A good place to start your research to answer this
question is Ophelia's soliloquy in Act 3, scene 1: "O, what a noble mind is here
o'erthrown!"
This is the only time we are allowed to know
Ophelia's thoughts, and this soliloquy occurs just after Ophelia and Hamlet interact on
stage for the first time in the play. In this speech, Ophelia does not react angrily at
Hamlet's cruel treatment of her. Instead, she seems intensely empathetic and aware that
great changes have taken place in him. I do not believe that she is completely fooled
by Hamlet's act of insanity, even though she has loyally reported such actions to her
father. But I do think it clear that she is aware that the Hamlet she once knew is no
longer.
In this soliloquy, she shows what Hamlet's
potential was--the Hamlet she had fallen in love with. She despairs now, though, in
that he has lost his "noble mind" and that his reason is "blasted with
ecstasy."
Hamlet has not told Ophelia of his mission to
avenge his father's death. He could not. Ophelia would have dutifully reported this
plan to her father, who would have gone to the king. But Ophelia is sensitive enough to
know that Hamlet is deeply troubled and that their relationship is essentially over.
She prays to the heavens to restore him. But deep down, she probably has no true hope
that their relationship could ever be renewed. She is deeply hurt, helpless, and lost.
Hamlet's advice "Get thee to a nunnery," is most likely very
sound.
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