Did Hubbell love Katie in the way we were?

In The Way We Were, the question of whether Hubbell Gardiner played by Robert Redford truly loved Katie Morosky played by Barbra Streisand is the heart of the film's bittersweet tragedy and is intentionally left ambiguous. Hubbell does love Katie in his own way: he is drawn to her passion, intelligence, moral conviction, and fiery spirit that contrast with his own easygoing, privileged, and noncommittal nature. He marries her, has a child with her, and clearly cares for her deeply. However, his love is portrayed as shallow and conditional compared to Katie's all-consuming, idealistic love for him. Hubbell loves Katie as someone who makes him feel more principled and alive, but when faced with political pressure during the McCarthy Hollywood blacklist era, career choices, and the need to take a stand, Hubbell chooses comfort and avoids confrontation, while Katie demands integrity. He also has an affair, showing his lack of deep commitment. In the iconic final scene, when Katie asks him if he ever really loved her, his hesitation and inability to answer fully suggests his love was real but not strong enough to overcome their fundamental differences. Many viewers conclude Hubbell loved Katie but not enough to change who he was.