Why Didn T Hamlet Go To Ophelia

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, one of the main characters, Hamlet receives news that his dad was murdered. In order to avenge his father’s death Hamlet decides to act mad. At the beginning of the play Hamlet decides to visit his ex-girlfriend Ophelia to spread the word about his “antic disposition”. Originally when talking to his friends Horatio and Marcellus, Hamlet says:

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come.

Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,

How strange or odd some’er I bear myself

(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

To put an antic disposition on)

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,

With arms encumbered thus,

If Hamlet was emotionally hurt about his father’s death he would speak more about his feelings rather than setting up a plan to take revenge. Since Hamlet was not overly upset it is clear that he did not go to Ophelia in the next scene to get support for emotions, but rather to spread the word about his “antic disposition”. If Hamlet was upset he could have turned to many people such as his friends Horatio and Marcellus whom he was speaking to in the above quotation. Choosing to not ask his close friends for help shows that he was not overly upset and did not need support. Seeing that he did not need support or strength from his friend makes it unlikely that he would go see Ophelia for help. As well Hamlet forcing his friends to swear that they won’t reveal why he is acting strange, shows that he wants everyone in the castle to think he is mad. Hamlet being an intellect given his many years of schooling knows that if he displays signs of madness to his ex-girlfriend Ophelia, she will tell her dad. Then Polonius will spread the rumour of Hamlets madness throughout the castle. The success of Hamlets visit is displayed later when Ophelia is talking with her dad