The Love Of Hamlet For Ophelia Essay — страница 2

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Ophelia has for him and he does so very well, perhaps too well. Now that Ophelia feelings for him have lessened, he must work quickly to obtain his uncle?s confession so that he might again have Ophelia’ love. Hamlet?s plan develops when actors arrive in Elsinor. He uses their skill by relieving the mystery of his father?s death in a production with hopes of getting his uncles confession. Hamlet confidently states, “The play?s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.? (2.2.617).It is Act 3 Scene 1, here is where it is possible to really consider Hamlet?s love for Ophelia. Prior to visiting with her, Hamlet states in a soliloquy his famous ?to be or not to be? speech 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.? (3.1.88-89). Moreover, Hamlet recognizes the importance of his affections towards Ophelia, and in regards to Ophelia’s beauty, Hamlet states “That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty.” (3.1.107-108). Clearly, Hamlet is saying that indeed, Ophelia can be honest and fair, however; it is virtually impossible to link these two traits, since ‘fairness’ is an outward trait, while ‘honesty’ is an inward trait. He further states, “Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd that the force of honesty can

translate beauty into his likeness.” (3.1.111-114). However Hamlet?s good disposition 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. Since I believe 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 her father is spying on them. It is Ophelia?s answer that angers him further, she lies that Polonius is at home. By

being untruthful 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.? (3.1.121). 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, I have faith that there is no hesitation of Hamlet?s intense love for Ophelia. It is Ophelia?s funeral, and Hamlet confronts Laertes upon a test of their love for her. It was to this challenge that Hamlet declares,

“I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum.? (5.1.271-273). It was especially difficult for Hamlet to talk to Ophelia. The only other woman in his life, Gertrude, has betrayed his father by marrying Claudius. This in fact, betrays Hamlet as well. Hamlet may be obsessed with the idea that all women are evil. Although there have been scenes in which there is the possibility of skepticism, my impression is that Hamlet did in fact, love Ophelia. His claims of affection, and his bitter reaction to her denial prove his feelings of love. Although Shakespeare may not have made it excessively clear, the popular belief supports Hamlet?s love for Ophelia. So indeed, Hamlet did love Ophelia, and evidence is also in the play that she

did love the prince. When Laertes tells Ophelia to beware of Hamlet’s love, she does not deny her love for Hamlet but responds that yes she will be careful. As for the song, no part of any of Shakespeare’s plays is ever thrown in simply because it was popular at the time. When Ophelia sings that sing in her mentally disturbed state she is revealing the nature of her relationship to Hamlet and his promises of love. In the end, Ophelia had no plan, plot or motive that drove her crazy, the loss of her lover and her father was too much for her to bear. I think Shakespeare made it a point to be for inconsistent to add to the many mysteries of Hamlet?s character as well as allow readers to relate to Hamlet?s complex mind. That is what makes a play so interesting to a reader?s