After his encounter with the ghost we are given a Hamlet with a horrible mission, to murder. Anyone can imagine how being faced with the truth of his father's death would anger Hamlet, but to murder in cold blood is something that wouldn't come easily to a young man. The audience longs to see Hamlet find a way to make better what has happened, because he is innocent, young, and a man who lost someone he loved. To deal with the murder of his own father and then being asked to murder and his confusing situation are all things that make us pity him. It is in light of his father's murder and the murder he is told to commit that we see a changed Hamlet. It is this changed Hamlet that struggles internally and makes human mistakes. The moral fiber of Hamlet is first questioned in Act Three when Ophelia comes in after Hamlet's soliloquy in Scene One. Here, Hamlet tells Ophelia he doesn't love her. .
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Hamlet . . . I did love you once.
Ophelia Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.
Hamlet You should not have believ'd me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our .
old stock but we shall relish of it. I lov'd you not. (3.1.113-118).
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After Ophelia's death Hamlet proclaims that he loved her always, making what he tells her in this scene a blatant lie. Hamlet knows saying such cruel words would break Ophelia's heart. These lies are outrageous enough, but Hamlet does not stop at telling the innocent Ophelia he doesn't love her, but later tells her to, ". . . marry a fool, for wise men know what monsters you make of them" (3.1.137-138). Because he is angry at his mother Hamlet takes this out on Ophelia and throws her into the same category he now throws all women, monsters. All of these occurrences had to be done, although going against his own feelings, Hamlet had to put on this "act" in order to fulfill his past fathers wishes. He is once again victimized. .
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This treatment of Ophelia is confusing to the audience, because we see Ophelia, throughout the play, as a gentle woman who cares for Hamlet's well being.
