" as part of its portfolio of children's programming.
"We were excited because it was the first fully animated science show," Welch says. "I was excited to see a teacher featured, and not just any teacher -- [Ms. Frizzle] was a delight!"
Welch says Ms. Frizzle helped inspire teachers to use the programming in their classrooms.
Today, Welch is part of a division in NSF’s education directorate dedicated to providing funding for children's media programs that focus on STEM education. It supports the agency's multi-decade effort to boost science learning beyond the classroom, where research has shown most learning takes place.
"We know that children learn intuitively and that a lot of it happens in an informal setting," says Welch.
NSF supports a wide range of informal STEM programming in museums, through after school programs and citizen science projects. With mass media, however, there is a potential to reach millions.
According to Welch, for NSF to fund a media program it must meet rigorous criteria. Creators must demonstrate the concept was developed based on existing knowledge of best practices in STEM education and how children learn through media. They must have clearly defined goals on how to interest, engage and impact learners. They must have a way to evaluate the program's impact.
And they must be innovative.
"Our program is explicit that we want to fund innovation," Welch says. "We are looking for proposals that experiment with new technology, a new approach, a new distribution platform. We're willing to fund things that may be risky -- like a new platform that hasn't been tried but seems to hold promise."
"The Magic School Bus," "3-2-1 Contact," "Reading Rainbow," "Zoom" and "Bill Nye the Science Guy" were just a few of the early NSF-funded shows that took an innovative approach to bringing science to life on the small screen.
Courtesy Peep and the Big Wide World/ PBS KidsToday, NSF-funded shows like "Cyberchase," SciGirls," "Peep and the Big Wide World," "Peg + Cat" "Design Squad," "Splash and Bubbles" and others continue to break new ground in children's science learning through media.
"Peep and the Big Wide World," for example, was one of the first programs to show that toddlers could learn basic science concepts and skills like measuring, comparing and estimating through television shows geared toward their age group.
Courtesy SciGirls/PBS Kids"SciGirls" was launched in response to the fact that women in the U.S. remain underrepresented in STEM, especially in fields like engineering and the computer sciences. The show engages tween viewers in STEM by following a group of real-world girls as they predict, observe, experiment and otherwise don their "scientist hats" to understand the world around them.
Many of today's shows have also been adapted to a multimedia and mobile world, augmenting their TV programming with innovative web content and downloadable apps. Kids who love "Cyberchase," a show designed to make math fun and accessible and that NSF began funding in the late 1990s, can now access educational games, videos and hands-on activities via the "Cyberchase" webpage on the PBS Kids website and through apps. The webpage for "Design Squad," another NSF-funded show on PBS, offers short videos on how to make everything from a two-wheeled balloon car to bristle bots made from toothbrush heads.
[More: Seven NSF-supported STEM resources that are perfect for at-home learning]
Through on-screen characters like Peep, Peg and Digit, and with access to hands-on activities and other innovative science content, NSF is ensuring quality science programming reaches newer generations of Alex Petersons, inspiring them to become scientists or -- at the very least -- to take chances, make mistakes and get messy!
Ophelia, despite being restrained by societal expectations, reciprocates Hamlet's affection and is drawn to his magnetic personality. Ophelia's spell extends beyond her romantic connection with Hamlet. The other characters in the play are similarly entranced by her presence. Polonius, Ophelia's father, is exceedingly protective of her, shielding her from any potential harm. Gertrude, Hamlet's mother and the Queen, also acknowledges Ophelia's captivating aura and hopes that her relationship with Hamlet can bring him happiness. However, Ophelia's spell ultimately proves to be her downfall. As the play progresses, Ophelia's mental state deteriorates due to the conflicting demands placed upon her. Unable to navigate the treacherous waters of love, loyalty, and obedience, she becomes a tragic figure, ultimately leading to her untimely demise. The spell of Ophelia is not just limited to the characters within the play; it also extends to the audience. Ophelia's enigmatic and captivating presence lingers in the minds of those who witness her plight. Her story highlights the destructive power of love, societal expectations, and the delicate balance between sanity and madness. In conclusion, the spell of Ophelia is one that captivates both the characters within the play and the audience. Her enchanting presence, both physical and emotional, casts a powerful and lasting impression. Yet, her tragic demise serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us of the dangers that can arise when one becomes too entangled in the spell of love and societal expectations..
Reviews for "Ophelia's Foil: Contrasting Her Role to Other Characters in Shakespeare's Play"
- John Smith - 2 stars - I found "The Spell of Ophelia" to be a disappointing read. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow the story. The characters were superficial and lacked depth, making it hard to feel any connection or investment in their fates. The writing style was also quite dry and uninspiring, it failed to engage me or bring the story to life. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wishing I had chosen a different book to read.
- Sarah Thompson - 1 star - "The Spell of Ophelia" was a complete letdown for me. The author attempted to create a mysterious and atmospheric world, but it fell flat. The descriptions were overly verbose and dragged on, while the actual plot was thin and uninteresting. The dialogue between the characters felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to believe or care about their interactions. The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many loose ends unresolved. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a captivating read.
- Emily Johnson - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Spell of Ophelia" but it failed to meet my expectations. The pacing was incredibly slow, with long stretches of filler that did not contribute to the overall story. The main character lacked any real development or growth, making it hard to connect with her struggles. The writing style was overly descriptive, often leaving me wanting for more dialogue or action. Ultimately, this book left me feeling bored and unfulfilled.