The play Hamlet by William Shakespeare is the dramatic story of a son who feels betrayed by both his mother and the woman he loved. Written in the Elizabethan era, around 1600, "Shakespeare's emphasis on Hamlet's intellectual conflicts was a significant departure from contemporary revenge tragedies...which tended to graphically dramatize acts of violence on stage" ( Hamlet). The coin depicts Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, who is 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 swears to avenge his father's untimely death. Hamlet is in love with Ophelia, but his brother, Laertes, and his father, Polonius, warn him that Hamlet can never truly love him. Ophelia, following her father's wishes, is unwittingly enlisted to spy on Hamlet, leaving him feeling betrayed. Hamlet rejects Ophelia, accidentally stabs and kills Polonius, then hides the body. Ophélie is so distraught by her father's death that she ends up drowning. Hamlet is devastated when he learns of Ophelia's death. The play ends with a sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes. Hamlet's mother dies after inadvertently drinking poisoned wine intended to kill Hamlet. Both Laertes and Hamlet are stabbed with a poison-tipped sword, but before he dies, Laertes confesses that Claudius was the mastermind behind everything. Hamlet forces Claudius to drink wine as well and the irony is that everyone ends up dying. 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 Ophe...... middle of paper...... up to a peak so high above the ground that he is burned by the sun. His final declaration of love for Ophelia reveals his true feelings. Often, people take the time they spend with their loved ones for granted. Hamlet didn't realize how much he loved Ophelia until she disappeared forever. Although Hamlet's feelings towards Ophelia vary throughout the play, he has always loved her. Works Cited Cohen, Joshua. “Like a Mermaid: The Tragedy of Ophelia.” Shakespeare Newsletter Fall 2006: 57. Literary Resource Center. Internet. November 30, 2011. “Hamlet.” Shakespeare for Students: Critical Interpretations of Shakespeare's Plays and Poetry. Ed. Anne-Marie Hacht. 2nd ed. Flight. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2007. 193-225. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Internet. November 28, 2011. Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Madden, Frank. Explore literature. 4th ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2009. Print 539-663