Hamlet Essay, Research Paper

The Elizabethan play Hamlet by William Shakespeare is without a doubt one of

Shakespeare’s most puzzling plays. Although the play has a concise story, it is filled

with many questions pertaining to different topics behind the story line. One question in

particular is did Hamlet really love Ophelia? This argument can be supported in both

directions, however I feel that Hamlet did love Ophelia. Support for this decision comes

from Hamlet’s treatment towards Ophelia in Act 3, Scene 2, and at Ophelia’s grave in

Act 5, Scene 1.

The play Hamlet is about the trials, and tribulations met by Prince Hamlet, as he tries to

seek revenge for his father’s murder. Since, Hamlet discovers the murder of his father,

and the adultery and incest committed by his mother he retains a very bitter and

pessimistic view of the world. “That the Everlasting had not fixed His cannon ‘gainst

self-slaughter how weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this

world.” (14 Act 1 Scene 2 Line 131). It is through his soliloquy’s that the audience

learns the depths of Hamlet’s depression. Hamlet not only regards the world with

pessimism, but he also has suicidal feelings. The main reason at this point for his anger

and frustration, is his mother’s abrupt marriage to Claudius. The actions of his mother

seem to be what disgusts him most as he yells, “frailty thy name is woman!” (14 Act 1

Scene 2 Line 146). It is this attitude that Hamlet has developed towards his mother

and women in general that plays a factor on his later treatment of Ophelia in Act 3.

Once Hamlet discovers the cause of his father’s death, he assumes the disposition of a

mad man to disguise his true intentions of revenge. By doing so Hamlet is now able to

do, as he wants to, without being questioned of his behavior. It may be the reader’s

opinion that he does this on one occasion during which he visits Ophelia. Ophelia later

relates this meeting to her father, telling him that Hamlet was not properly dressed,

“and with a look so piteous in purport as if he had been loosed out of hell to speak of

horrors-he comes before me.” (39 Act 2 Scene 1 Line 84). This scene comes soon after

Hamlet learns of his father’s murder. To the reader it may seem that Hamlet is looking

to Ophelia for help. The reader can draw the conclusion that he loves her, and that she

is one the few loved ones he has left to turn to. The reader can also come to this same

conclusion later in Act 2 when Polonius reads from one of Hamlet’s love letter’s to

Ophelia, in which he says to her “But that I love thee best, O most best, believe it.”

(45 Act 2 Scene 2 Line 121).

It is Act 3 Scene 1 where the reader might reconsider their opinion of Hamlet’s love for

Ophelia. Before seeing her, Hamlet states the soliloquy in which he contemplates

suicide. By this point his purpose for revenge has made him all the more miserable, and

cynical. As Ophelia enters Hamlet’s spirits seemed to be aroused as he addresses her,

“The fair Ophelia. Nymph in thy orisons be all my sins remembered.” (65 Act 3 Scene 1

Line 90). However Hamlet’s good mood does not seem to last long. It is when Ophelia

returns to him tokens of his affection that his attitude changes toward Ophelia. Hamlet

starts to insult Ophelia, and taunt her. He tells her that he had once loved her, but

then changes his statement to say that he had never loved her. To any reader who

believes Hamlet truly did love Ophelia, these statements seem to be denial of the pain

that Ophelia has caused him. However what the reader must remember is that he

knows Ophelia does not mean what she says. This is discovered when out of the blue

he asks where her father is. Hamlet knows that he is spying on them. It is Ophelia’s

answer that angers him further, she lies that Polonius is at home.

By lying to Hamlet, and doing the bidding of Polonius, and Claudius Ophelia has

re-established Hamlet’s negative feelings towards women. Hamlet remembers his own

mother’s fickleness, her dishonesty, and her frailty. Now seeing Ophelia do the same he

can take no more and demands that she “Get thee to a nunnery.” (66 Act 3 Scene 1

Line 122). It may be the reader’s opinion that Hamlet said this because he holds Ophelia

in high regard, aside from the world he regards so cynically, he does not wish for her to

become involved with it’s corruptness, therefore he feels she would remain fair in a

nunnery.

It is in Act 5, in which the reader has no doubt of Hamlet’s love for Ophelia. It is

Ophelia’s funeral, and Hamlet confronts Laertes upon a test of their love for her. It is to

this challenge that Hamlet declares, “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not

with all their quantity of love make up my sum.” (131 Act 5 Scene 1 Line 272).

Although there have been scenes in which the reader has great doubt, he/she comes

to feel that Hamlet loved Ophelia. His claims of love, and his bitter reaction to her

rejection prove his love. Although Shakespeare may not have made it clear, the popular

belief supports Hamlet’s love for Ophelia. Shakespeare’s reason for inconsistency adds

to the many mysteries of Hamlet.