Final answer:
Ophelia's fate as described by Queen Gertrude is that she drowned in a river, a tragic end to her character, which has been depicted by various artists and become symbolic of female madness and vulnerability in literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
The fate of Ophelia as reported by Queen Gertrude at the end of Act IV in Shakespeare's play Hamlet is that Ophelia drowned in a river. This tragic event occurs after Ophelia descends into madness following the death of her father, Polonius, and Hamlet's rejection. The romantic and tragic imagery of Ophelia's death has inspired many artists and writers over the centuries, and has become an iconic symbol of the intersection between female madness and innocence.
Ophelia's fate has been interpreted in various ways, with some readings placing emphasis on her madness as a form of resistance to the constraints placed upon her by a patriarchal society, while others suggest a connection to her deep emotional turmoil and unrequited love for Hamlet.