Hamlet And Ophelia: Love Or Not?

Hamlet And Ophelia: Love Or Not?

Throughout the play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare, there has been numerous debate's wether Hamlet loves Ophelia, or not. With Hamlet's exceptional intelligence, and Ophelia's innocent personality, the argument can go in any direction. However, I believe that Hamlet has, and still does  love Ophelia in the play. firstly, there is evidence that Hamlet and Ophelia have had feelings for each other before the plot of the play started. On page 97, when Ophelia is crazy, and is singing she says "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) which is evidence that Hamlet, and Ophelia have slept together before the plot of the play. I think that this line from Ophelia is significant because previously in the play, when Hamlet and Ophelia are having a conversation while Polonius, and Claudius are spying on them. As stated by my classmate Ricardo Grant, I also believe that Hamlet's lines are proof that he deeply cares about Ophelia's well being. However, I also believe that Hamlet's line "Get thee to a nunnery" (III, i, 121) explains that he is trying to protect her because he loves her, and he doesn't want anything bad to happen to her. Hamlet knows that Ophelia can get in serious trouble if Polonius finds out that they slept together, and still love each other, and he cannot protect her. So he tells her to go to a nunnery so that while Hamlet is dealing with other problems such as the murder of his father, Having no communication with Ophelia because of Polonius, and his depressed state, Ophelia can be safe. Then, later in the act, when Hamlet and Ophelia see each other again during the "Mousetrap" play. Hamlet says, while turning to Ophelia, to his mother when she asks him to sit with her "No, good mother, here's metal more attractive" (III, ii, 108) Basically calling Ophelia more attractive than his own mother, which shows that he has a love for Ophelia. Then during the performance of the "Mousetrap" play, despite all the negative comments that Hamlet made to Ophelia in act III, scene I, because he was aware that Polonius and Claudius were watching him. He says to Ophelia "Lady, shall I lie in your lap?" (III, ii, 110) which is a sexual innuendo. I think that Hamlet is flirting with Ophelia because as stated by my classmate Christie Towne, the room that they are in is crowded, so they can have a private conversation. However, I also believe that Hamlet is flirting with Ophelia because he knows that he is not being watched by anyone, and so he can express his true feelings toward Ophelia without being in danger, or putting her in danger. 

At my conclusion, throughout the play, there are numerous signs of love between Hamlet and Ophelia. However, if you connect moments, and situations in the play together. It is clear that Hamlet loves Ophelia.