Custom Essays: Did Hamlet Love Ophelia?

Did Hamlet Love Ophelia?

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a young Prince seeks revenge against his murderous uncle, the

King that killed his father. In the corner of his frenzied mind, a complicated Hamlet carries a

love for the beautiful Ophelia. Hell bent on revenge, this complicated tale begs the question,

is it all fair in love and war?

For as long as men have had battles, men have wanted to leave legacies for their children.

In the beginning of this story, Shakespeare introduces a ghost that the night watchmen have

seen, the former deceased King, Hamlet Sr. Shortly after, the young prince Hamlet meets

with the ghost who tells him that he was murdered, how it was done and by whom. “And

duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed

Now, Hamlet, hear. ‘Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent

stung me, so the whole ear of Denmark is by a forged process of my death, rankly abused,

but know, thous noble youth, the serpent that sting thy father’s life now wears his crown” (p.

78). Hatred, anger and betrayal kick in, with a dire need for vengeance. Broken and beside

himself, Hamlet makes a solemn vow. “O most pernicious woman! O villain, villain, smiling

damned villain! At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark. So, uncle, there you are. Now to

my word, It is ‘Adieu, adieu, remember me.’ I have sworn’t” (p. 82). Not only was his father

murdered, but his mother appeared to have forgotten her late husband, now married to her

new King, Hamlet’s uncle. So he came up with a plan for revenge, complete with collateral

damage that included the love of his life. “Yea, from the table of my memory I’ll wipe away all

trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past that youth and

observation copied there, and thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and

volume of my brain” (p. 82). This is the beginning of his mental

Polonius thinks Hamlet is losing his mind over her, so dear old dad goes into

protective father mode and tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet. “I would not, in plain

terms, from this time forth have you so slander any moment leisure as to give words or talk

with the Lord Hamlet” (p. 66). Like a dutiful daughter, she agrees. That could not have been

easy for Hamlet. In his darkest hours he had reached out to her and she rejected him.

Laertes, in overprotective big brother fashion, sits her down for a quick lecture before he

takes off for school. Basically, he tells her that men will fall in lust with a pretty face, a rocking

body and how available a woman makes herself. And what else does he tell her? He says

she is not enough for a guy like Hamlet. “Perhaps he loves you now, and now no soil nor

cautel doth besmirch the virtue of his will; but you must fear, his greatness weighed, his will

is not his own” p.58). Child-like and easily controlled, Ophelia gives in to family pressure and

shuts Hamlet out. Feeling rejected and paranoid, Hamlet knew he had to let her go, he must

have felt further away from her than ever