I DOUBT "Doubt thou the stars are five; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I Love." The attitude of Hamlet towards Ophelia is one of the greatest puzzles in the play. The exact nature of his feelings for Ophelia is left ambiguous. As most critics have agreed, Hamlet did once love Ophelia deeply and sincerely but he ceased to do so. Why? How can we explain …showed first 75 words of 2632 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2632 total…melancholy was far from being extinguished - it drove him to Ophelia whenever he saw her. But it was not an "absorbing passion" (Bradley, 1992, lect. IV, p.158) - it did not occupy his thoughts habitually. A convincing explanation can not be given; just an idea. "... If we could see a contemporary representation of Hamlet, our doubts would probably disappear. The actor, instructed by the author, would make it clear to us by looks, tones, gestures..." *