Hamlet and Ophelia

The scene where Hamlet is being a jerk to Ophelia is significant because Shakespeare never really stated the whereabouts of Polonius and King Claudius. Thus, there are several interpretations of the scene. One interpretation has it so that Hamlet is aware of the presence of Polonius and Claudius. If this were the case, Hamlet’s harsh words toward Ophelia can be taken out of context. Those words could be a façade that is intended to deceive Claudius. Knowing Hamlet’s wit, I wouldn’t be surprised if this were the case. The heated exchange between Hamlet and Ophelia brings me to my next point. I want to talk about Hamlet’s feelings for her. Once again, Shakespeare never directly states the exact relationship between the two. They obviously are more than strangers, probably lovers. But, the readers don’t know if the two of them have had sex or not. Or perhaps, they just have feelings for each other. Therefore, the readers must examine the play to determine their relationship. After the ghost reveals the true nature of King Hamlet’s death, he is obviously distraught. He even shows signs of madness that leads many of his acquaintances to worry. After this revelation, he visits Ophelia and has a strange encounter with her. He walks up to her and grabs her almost violently. There is contextual evidence that Ophelia had this sense of fear when Hamlet was shaking her. But at the same time, I feel like Hamlet wanted some companion. All this time, he had been alone. He had been isolated because of the revelation. He couldn’t disclose the true nature of his father’s death to anyone. He even had to lie to his childhood friends. In this time of isolation and loneliness, he found comfort in Ophelia. It’s human nature to start developing feelings for someone who is there in times of loneliness. I really think that Hamlet wasn’t just messing around with Ophelia. Instead, I believe that Hamlet really did have feelings for her because he was so isolated. Another interesting point to note in this scene is the spying theme. Polonius spies on his daughter and Hamlet once again. This theme is recurring as Polonius and King Claudius are the best representatives of this theme. Even in the scene with several interpretations, the two of them are spying on Hamlet. Polonius even tries to spy on his own son when he is out of Denmark. Like we discussed in class, Hamlet is beginning to doubt the ghost’s revelation. It is true that in Elizabethan times, ghosts were affiliated with damnation. Nonetheless, Hamlet believes the ghost at first sight. However, as time wears on, he begins to second question the ghost and its purpose. He now is going to see the King’s reaction to a play that has a plot involving the murder of a king. I’m excited to see what happens next.