Analysis Of Hamlet's Love For Ophelia In Hamlet

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After hearing this letter read aloud, both the king and queen are at least partially convinced that the denial of Hamlet’s love for Ophelia may be the impetus for his perceived insanity. Consequently, Polonius contrives a plan to send Ophelia out to speak with Hamlet while the king and him eavesdrop behind an arras to conclude whether Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is the true, deep-rooted cause of his madness. However, this hypothesis is quickly proven incorrect once the conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia commences. Ophelia reminds Hamlet of his professions of interest to her, but Hamlet simply states that he “did love [her] once,” but that she “should not have believed” him; Hamlet then brazenly declares, “I loved you not” (3.1.121,
This reveals Hamlet’s efforts to push Ophelia away, perhaps away from the evil and deceit that encompasses the castle, as she is perceived as largely innocent and virtuous. However, in Elizabethan times, “nunnery” was sometimes used as slang to refer to a brothel, furthering the ambiguity of this statement. If Hamlet meant it in such a way, it may be because he already sees that she has been corrupted. Additionally, in this scene, Hamlet may also be freeing himself from the responsibility of caring for her in marriage later on because his violent actions will distance him too greatly. Danielle Esposito, analyzer of several works of literature, further reveals that “He will not be able to cope with the responsibilities of marriage, nor even with those of a sentimental involvement. Indeed when one is in love, especially if this love is shared...one is supposed to make the beloved one happy.” Hamlet, however cannot accomplish this due to his perceived unfitness for marriage. Esposito also suggests that “Another reason why he rejects her is that marriage itself has become abhorrent to him. Because he has recently realised that his mother 's second marriage is only a betrayal of love and of everything that is noble in life” (Esposito). Ergo, because the only other woman he trusted in life, his mother Gertrude, betrayed him and married Claudius quickly after her husband’s death,
This contrasts Hamlet’s previous refusal of love for Ophelia, but seems genuine in this moment of grief upon learning of the death of Ophelia. Moreover, Hamlet states that he “lov’d Ophelia; forty thousand brothers/Could not, with all their quantity of love,/Make up my sum” (5.1.236-237). This may hint at Hamlet’s love for Ophelia; some may take this directly as proof of Hamlet’s transcending love for Ophelia. But, a layer of ambiguity is added, as Hamlet proclaims that he loved Ophelia--in the past tense--which is likely either due to her death or the end of his love for her earlier, especially if the belief that love surpasses time is held true. Yet, Hamlet further challenges Laertes, exclaiming that he will perform a myriad of feats for Ophelia--weep, fight, fast, eat a crocodile. This, then, suggests a state of love in the present and future tense for Ophelia, furthering the ultimate question of the validity of his love for her. However, this initial proclamation of love for Ophelia may simply be a tactic Hamlet uses “to take the lead, the advantage... By attacking him (here, verbally) he protects himself from an attack he instinctively fears, an attack which could have been justly provoked by a

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