Does Hamlet Love Ophelia Essay

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, many questions are raised as to whether or not Hamlet is really in love with Ophelia. Although many may say that Hamlet never loved Ophelia there is much more evidence in the play to argue otherwise. The way he acts around Ophelia when he is alone with her and the way he acts when he sees her dead are different then when he is interacting with the other characters. As a result of these moments Hamlet reveals that he does indeed loves Ophelia.

When Hamlet is alone with Ophelia in scene one of act III he shows us his true feelings. When Hamlet first sees her he says to himself, “The fair Ophelia!—Nymph, in thy orisons be all thy sins remembered”, (Shakespeare ). Here Hamlet asks Ophelia to remember him in her prayers and comments on her beauty by calling her a Nymph, showing us he loves her because he is wanting her to think of him. Then he laters say to Ophelia, after asking her if she is honest and fair, he says to her,

In act III, scene 2 of Hamlet Ophelia sits next to Hamlet to watch the play that Hamlet has asked the players to put on. During this time Hamlet asks is Ophelia is he should lie in her lap and Ophelia says no and Hamlet asks her, “Do you think I meant country matters?”, (Shakespeare ). Here he is toying with Ophelia and is quite rude, and talks as if all he wants is to sleep with her. However, this only because Hamlet knows that Ophelia was helping Polonius spy on him. In act III, scene 1 Hamlet asks Ophelia where he father is and tells her, “Let the doors shut him in, that he may play the fool no where but in’s own home”, (Shakespeare ), him wanting to know where Polonius is and Hamlet saying he can only play the fool at home leads us to believe that he knows what is happening. Because Hamlet knows that Ophelia is helping Polonius is breaks his heart so he has to act like he doesn’t love her and pretends to be