William Shakespeare's play Hamlet is the dramatic story of a son who feels betrayed by both his mother and the woman he loves. Written in the Elizabethan era, around 1600, "Shakespeare's focus on Hamlet's intellectual conflicts represented a significant departure from contemporary revenge tragedies...which tended to graphically dramatize violent acts on stage" (Hamlet). The play depicts Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, being visited by the ghost of his father, King Hamlet. The ghost reveals how he was murdered by his brother Claudius, who later claimed the title of king, and married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet vows to avenge his father's untimely death. Hamlet is in love with Ophelia, but her brother, Laertes, and her father, Polonius, warn her that Hamlet can never truly love her. Ophelia, following her father's wishes, is unwittingly enlisted to spy on Hamlet, which makes him feel betrayed. Hamlet rejects Ophelia, accidentally stabs and kills Polonius, then hides the body. Ophelia is so distraught over her father's death that she eventually drowns herself. Hamlet is devastated when he learns of Ophelia's death. The play culminates with a sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes. Hamlet's mother dies from inadvertently drinking poisoned wine that was supposed to kill Hamlet. Laertes and Hamlet are both stabbed with a poison-tipped sword, but before dying Laertes confesses that Claudius was the mastermind behind it all. Hamlet forces Claudius to drink the wine too and the irony is that they all die in the end. One of the most controversial topics in the story is the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet's letters express his sincere feelings and reveal that he was very much in love with Ofe... to the middle of the paper... to a peak so high above the ground that it was scorched by the sun. His final declaration of love for Ophelia lays bare his true feelings. People often take for granted the time they have with their loved ones. Hamlet didn't realize how much he loved Ophelia until she was gone forever. Although Hamlet's feelings towards Ophelia vary throughout the play, he has always loved her. Works Cited Cohen, Joshua. "Siren-like: The Tragedy of Ophelia." Shakespeare Newsletter Fall 2006: 57. Literature Resource Center. Network. November 30, 2011."Hamlet." Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poems. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 193-225. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Network. November 28, 2011.Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Crazy, Frank. Exploring literature. 4th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print 539-663