Tuesday, July 24, 2012

What do we learn about Hamlet's feelings for Ophelia near beginning of play?

Early in the play we can learn about Hamlet's feelings as
least as far as Ophelia understands them.  In the conversation with her father he
confronts her about her relationship with Hamlet, but Ophelia replies with assurance of
Hamlet's feelings for her.  Her first comment is "he hath, my lord, of late made many
tenders of his affection to me."  We don't know what those tenders are, but can assume
nice words or perhaps even poems or gifts.  She takes them to be sincere expressions of
Hamlet's regard for her.  Polonius makes them seem less than that.  He suggests that
Hamlet is not being true, but Ophelia again defends the relationship saying, "he hath
importuned me with love in honorable fashion."  Again, we don't know exactly what has
been said but have not reason to think that Hamlet is insincere with Ophelia.  She is
vehement in defending Hamlet when she says that Hamlet "hath given countenance to his
speech, my lord, with almost all the holy vows of heaven."  Of course, Polonius doesn't
trust any of this and calls Ophelia a young fool for love, but as an audience, we have
no reason but to believe, as Ophelia does, the honest emotions he has seemed to share
with Ophelia. 

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