" (I.iii.1465). She obeys the wishes of her father and brother to avoid Hamlet. Ophelia does not fight them and she, instead, "did repel his letters and denied his access" (II.ii.1476). When Ophelia approached Hamlet again with her claims of love, it is only upon her Polonius's request so that he and King Claudius might spy on him. Ophelia's rejection of Hamlet helps fuel his mock insanity and contributes to his questioning his love for her. .
Hamlet begins to stray from his love for Ophelia as he begins to grow more involved with the pursuit of the truth and justice concerning his father's death. He doesn't simply stop loving her right away, however; he merely reprioritizes the things going on in his life. Especially since Ophelia does not seem to miss him, he thinks that it is important to avert all his focus and energy to his revenge. Later on, the audience is led to believe that Hamlet has ceased to love Ophelia. He treats her poorly and labels her, and women in general, a "breeder of sinners" (III.i.1493). He tells her: "Get thee to a nunnery, farewell. Or if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool, for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them." (III.i.1494). Hamlet, by this time, wonders that maybe women are the cause of man's imperfections and problems. This statement casts light onto how Hamlet now views his mother, Gertrude. .
Hamlet's new perspective of Ophelia and women echoes from the hatred that Hamlet has grown for his mother, Gertrude. Gertrude's quick marriage to his uncle stains his image of women. Aside from a man's lover, a perfect symbol of womanhood lies in his mother. Hamlet can not believe that a woman who clung to his father could so quickly run to the arms of her husband's brother. The swift marriage of the two suggests an ongoing affair and disloyalty to Hamlet's father. Hamlet, upon seeing how his own mother could be capable of such betrayal to her husband, now fears that all women are capable of the same thing.