Hamlet Love for Ophelia
Hamlets Love For Ophelia
Although the play Hamlet was written nearly 450 years ago by William Shakespeare, scholars still pose the question, “Did Hamlet really love Ophelia?” I believe Hamlet had feelings for Ophelia, but he never demonstrated true love for her. Several times in the play Hamlet denies his love for Ophelia. If he truly loved her, he would not want to hurt her. When Hamlet accidently killed Polonius, he did not try to console Ophelia. If he truly loved her, he would have been at her side to provide comfort in her time of grief. Even at Ophelia’s funeral, he did not profess his love for Ophelia. If he truly loved her, he would have proclaimed his love for her to those present at the funeral. Hamlet’s actions prove that he didn’t have true love for Ophelia.
The first time Hamlet denies his love for Ophelia is in Act III Scene I. Hamlet declares “I did love you once” after Ophelia has broken up with him. Ophelia replies “Indeed my lord you made me believe so.” Hamlet then pronounces, “You should not have believed me.” This demonstrates that Hamlet really did not love Ophelia. He continues on to express his lack of feelings for her, “I give you this plague of dowry; be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shall not escape calumny.” He tells her to go away or he will destroy her good name. Although he might just be spewing words of bitterness because Ophelia has ended their relationship, if he really cared for her he would not want to slander her reputation. His lack concern for her virtuous character supports the argument that he does not truly love Ophelia. In Act III Scene IV Hamlet accidently slays Polonius. After doing so he feels no remorse and announces, “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better.” He believes Polonius got what he deserved. His lack of remorse for killing Ophelia’s father show he is not concerned with her feelings. Rather than feeling saddened by this unfortunate event, Hamlet takes delight
Although the play Hamlet was written nearly 450 years ago by William Shakespeare, scholars still pose the question, “Did Hamlet really love Ophelia?” I believe Hamlet had feelings for Ophelia, but he never demonstrated true love for her. Several times in the play Hamlet denies his love for Ophelia. If he truly loved her, he would not want to hurt her. When Hamlet accidently killed Polonius, he did not try to console Ophelia. If he truly loved her, he would have been at her side to provide comfort in her time of grief. Even at Ophelia’s funeral, he did not profess his love for Ophelia. If he truly loved her, he would have proclaimed his love for her to those present at the funeral. Hamlet’s actions prove that he didn’t have true love for Ophelia.
The first time Hamlet denies his love for Ophelia is in Act III Scene I. Hamlet declares “I did love you once” after Ophelia has broken up with him. Ophelia replies “Indeed my lord you made me believe so.” Hamlet then pronounces, “You should not have believed me.” This demonstrates that Hamlet really did not love Ophelia. He continues on to express his lack of feelings for her, “I give you this plague of dowry; be thou chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shall not escape calumny.” He tells her to go away or he will destroy her good name. Although he might just be spewing words of bitterness because Ophelia has ended their relationship, if he really cared for her he would not want to slander her reputation. His lack concern for her virtuous character supports the argument that he does not truly love Ophelia. In Act III Scene IV Hamlet accidently slays Polonius. After doing so he feels no remorse and announces, “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better.” He believes Polonius got what he deserved. His lack of remorse for killing Ophelia’s father show he is not concerned with her feelings. Rather than feeling saddened by this unfortunate event, Hamlet takes delight