
Why does hamlet treat Ophelia so cruelly?
Hamlet treats Ophelia cruelly because he believes that she is being more loyal to her father than to their love. He no longer loves her because she has betrayed him, just like his mother. Why does Hamlet say to Ophelia, "Get thee to a nunnery"? where she will cause least amount of damage.
What did Ophelia think was wrong with Hamlet?
What did Ophelia think was wrong with Hamlet? Ophelia thinks Hamlet has been driven crazy because she rejected him. 6. How does Polonius explain this incident? Polonius says that Hamlet is angry that Ophelia rejected him. 7. Why does Polonius set off to see the King?
How is hamlet treating Ophelia and why?
There are a few reasons for why Hamlet treats Ophelia so badly. The first is her connection to Polonius. By keeping her off guard, Hamlet keeps Polonius and the King confused as well. The play leaves Hamlets awareness open ended. Hamlet could not know whether Ophelia was actively involved or simply being used.
Why does Polonius want Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet?
Polonius sternly echoes Laertes' advice, and forbids Ophelia to associate with Hamlet anymore. He tells her that Hamlet has deceived her in swearing his love, and that she should see through his false vows and rebuff his affections. Ophelia pledges to obey. Click to see full answer.

Does Hamlet ever love Ophelia?
But, in the tragedy of Hamlet, the protagonist, Hamlet, really did love Ophelia. This can be seen through his actions toward her before he found out about his father's death being a murder, pretending to be crazy simply to prove to the king and Polonius, and by his actions after Ophelia 's death.
Why does Hamlet deny his love for Ophelia?
Hamlet was supposed to get married to Ophelia sooner or later, to care for her, to protect her. At a time when women were totally submitted to their husbands, he would have had to be responsible for her. And after all, feigning not to love her anymore, he frees himself from this responsibility.
Does Hamlet stop loving Ophelia?
Here, Hamlet's fatal flaw has affected even his love relationship with Ophelia as he fails to act upon his love for her. Therefore, this shows that Hamlet did love her before Old Hamlet's death, but he has lost his love after his mistrust of women and he also fails to act upon his love towards her.
Is Hamlet's love for Ophelia genuine?
Hamlet shows throughout the play that he is really in love with Ophelia. One piece of evidence showing that Hamlet really did love Ophelia is when he tells her, “I did love you” (Act 3 scene 1 line 126). Hamlet confesses that he truly loved her, but then goes back on his word and says he never loved.
Is Ophelia pregnant in Hamlet?
In this respect, Hamlet represents a singularity in the canon: there we experience the Eliza- bethan pregnant imagination ''making''—so to say—Ophelia physically pregnant, with the result that her personal tragedy is more pathetic than would otherwise be the case.
Is Hamlet in love with his mother?
Hamlet is seen as one of the most complex literary character of all time. The relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude can be interpreted in many ways. Hamlet's motivation for killing Claudius is not to avenge his father's death, but because of his love for his mother Gertrude.
Why did Hamlet jump into Ophelia's grave?
Why does Hamlet jump into Ophelia's grave? Because he wants to show his sorrow is as great as Laertes. What does the king say to Laertes to console (make him feel better) him after Laertes and Hamlet are separated? He tells him not to worry; he will soon have the appropriate time in place to kill Hamlet.
Why did Hamlet and Ophelia break up?
At the top of Act Three Polonius forces Ophelia to return Hamlet's letters and renounce his affections. Ophelia obeys, but her action sends Hamlet into a fit of misogynistic rage. Soon after, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius.
How does Hamlet feel when Ophelia dies?
Hamlet will never see Ophelia again. In the play, Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet was at Ophelia's grave and he jumped in because he really loved and felt bad for the way he rejected her. Ophelia died by drowning herself. Hamlet made a big list of all the things he would do to love Ophelia.
Does Hamlet marry Ophelia?
She is the master of her fate in this story, and this leads to some pretty big alterations. Perhaps the most famous scene concerning Ophelia in the original play is when Hamlet angrily tells her, "Get thee to a nunnery!" In the film, the pair are genuinely in love and marry in secret.
Is Hamlet to blame for Ophelia's death?
Ophelia's death was triggered by her mental breakdown due to the loss of her father. In the midst of her inner turmoil, her depression worsens as she learns that Hamlet, the man she loves departs to England. When she dies, Gertrude reports her death to Claudius and Laertes.
How Hamlet feels about Ophelia?
Hamlet shows his love for Ophelia when he confesses to her that he loves her, when he tells her to go to a nunnery to protect her, when he sends her the letter, and when he finds out that she has died. Although many could argue that Hamlet never loved Ophelia, he was just trying to throw everyone else off.
How does Hamlet prove his love for Ophelia after her death?
Hamlet shows his love for Ophelia when he confesses to her that he loves her, when he tells her to go to a nunnery to protect her, when he sends her the letter, and when he finds out that she has died. Although many could argue that Hamlet never loved Ophelia, he was just trying to throw everyone else off.
What has happened to the relationship of Hamlet and Ophelia?
She is the daughter of Polonius, the sister of Laertes, and up until the beginning of the play's events, she has also been romantically involved with Hamlet. Ophelia's relationships with these men restrict her agency and eventually lead to her death.
How is Hamlet betrayed by Ophelia?
However, in an earlier scene Hamlet learns that Ophelia betrayed him by luring him so that Polonius and Claudius could spy on him. His reaction shows a darker side of Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship. He tells her multiple times to get to a nunnery, implying that she is as worthless as a prostitute.
What does Laertes say about Hamlet's love for Ophelia?
He explains that, to Hamlet, she can never be anything more than a plaything. Hamlet, Laertes tells Ophelia, is of a higher rank than she and cannot choose with whom he will spend his life. To protect her heart and to safeguard her honor, Laertes asserts that Ophelia should reject Prince Hamlet before he deflowers her.
What scene does Hamlet say he loves Ophelia?
Even stronger and clearer his Hamlet’s declaration of his love for Ophelia in Act 5 , Scene 1, at Ophelia’s burial. He verbally attacks (and physically struggles) with Laertes, actually claiming that he loved Ophelia and that “forty thousand brothers/ Could not with all their quantity of love/ Make up [his] sum.
What is the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia?
The Relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is by all means a troubled young man. He seeks revenge for the murder of his father and has to deal with the incestuous relationship between his mother and uncle. In order to hide his motives, he pretends to be mad.
Why is Hamlet not honest with Ophelia?
Additionally, he cannot be honest with Ophelia as he must know of her obedience to her father Polonius and has to maintain his madness-cover. With regard to this, one could argue that Ophelia joining a nunnery would keep her safe and away from the court, as Hamlet does not and cannot know how his plans for revenge will play out.
What does Ophelia tell Polonius about Hamlet?
In Ophelia’s first dialogue with Polonius, she tells him how Hamlet has made “tenders/ Of his affection” to her . This must have taken place sometime before the play starts, before Hamlet learns of the murder of his father and decides to feign madness and is therefore likely to be a true act of affection. Even stronger and clearer his Hamlet’s ...
What is Hamlet disgusted by?
Hamlet is disgusted by the impurity and falseness of mankind in general and the gentry he is part of specifically, yet he destroys the life and sanity of the most pure and innocent character in the play.
What does Body 2 mean in Hamlet?
Body 2. 1 “I did love you once” – How Hamlet shows affection That Ophelia is in love with Hamlet is rather clear and undoubted throughout the play. And there are many reasons to believe that Hamlet feels similar about her. In Ophelia’s first dialogue with Polonius, she tells him how Hamlet has made “tenders/ Of his affection” to her.
Why doesn't Hamlet love Ophelia?
I think that part of the reason that Hamlet does not love Ophelia is because of the character flaws revealed throughout the course of the drama. A critical flaw, almost tragic, that Hamlet possesses is his propensity to allow his function to be smothered by surmise. Simply put, Hamlet is incapable of taking action. His consistency in the lack of decision in his actions would prevent him from being in love with Ophelia. One of the themes that Shakespeare develops about love in the play is that it involves complete immersion and decisive commitment. Few, if any, of the characters display this to one another, which might be why there is such a glaring lack of love present. Hamlet is reflective of this as he seems to have one portion of his psyche immersed in one element of consciousness while the other portion is engaged in something else. This divided and tortured psyche is revealed in Hamlet's actions towards Ophelia. On one hand, he does need her love and loyalty, as he receives it from few others. Yet, he cannot bring himself to committing himself to her love, constantly repelling her with insults and cruelty, actions that are barriers in experiencing the true essence of love to one another.
How many times does Hamlet love Ophelia?
Here he claims to love her 40 times more than her brother does. I tend to believe him more here; he is reacting freshly to her unexpected death. Which makes it all the more tragic that he so harshly rejected her, contributing to her road to madness and death.
How does Hamlet prove that he loves Ophelia?
The last example which proves that Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is true is when he finds out that she is dead. In the graveyard, Hamlet confronts Laertes about his accusations that he never loved Ophelia. Hamlet responds by saying: “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum” (V.i.285-87). Hamlet has no reason to defend his love for Ophelia now that she is dead, but he still does. Hamlet really did love Ophelia, and tells Laertes, “Be buried quick with her, and so will I” (V.i.296). Hamlet expresses how sad he is over losing her, and that he is just as sad as Laertes. Hamlet feels that he has nothing to live for no that Ophelia is gone.
Why does Hamlet reveal his feelings for Ophelia?
This is the one time before Ophelia’s death that Hamlet reveals his true feelings. This could be due to the fact that, once Ophelia received the letter, she gave it to her father. Hamlet did not trust Polonius, and from that moment on, Hamlet knew he had to hide his love for Ophelia and act mad to protect her .
Why did Hamlet not want Ophelia to become involved in Claudius's case?
Hamlet did not want Ophelia to become involved in case Claudius decided to get revenge on Hamlet. Hamlet shows his love for Ophelia when he confesses to her that he loves her, when he tells her to go to a nunnery to protect her, when he sends her the letter, and when he finds out that she has died.
What does Hamlet know about Polonius?
This implies that Hamlet knows Polonius is watching him and is planning something. Another point in the story that confirms Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is when Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery. At first, it seems as though Hamlet is mocking her, but it is possible that Ophelia is pregnant with Hamlet’s child.
Did Hamlet love Ophelia?
Hamlet really did love Ophelia, and tells Laertes, “Be buried quick with her, and so will I” (V.i.296). Hamlet expresses how sad he is over losing her, and that he is just as sad as Laertes. Hamlet feels that he has nothing to live for no that Ophelia is gone. Throughout the entire play, Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is questioned.
Is Ophelia pregnant with Hamlet's child?
At first, it seems as though Hamlet is mocking her, but it is possible that Ophelia is pregnant with Hamlet’s child. This seems plausible because immediately after he tells her, “Get thee to a nunnery,” Hamlet starts talking about breeding and how it would be bad to bring a child into such an evil world (III.i131).
What was Hamlet's love like?
Hamlet's love, they seem to show, was not only mingled with bitterness, it was also, like all his healthy feelings, weakened and deadened by his melancholy. 5 It was far from being extinguished; probably it was one of the causes which drove him to force his way to Ophelia; whenever he saw Ophelia, it awoke and, the circumstances being what they were, tormented him.
What would happen if we saw a contemporary representation of Hamlet?
But it must be remembered that if we could see a contemporary representation of Hamlet, our doubts would probably disappear. The actor, instructed by the author, would make it clear to us by looks, tones, gestures, and by-play how far Hamlet's feigned harshness to Ophelia was mingled with real bitterness, and again how far his melancholy had deadened his love.
What does Hamlet have to do to make up his mind?
The actor who plays the part of Hamlet must make up his mind as to the interpretation of every word and deed of the character. Even if at some point he feels no certainty as to which of two interpretations is right, he must still choose one or the other. The mere critic is not obliged to do this.
Was Hamlet haunted by Ophelia?
There are signs that Hamlet was haunted by the horrible idea that he had been deceived in Ophelia as he had been in his mother; that she was shallow and artificial, and even that what had seemed simple and affectionate love might really have been something very different.
Is Ophelia mentioned in the first act?
7. We have seen that there is no reference to Ophelia in the soliloquies of the First Act. Neither is there the faintest allusion to her in any one of the soliloquies of the subsequent Acts, unless possibly in the words (iii. i. 72) 'the pangs of despised love.' 4 If the popular theory is true, is not this an astounding fact?
Does Hamlet break up with Ophelia?
Hamlet does not, as the popular theory supposes, break with Ophelia directly after the Ghost appears to him; on the contrary, he tries to see her and sends letters to her (ii. i. 109). What really happens is that Ophelia suddenly repels his visits and letters.
Did Hamlet change his love for Ophelia?
According to this view, Hamlet's love for Ophelia never changed. On the revelation made by the Ghost, however, he felt that he must put aside all thoughts of it; and it also seemed to him necessary to convince Ophelia, as well as others, that he was insane, and so to destroy her hopes of any happy issue to their love.
What does Ophelia think of Hamlet?
Ophelia does not understand him and thinks that he is mad and helps her father and Claudius in the hope that Hamlet would regain his reason.
What is the love of Ophelia that she never confesses?
The love of Ophelia which she never once confesses is like a secret which we have stolen from her and which ought to die upon our hearts as upon her own.
What is Ophelia's character?
Ophelia is a meek and frail person. She is too tender to cope with the volcanic world of Hamlet. She is caught in the vortex of circumstances which Hamlet is unable to control. She loses mental balance and dies. Had the circumstances been different she might have been the bride of Hamlet as Gertrude says:
Who tells Polonius that Hamlet loved her?
Ophelia too tells Polonius that Hamlet had importuned her with love in honorable fashion and ‘had given countenance to his speech with almost all the vows of heaven’. Dowden has rightly observed: Laertes’ sister Ophelia is loved by Lord Hamlet.
What is Shakespeare's greatness and pre-eminence as a dramatist?
Shakespeare’s greatness and pre-eminence as a dramatist is universally recognized. It is said that “he was not of an age but of all times”. Shakespeare’s characters reveal themselves by what they say and do on the stage. They tell us more by their speeches then by their actions. Hamlet, the play and the man, seem to be presented as a puzzle.
Who is Polonius and Laertes?
Polonius and Laertes are worldly minded men and Hamlet is out of favor with fortune and it is fatal to have any relation with him. Ophelia carries out these orders and Hamlet receives another shock. He goes into Ophelia’s closet and tries to find out id she is also as faithless and unreliable as his mother.
Did Hamlet share his secret with Ophelia?
Hamlet never shares his secret with Ophelia despite loving her and this he again admits in the last act. I loved Ophelia, 40000 brothers, Could not with all their quantity of love. Make up my sum. But for the fulfillment of love and marriage it is now tragically too late. Ophelia is a meek and frail person.
What is Ophelia's role in Hamlet?
Ophelia’s role in the play revolves around her relationships with three men. She is the daughter of Polonius, the sister of Laertes, and up until the beginning of the play’s events, she has also been romantically involved with Hamlet. Ophelia’s relationships with these men restrict her agency and eventually lead to her death.
What do Laertes and Polonius tell Ophelia?
Despite the force of their warnings, Laertes and Polonius both trust Ophelia to make her own decisions. However, as the question of Hamlet’s state ...
What happens to Ophelia in Act 4?
The combination of her former lover’s cruelty and her father’s death sends Ophelia into a fit of grief. In Act Four she spirals into madness and dies under ambiguous circumstances. Ophelia’s tragedy lies in the way she loses her ...
What happens in Act 3 of Hamlet?
Ophelia obeys, but her action sends Hamlet into a fit of misogynistic rage. Soon after, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius.
