How does Hamlet feel when Ophelia dies?

Answered by Jeremy Urbaniak

When Ophelia dies, Hamlet is overwhelmed with a complex mix of emotions. He is devastated by her death, as she is someone he cared deeply for and had a strong emotional connection with. Hamlet’s love for Ophelia is evident throughout the play, and her death only intensifies his grief.

First and foremost, Hamlet feels profound sadness. Ophelia’s death represents the loss of someone he loved, and this loss is deeply felt. The realization that he can never see her, talk to her, or hold her again weighs heavily on Hamlet’s heart. The pain of losing Ophelia is amplified by the fact that their relationship was already strained due to Hamlet’s feigned madness and his treatment of her. He is left with a profound sense of guilt and regret for the way he treated her, which adds to his grief.

In addition to sadness, Hamlet also feels anger and outrage. He is furious at the circumstances surrounding Ophelia’s death. The fact that she died by her own hand, driven to madness by the events unfolding around her, fills Hamlet with a sense of injustice. He blames himself, as well as others, for the tragedy that befell Ophelia. This anger fuels his determination to seek revenge and bring justice to those responsible for her death.

Hamlet’s grief is also tinged with a deep sense of loneliness and despair. Ophelia’s death serves as a stark reminder of his own mortality and the transient nature of life. He realizes that death can come suddenly and unexpectedly, and he is forced to confront his own mortality. This realization leaves him feeling isolated and alone, as he grapples with the fragility of life and the inevitability of death.

Furthermore, Hamlet’s grief is compounded by the fact that he is already burdened with grief from his father’s death. Ophelia’s death serves as another painful reminder of the loss he has experienced and the heavy responsibilities he carries. He is caught in a web of sorrow and despair, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Hamlet’s emotions upon learning of Ophelia’s death are a complex mix of sadness, anger, loneliness, and despair. He is consumed by grief, haunted by guilt, and driven by a desire for justice. The loss of Ophelia deeply affects him, and it serves as a catalyst for his actions and decisions throughout the play.