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Hamlet and Ophelia Shakespeare's Hamlet is a play about the quest for revenge and the tragedies that become of it. One of the tragedies in the play involves the relationship of Hamlet and Ophelia. While secretly plotting to avenge his father's death, Hamlet fakes insanity as a diversion from his actual intentions. His random acts and wild manner towards Ophelia leave readers to question the validity of his love for Ophelia. Hamlet's love for Ophelia is put to the test as he struggles to reaffirm his faith in women while, at the same time, seek the truth behind his father's death. His obsession with the betrayal and deceit of his father leads him to set aside, then later doubt and question, his love for Ophelia. However, upon Ophelia's death, Hamlet realizes that his feelings towards Ophelia never changed and that he had always loved her. Hamlet pretends to be insane throughout the play as he secretly plots to avenge his father's death. He carries out his mock insanity to the highest degree and even appears mad to the one person he cared for most, Ophelia. Although his actions towards Ophelia seem cruel and heartless, they help contribute to the believability of his insanity. Because of the well known love Hamlet has for Ophelia,