In the play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare we come to an opinionated predicament towards the love between Hamlet and Ophelia. Lost love, current love or future love, these are the many different opinions towards Hamlet and Ophelia’s love for each other. But what is love? We have all asked this question to ourselves at one point or another in our lives. Love is the intimate emotional connection between human’s, with the result of an intense feeling of deep affection. After further investigation in the text I believe, despite Hamlet and Ophelia’s primary motives, that they do truly love each other.
Before Hamlet learned of his father’s murder, he and Ophelia were interested in each other. “He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders of his affection to me”(Act i,iii, 99-100). Ophelia is telling her father that Hamlet has been showing his affection to her. This shows that Hamlet is interested in her and Ophelia in him. She asks her father for advice on the matter, while truly not knowing to pursue her love for Hamlet, for she does not know what to think. “I do not know, my lord, what I should think”(Act i,iii, 104). Despite their interest for one another Ophelia's primary focus is her loyalty to her father and once Hamlet learned about his father’s murder, his primary focus is revenge. This interferes with their love for one another, but their love shines through. The true start of their relationship begins with Hamlet’s love letters. With his primary focus in mind, Hamlet starts to write love letters to trick everyone into thinking he loves Ophelia. As he was writing, his true emotions emerged. “Doubt thou the stars are fire, Doubt that the sun doth move, Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love ”(Act ii, ii, 115-118). This proves Hamlet’s deep love for Ophelia while still staying focused on his primary goal. Hamlet doubts many things including the sun, which can be argued to be highly looked upon when swearing against it, but never doubts his love for Ophelia. She did repel these letters as of the command of her father, but she did feel Hamlet’s love for her. “And with them words of so sweet breath compos’d as made the things more rich”(Act iii,i,98-99). During this scene Hamlet speaks in code, for he knows that this is a trap set up by Polonius and Claudius. Stilling having his main goal in mind, he appears to be expressing no love for Ophelia, but is secretly expressing his love for her. “Get thee to a nunnery. Why, wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?”(Act iii,i,121-122). Hamlet sounds like he's telling Ophelia she is crazy and she should never have babies for they will be evil. That is what Ophelia perceives until later on in the play when she realized that Hamlet meant that he cares for her and would let no man love her, but himself. Ophelia and Hamlet start to flirt with each other in Act iii scene ii during the mousetrap play. Therefore taking their relationship to the next more sexual level. “Lady, shall I lie in your lap?”(Act iii,ii,).
After reading through the text and analyzing Hamlet and Ophelia’s relationship, I believe that they are in love. They may not put their primary motives aside for love, but their beautiful love shines through the madness. I just wish their was a happy ending. :)
Comment in response to Marcus:
In Marcus's blog, he talked about how Hamlet and Ophelia could have been sleeping together before hand. "To be your valentine. Then up he rose, and donn'd his clo'es, and dupp'd the chamber door, Let in the maid that out a maid Never departed more" (IIII, iiiii, 51-55). I found this to be a great point, and I wish I thought of it and put in the beginning of my blog. Great thinking Marcus!!!!
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