Hamlet Group

Question:

sallyjames102
sallyjames102
Student
College - Junior

In "Hamlet,' how does Ophelia show her love for Hamlet?

Are there any specific examples in the text that prove her love to be true?

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Posted by sallyjames102 on Sunday November 2, 2008 at 5:25 PM and tagged with characters, hamlet, love, ophelia, plot.

Answers:


  1. gbeatty Teacher
    College - Freshman

    Sadly, Ophelia's love for Hamlet, which was real, was caught between the grinding stones of the play's plot. That is to say, Ophelia is caught between her love for Hamlet, her love for and duty to her father, and her duty to the king. She goes to report on Hamlet's state of mind, observing Hamlet for father and king, and is rejected for it. That rejection, and her father's death, drive her mad. That madness is one sign of her love. Another is what she says then, things like this: 

    "Larded all with sweet flowers;
     

    She speaks freely of true love, now that she can't have it. Sigh.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet-text/act-iv-scene-v
    http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/ophelia-character-analysis

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    Posted by gbeatty on Wednesday November 5, 2008 at 5:02 PM