Introduction
Hamlet is a difficult character, and this is the main reason why questions about his love for Ophelia are raised. There are many arguments that can be provided in favour and against this argument. However, during the entire play, Hamlet shows love for Ophelia through small actions of care. Mental Hamlet is not supportive, and because of all the shocking, mistrustful, depressed and overwhelming motions, he is not able to treat his girlfriend in a sweet manner. Hamlet is truly in love with Ophelia throughout the course of the play because of his immature behaviour, the way he acts around her alone and his reaction after her death.
Body
Hamlet’s behaviour throughout the play is contradictory. His acts are like those of adolescence. He was in a state of shock because his mother remarried and his father was murdered. The friends around him were not trustworthy, so he believed that he was surrounded by fools. These were all the reasons that made him uncomfortable around women, and he was not capable of handling any woman. He was immature in understanding the psyche of his love (Leverenz). It is expected from teenage boys that when they are betrayed once, they develop a sense of disgust for other girls (Camden). The feelings of love for Ophelia explode at the time of her funeral when he goes uncontrolled, and his emotions are an outburst.
The love of Hamlet for Ophelia is depicted in many scenes of this play. The way he acted whenever he was around her alone is a clear picture of his love. He explicitly tells Ophelia about his true feelings of love (Leverenz). He even wrote a letter which clearly proves his love. Writing this letter was the time when he truly revealed his feelings because he knew that Ophelia would be the only one to receive and read this letter. This could be true that Ophelia gave that letter to her father (Camden). But from that moment, Hamlet distrusted Polonius, and he was aware that he should hide his true feelings for Ophelia from everyone in order to protect her. After this point in the play, Hamlet does not express his feelings because he is being watched.
Another proof of Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is his reaction when he hears about Ophelia’s death. Even after her death, there was no reason to defend his love for her if it was fake, but still, he does. He said in the graveyard that his love for Ophelia cannot be met even if forty thousand men’s love is combined. Even Ophelia is aware of this love when she tells her father that she fears Hamlet is mad at her love (Leverenz). Many other scenes show that he truly loved her. No matter how badly he treated Ophelia and how much he berated her, his affection and feelings were real. Hamlet explicitly expresses how sad he is about Ophelia’s death, and now that she is gone, he has nothing to live for (Camden).
Conclusion
The love of Hamlet for Ophelia is questioned throughout the play. Hamlet tries hard to show that he does not love Ophelia by throwing off other characters. This was all because he did not want her to be involved in Claudius’ case. This was to protect her if Claudius wanted to take revenge on him. He sends a letter to her and even tells her to go to a nunnery for her protection. All these references clearly show Hamlet’s love for Ophelia.
Works Cited
Camden, Carroll. “On Ophelia’s Madness.” Shakespeare Quarterly 15.2 (1964): 247-255.
Leverenz, David. “The Woman in Hamlet: An Interpersonal View.” Journal of Women in Culture and Society 4.2 (1978).
