How Does Hamlet Present Ophelia's Love

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In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Hamlet develops a love interest for a woman named Ophelia in which he was perceived by the other characters to be crazy in love over her. Hamlet, although seemingly crazy at times, demonstrates his love for Ophelia in the play.
In the beginning of the play, Ophelia explains to her father the love she felt from Hamlet, “My lord, he hath importuned me with love in honorable fashion… and hath given countenance to his speech my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven” (1.3.119-123). Hamlet was so in love with Ophelia, he confessed his feelings to her, and was ready to marry her. His love was so strong for her even before all the dramatic events took place in the story, so there was no artificial feelings toward Ophelia at that moment. Hamlet confesses his love for Ophelia himself while they are in a heated discussion. He says, “This was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once” (3.1.124-125). This confession was made before the denial of his love a few lines …show more content…

He reveals a hardship that showed his love for Ophelia, “The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,” (3.1.80) Hamlet contemplated taking his life because he felt the love he had for Ophelia was much greater than her love for Hamlet. The suffering Hamlet felt was caused from his great love for Ophelia, so he expresses his sorrow and frustration to her saying that she doesn’t love him back. When Hamlet finds out Ophelia died, all his love for her pours out. He sees Laertes condoling over his sister and says, “ I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?” (5.1.285-287) Hamlet claims his love for Ophelia is much stronger than a brothers love. A proclamation this impactful and meaningful could only come from the heart proving that at times Hamlet was holding back his feelings when Ophelia was alive, but his love for her has never

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