Ophelia.. We feel ya

Young love is always tricky. Most adolescents are figuring themselves out, and are unsure of what they truly want. Even the brightest of them can find themselves perplexed when it comes to the love game. In Shakespeare's Hamlet we see this complexity in the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia. Their relationship is questionable, and a question that arises from the play is whether or not Hamlet and Ophelia are truly in love with one another. I am of the opinion that their love is true.

Their relationship is first introduces in Act 1 Scene 3 when Laertes is advising her sister to stay away from Hamlet because guys only want one thing. Her response unfortunately doesn't help us in answering the big question. She doesn't defend Hamlet or his intentions, all she does is tell Laertes not to be a hypocrite.  Later in the scene when her father offers her the same advice she says "My lord, he hath importun'd me with love in honourable fashion"(I.iii.110-111). Ophelia has no reason to lie to her father about Hamlets love at this moment. The next important scene in the nunnery scene. Here it can be argued that Hamlet is either trying to protect Ophelia because he loves her or that he is ending things with her. There are a couple reasons I believe in the prior theory. First off, before Hamlet begins his assault he says "Soft you now, the fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons be all my sins remember'd"(III.i.88-90). If Hamlet truly meant what he said why would he pray for her. Likewise, Hamlet tells Ophelia several times not to believe him and that he is a liar. Hamlet is no fool, he was sent here and he has his suspicions that he is being spied on, that's why he asks Ophelia where her father is.

The nunnery scene alone is not enough to answer the question of whether or not Hamlet and Ophelia are truly in love. In that scene the two lacked the privacy to speak honestly. In the next scene however we see the two going back in forth during the privacy of the play. Hamlet and Ophelia share sexual innuendos and inappropriate banter that at the time could of gotten them in a lot of trouble. Especially Ophelia. Yet she takes the risk and engages Hamlet and flirts with him. They have a clear attraction and there is even evidence to suggest that they might have a sexual relationship. Ophelia is told numerous times to hold onto her chastity, however she might have already lost it to Hamlet.
Their is evidence to suggest this when we see Ophelia go crazy after Hamlet kills her father. She sings "Tomorrow is Saint Valentine's day...and I a maid at your window, to be your Valentine...let in the maid that out a maid never departed more"(IV.X.48-55). Here Ophelia could perhaps be alluding to her and Hamlet. She also sings "Young men will do't if they come to't-by Cock, they are to blame. Quoth she, 'Before you tumbled me you promis'd me to wed'. He answers, 'So I a done, by yonder sun, and thou hadst not come to my bed'"(IX.V.60-66). Ophelia could very well be retelling her past experiences with Hamlet. We know that whenever the "sun" is mentioned Hamlet is being referred to.
Ophelia clearly has a special place for Hamlet in her heart. As for Hamlet, at this point in the play it is harder to say for sure whether or not he feels the exact same. He tries to protect Ophelia, and seems to have a great time flirting with her. He also might have had sexual relations with her so it is not too far fetched to say that he loves her.