Does hamlet love ophelia?

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He treats her terribly and yet professes his love towards her.

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Hi Hui:  Hamlet is a complex and confusing character, and can be described as manipulative; harsh; and distrusting, especially of women.  Keeping in mind that Hamlet’s mother married his uncle shortly after his father’s death, Hamlet has trouble distinguishing between actual love and “pragmatic” love.  The audience never definitely learns whether or not Hamlet is truly capable of loving Ophelia, and various interpretations (plays, readings) of Hamlet express this differently.