Ophelia is in love with Hamlet, but Hamlet only uses Ophelia to his advantage. Although it may have appeared he loved Ophelia at one point in the play, his love is a tactic in which he uses to manipulate her. He assumes that Polonius, Gertrude and Claudius are using Ophelia to get information about Hamlet’s erratic behaviour. Due to this, Hamlet manipulates the situation and is extremely cruel to Ophelia during their encounter. He uses this tactic to prove he is truly mad and it is not just an act as Polonius had suggested. It seems his most erratic behaviour is in the presence of Polonius. He knows Polonius communicates with Claudius and Gertrude and therefore must make sure his act of madness is not discovered. When he continues this act of madness, it makes no one question his sanity and gets him one step closer to the truth. He arranges a play “The Murder of Gonzago” in which the characters reenact his father’s murder. “Give him a heedful note For I mine eyes will rivet to his face, And after we will both our judgments join In censure of his seeming” (3.2.86-89). He wants to see how Claudius reacts and this will assume his innocence.
Ophelia's brother Laertes:
Hamlet knows he must manipulate Laertes to avoid being killed by him. He manipulates Laertes in the way that he explains that if he was sane, he would not have killed Polonius. After “sweet talking” Laertes, Hamlet completely changes Laertes’ mind about killing him. He does not know that Hamlet is using tactics in order to change his own fate. He goes along with Hamlet’s story, revoking his plans with Claudius to kill Hamlet.
Ophelia's brother Laertes:
Hamlet knows he must manipulate Laertes to avoid being killed by him. He manipulates Laertes in the way that he explains that if he was sane, he would not have killed Polonius. After “sweet talking” Laertes, Hamlet completely changes Laertes’ mind about killing him. He does not know that Hamlet is using tactics in order to change his own fate. He goes along with Hamlet’s story, revoking his plans with Claudius to kill Hamlet.