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Does Hamlet Love Ophelia? Summary: Although Hamlet denies his love for Ophelia in Shakespeares play "Hamlet," it is possible to realize that he never stopped loving her. In his ploy to make those around him believe that he was mad, Hamlet sacrificed his love for Ophelia, hurting her when he did not want to hurt her. Hamlets true feelings are revealed through his letters and his argument with Laertes after Ophelias death. The word love is a powerful one, both in real life, and in Shakespeares play Hamlet. It is often a confusing concept, made even harder to grasp when one of the lovers repeatedly changes his/her mind. In Hamlets case, his feelings towards Ophelia veer from love, to never loved, to always love. This cycle of emotions is due to Hamlet feigning madness. The time period in which Hamlet claimed to Ophelia that he never loved her, was that in which his rage at his uncle was constantly increasing. Although Hamlet denies his love for Ophelia, it is possible to realize

that he never stopped loving her. Hamlets love for Ophelia is first introduced to the reader by Ophelia herself: "He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders of his affection to me."(pg 43 line 100) Hamlet has corresponded with Ophelia and demonstrated the love he feels for her. Even at this point in the play, Hamlet, without even having been seen around Ophelia, seems to be a bit distant. This distance he forces between himself and Ophelia is in part due to the fact that her brother and father are so overly protective of her. Ophelia claims that Hamlet has confirmed his love for her "with almost all the holy vows of heaven." (pg45 line 115) Ophelias words that he does love her in this first act, are extremely important when looking at the play as a whole because they allow the reader to understand Hamlets relationship with Ophelia. Ophelias statement shows that Hamlet has talked to her about love and they both feel they love each other. The reason for Hamlets

distance from Ophelia is revealed with the progression of the play. As Ophelia tells Polonius: He took me by the wrist and held me hard. Then goes he to the length of all his arm, and, with his other hand thus oer his brow he falls to such perusal of my face as a would draw it. Long stayed he so At last, a little shaking of mine arm and thrice his head thus waving up and down, he raised a sigh so piteous and profound as it did seem to shatter all his bulk and end his being. That done, he lets me go, and with his head over his shoulder turned he seemed to find his way without his eyes, for out o doors he went without their helps, and to the last bended their light on me. (pg 75 line 90ish) Ophelias description of what happened when Hamlet came to see her, half shows Hamlets madness, and half his love for her. Hamlets silence towards her and his weird behavior in that scene shows his confusion as to what is going on, or as is more likely, it proves his madness with the passing of

time. After Hamlets peculiar display of affection for Ophelia, she doesnt allow him to "access" her and doesnt accept his letters. Ophelias rejection to Hamlets proposal of love was the definite catalyst for Hamlets denial of his love for her later on in the play. Her refusal of him, adds to Hamlets stress and results in him using Ophelia as the person he lets out his frustration on. Proof of his infatuation with Ophelia is given when Polonius brings one of Hamlets letters to the queen and king. On the letter, Hamlet has written: "To the celestial and my souls idol, the most beautified Ophelia . Doubt thou the stars are fire, doubt that the sun doth move, doubt truth to be a liar, but never doubt I love." (pg 85 line 109) This far in the play, this is the most direct proof of his love that the reader sees. In this letter, Hamlet was sure that Ophelia would be the only recipient and he was able to express his true and honest feelings. But as the play progresses,

Hamlet wavers in his display of love because he sees that others are "studying" his every move. Ophelia: My lord, I have remembrances of yours, that I have longed long to redeliver. I pray you, now receive them Hamlet: No, not I, I never gave you aught. (pg 123 line 94) This conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia is the first time that the reader is able to observe how Ophelia and Hamlet are towards each other. Of course, since they are being closely watched by Claudius and Polonius, it cant possibly be how the two really are around each other. If not Hamlet, Ophelia at least is in some way different. Hamlet also seems to know that he is being watched or he wouldnt abruptly change or try to hide his affections for Ophelia. This scene is when the reader starts questioning whether or not Hamlet really is crazy and whether he means what he says to Ophelia. It is most like that Hamlet is acting crazy, given that a bit earlier in the play he announced he was going to do so. To

conclude that he went mad right after stating that he would "act" so is hard. In this part of the play, although he denies that he ever loved Ophelia, Hamlets craziness (or even his crazy act) makes the reader believe that he still loves her. His words of denial are self-deteriorating to him, and they also hurt Ophelia. Knowing this, Hamlet says them anyway, because of his paranoia that everyone is working against him (which he is partly right about). By far, the most important passage that proves Hamlets love for Ophelia is in act 5. At Ophelias burial, Laertes and Hamlet argue about who loved Ophelia more, and who is more hurt by her death. "I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum", Hamlet says. Upon reading this, the reader is struck again with the fact that Hamlet loves her. Hamlet mustve never stopped loving her, but only feigned that he didnt for the purpose of tricking those around him. Hamlet

grieves for Ophelia the way he grieved for his father, whom he loved dearly. The same method of grieving suggests that he loved Ophelia with all his might, and that his denial of love for her had an underlying reason. In his ploy to make those around him believe that he was mad, Hamlet sacrificed his love for Ophelia, and hurt her when he didnt want to. His true feelings shone through his letters and after her death. The times when they both encountered each other, he knew that the eyes of the king were watching him, so in an effort to cover his true intentions (ie. proving that the king was guilty for his fathers death), Hamlet disguised his feelings for Ophelia. Hamlet never stopped loving Ophelia, but the circumstances surrounding their relationship caused it to be ended in an unfavorable manner