, Research Paper
Hamlet is without any reserves, one of Shakespeare’s most cryptic dramas. Although the drama has a concise narrative, it is filled with many uncertainnesss associating to different issues behind the secret plan. The reader is left with many uncertainnesss about the true feelings of prince Hamlet. One inquiry in peculiar is, did Hamlet truly love Ophelia? This difference can be reinforced either manner, nevertheless I believe Hamlet was genuinely in love with Ophelia. Support for my determination comes from Hamlet’s intervention towards Ophelia is shown throughout the drama, but particularly in Act 3, Scene 2, and at Ophelia’s grave in Scene 1 of Act 5. This drama is about the problems encountered by immature prince Hamlet as he tries to seek retaliation for his male parent’s slaying. Hamlet discovers the slaying of his male parent, every bit good as the criminal conversation and incest committed by his female parent and uncle. This consequences with Hamlet retaining a really embittered and misanthropic mentality on life. ? Or that the Everlasting had non fixed His cannon? gainst self-slaughter? how weary, stale, level, and unprofitable seem to me all the utilizations of this world. ? ( 1.2.131-134 ) . Throughout the drama, Hamlet teaches the audience the deepnesss of his depression through monologues. Hamlet non merely regards the universe with pessimism, but he besides has suicidal feelings. Hamlet displays ideas of ego that inquiries the worth of life. The foremost cause for his aggravation and exasperation is the fact that his female parent and his uncle, Claudius instantly got married right after his male parent’s decease. His female parent’s actions seem to be what repulses Hamlet most as he yells, ? infirmity thy name is adult female! ? ( 1.2.146 ) . Hamlet has developed a firing hatred towards his female parent and adult females in general. It is this fuming mentality that is responsible for his awful intervention towards dear, guiltless Ophelia in Act 3. Once Hamlet discovers the cause of his male parent’s decease, he disguises himself by moving nutty to dissemble his true aims of retaliation. By making so Hamlet is now able to make whatever he wants to, without being questioned of his behaviour. He does this on one juncture during a visit with Ophelia. Ophelia subsequently relays this meeting to her male parent, stating him that Hamlet was non decently dressed, ? and with a expression so hapless in intent as if he had been loosed out of snake pit to talk of horrors-he comes before me. ? ( 2.1.82-84 ) . This scene is straight after Hamlet learns of his male parent’s slaying. It seems that Hamlet is looking to Ophelia for aid, his feelings were crushed and he needed solace. I extract the appraisal that prince Hamlet adores Ophelia, and that she is one the few loved 1s he has left to turn to. I am certainly he loves his household, but his male parent is dead, his female parent is unconcerned with his male parent’s decease and his uncle is the liquidator of his male parent. The secret plan thickens and Hamlet’s head begins to chew over the possibilities of a confession by the male monarch. His love for Ophelia is besides strongly noticed by all. The Lords of Elsinor besides notice the love he shows and they begin to recognize the possibility that Hamlet love for Ophelia would profit them all. When Polonius reads from one of Hamlet’s love missive’s to Ophelia, in which he says to her? But that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. ? ( 2.2.121-122 ) . Queen Gertrude wants to utilize Ophelia’s love to convey her lone boy out of lunacy. Claudius wants to make the same. His ground, nevertheless, is to stop the menace of his ain life. Once the male monarch and queen recognize this redress they rapidly act to utilize it by carrying Ophelia to speak to Hamlet. In this Scene true lunacy comes into drama. Once Ophelia meets Hamlet and speaks with him Hamlet realizes that his female parent and stepfather are cognizant of this love and might utilize this to stop his menace. Hamlet must stop their ideas of utilizing Ophelia to free him of his status. To make this he must destruct all the current feelings Ophelia has for him and he does so really good, possibly excessively good. Now that Ophelia feelings for him have lessened, he must work rapidly to obtain his uncle’s confession so that he might once more hold Ophelia’love. Hamlet’s program develops when histrions arrive in Elsinor. He uses their accomplishment by alleviating the enigma of his male parent’s decease in a production with hopes of acquiring his uncles confession. Hamlet confidently states, “The drama’s the thing Wherein I’ll catch the scruples of
the King.? (2.2.617).It is Act 3 Scene 1, here is where it is possible to really consider Hamlet?s love for Ophelia. Prior to visiting with her, Hamlet states in a soliloquy his famous ?to be or not to be? speech in which he contemplates suicide. By this point his purpose for revenge has made him all the more miserable, and cynical. As Ophelia enters, Hamlet?s spirits seemed to be aroused as he addresses her, ?The fair Ophelia! Nymph in thy orisons be all my sins remembered.? (3.1.88-89). Moreover, Hamlet recognizes the importance of his affections towards Ophelia, and in regards to Ophelia’s beauty, Hamlet states “That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit no discourse to your beauty.” (3.1.107-108). Clearly, Hamlet is saying that indeed, Ophelia can be honest and fair, however; it is virtually impossible to link these two traits, since ‘fairness’ is an outward trait, while ‘honesty’ is an inward trait. He further states, “Ay, truly, for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd that the force of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness.” (3.1.111-114). However Hamlet?s good disposition does not seem to last long. It is when Ophelia returns to him tokens of his affection that his attitude changes toward Ophelia. Hamlet starts to insult Ophelia, and taunt her. He tells her that he had once loved her, but then changes his statement to say that he had never loved her. Since I believe Hamlet truly did love Ophelia, these statements seem to be denial of the pain that Ophelia has caused him. However what the reader must remember is that he knows Ophelia does not mean what she says. This is discovered when out of the blue he asks where her father is. Hamlet knows that her father is spying on them. It is Ophelia?s answer that angers him further, she lies that Polonius is at home. By being untruthful to Hamlet, and doing the bidding of Polonius and Claudius, Ophelia has re-established Hamlet?s negative feelings towards women. Hamlet remembers his own mother?s fickleness, her dishonesty, and her frailty. Now seeing Ophelia do the same he can take no more and demands that she ?Get thee to a nunnery.? (3.1.121). Hamlet said this because he holds Ophelia in high regard, aside from the world he regards so cynically, he does not wish for her to become involved with it?s corruptness, therefore he feels she would remain fair in a nunnery. It is in Act 5, I have faith that there is no hesitation of Hamlet?s intense love for Ophelia. It is Ophelia?s funeral, and Hamlet confronts Laertes upon a test of their love for her. It was to this challenge that Hamlet declares, “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum.? (5.1.271-273). It was especially difficult for Hamlet to talk to Ophelia. The only other woman in his life, Gertrude, has betrayed his father by marrying Claudius. This in fact, betrays Hamlet as well. Hamlet may be obsessed with the idea that all women are evil. Although there have been scenes in which there is the possibility of skepticism, my impression is that Hamlet did in fact, love Ophelia. His claims of affection, and his bitter reaction to her denial prove his feelings of love. Although Shakespeare may not have made it excessively clear, the popular belief supports Hamlet?s love for Ophelia. So indeed, Hamlet did love Ophelia, and evidence is also in the play that she did love the prince. When Laertes tells Ophelia to beware of Hamlet’s love, she does not deny her love for Hamlet but responds that yes she will be careful. As for the song, no part of any of Shakespeare’s plays is ever thrown in simply because it was popular at the time. When Ophelia sings that sing in her mentally disturbed state she is revealing the nature of her relationship to Hamlet and his promises of love. In the end, Ophelia had no plan, plot or motive that drove her crazy, the loss of her lover and her father was too much for her to bear. I think Shakespeare made it a point to be for inconsistent to add to the many mysteries of Hamlet?s character as well as allow readers to relate to Hamlet?s complex mind. That is what makes a play so interesting to a reader?s mind?when one can place themselves in the shoes of the main character. All Quotes taken from:Shakespeare. Hamlet. New York: First Signet Classic Printing, 1998.
