Hamlet Act I

After I read Act I of Hamlet, I felt sorry for Hamlet. Within the first couple scenes, you learn of his father’s death which takes a great toll on any person. Then on top of that, his mother married no more than 2 months afterwards to his uncle! It just seems like Hamlet had no time to grieve for his father’s passing. He had to automatically welcome and accept someone else as his father. It seems unfair to me.

Also, Claudius, Hamlets uncle or “new father” as some may say, constantly talks of King Hamlet, young Hamlets deceased father, and how similar they are. When young Hamlet knows this is not true in any way. King Hamlet was a great man; very giving, kind, fair, loving, and most of all trustworthy. King Claudius is a snake, and to compare a snake to something so virtuous is just an insult and that is how young Hamlet takes these comparisons. Claudius says to Hamlet, I guess in some ways trying to ease the pain “But you must know, your father lost a father; that father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound in filial obligation for some term to obsequious sorrow” (I,ii,89-92). While this is true, most children outlive their parents, the way in which King Hamlet died, we all know, it was far before his time. King Claudius is the man who killed King Hamlet and then took his wife, Queen Gertrud. It just does not seem fair for Hamlet to lose his father not only so young, but so viciously.

Then, Hamlet begins to see the Ghost of his father, who tells him he was murdered. This news greatly affects Hamlet. Imagine what it would be like to find out that your own uncle, someone who is related to you, killed your father, his own BROTHER to gain power. I just feel that Hamlets life is basically one big train wreck. Hamlet feels he must get revenge. He must show Claudius he cannot get away with such a horrible crime.