The reader
is first introduced to King Claudius in Act 1, scene 2. He expresses his grief
for the late King Hamlet. In this monologue King Claudius seems genuine, but as
the scene continues, his grief and sorrow for his brother’s death can be seen
as an act. When Hamlet expresses his extreme grief and annoyance that his
mother does not take part in this grief, King Claudius tells Hamlet to move on
from his sorrow: “But to persever/ In obstinate condolement is a course/ Of
impious stubbornness. ‘Tis unmanly grief” (1.2.96-8). Claudius says it is a
natural course to lose a father and that Hamlet should not continue to grieve.
He says grieving at this point is stubborn and unmanly. King Claudius is
unsympathetic towards Hamlet. He wants Hamlet to forget the death of his father
so that the new King can move on with his rule of Denmark. Also, King Claudius
refuses to allow Hamlet to go to the university in Wittenberg. Not only is he
unsympathetic towards Hamlet, but also he does not allow Hamlet to fitful his
wishes because Claudius wants to keep a watch over him. King Claudius is afraid
Hamlet will ruin his reign as king. He wants to keep a close watch over Hamlet
and ensure Hamlet does wreck his position in power.
Queen
Gertrude is completely behind her new husband. She marries her late husband’s
brother in less than a month. She moved on quickly from the death of her
husband and wants Hamlet to follow suit: “Thou know’st ‘tis common; all that
lives must die,/ Passing through nature to eternity” (1.2.74-5). She wants
Hamlet to forget about his father’s death because it was the natural course of
life. Like her new husband, she is unsympathetic towards Hamlet’s grief. She
seems oblivious and unconcerned of the death of her husband and her new
marriage. She evens appears somewhat unemotional in this scene.
When the
reader first meets Hamlet in Act 1 Scene 2, he appears suspicious and resentful
towards his new father. Hamlet is uncomfortable with the marriage of his mother
and his uncle. He states the relationship as unnatural: “A little more than kin
and less than kind” (1.2.67). He believes their relationship, now as father and
son, is twisted. He has not yet comes to terms with his late father’s death and
the idea that his uncle is now his new father.
In Hamlet’s aside he expresses
anger towards his mother for marrying too fast. She married him when King
Hamlet was “But two months dead—nay, not so much, not two” (1.2.142). He is
angry that she did not grieve and that she married his uncle. Hamlet also
believes that his father was “So excellent a king” (1.2.143). He is in despair
with his new life. He despises that his uncle is the new king and his new
father. Hamlet seems to have the only reaction to this situation. He responds
with anger and confusion to his mother marrying his uncle less than two months
after his father’s death while Queen Gertrude and King Claudius act like
nothing is wrong. Hamlet does not playing along with this strange logic. He
shows that this is unnatural. Also, he is angry because none of his family
expresses grief of King Hamlet that he is experiencing.
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