The question has been debated for a long time. Was Hamlet's love for Ophelia true? To find out we must first understand that love and dating were completely different during the time of Hamlet and the standards we have today. During Hamlet's time people were not as willing to be open about their feelings as they are today. In many situations marriages were pre arranged and the woman had no input as to who they were to marry. With that being said lets explore some of the things said and situations that occurred in the play to get a better understanding of what Hamlet was feeling.
             Personally, I do believe Hamlet was genuinely in love with Ophelia. After all, he went out of his way to court her. He wrote letters that were withheld from her. He sent gifts that were denied to her by Polonius. When he did want to see her he had to do it secretly. Often he snuck into her room and held her staring into her eyes deeply and never saying a word. If he were to have been found in her room he could have been in a lot of trouble.
             Hamlet even went as far as writing a letter to Ophelia's father (Polonius) explaining that his love was genuine and that his denied access to Ophelia was causing his recent madness. Polonius had forbidden Ophelia from Hamlet because he thought he was protecting her innocence. He believed that Hamlet was just lusting after her like a normal young man and that Ophelia was young and naive to show him affection. Polonius finally gives in and decides to set up a confrontation between Ophelia and Hamlet. He decides that he will spy on them and then he would know if Hamlet's love for her was true. Hamlet finds out that he will be spied on and makes up things to say to make it seem as if he had gone mad. This is where a lot of people argue that hamlet doesn't love Ophelia. Why might you ask? Well, it's simple he tells Ophelia that he doesn't love her. When she
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