First Opinions of Hamlet--Act I Scenes i-iii

       The first thing I noticed about King Claudius is that he acts quite condescending towards Prince Hamlet and the other characters in the scene ii. In the King’s monologue in scene ii, he mentions his late brother, but almost acts as if though he is benefitting from the death, “To our most valiant brother—so much for him” (I.ii.25). Queen Gertrude acts very passive and submissive towards King Claudius and agrees with all his rash statements in the first act. I begin to feel bad for Hamlet and remain that way through the excerpts we were assigned to read. The King and Queen Gertude almost begin to berate and condemn Hamlet for taking his time mourning the loss of his father saying, “’Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father. But you must know your father lost a father, That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound” (I.ii.90-94). No one in these excerpts seem empathetic to Hamlet’s situation. First, he loses his beloved father. Next, he must deal with the extremely odd situation that is his uncle marrying his own mother.

       Then, King Claudius, his uncle, is trying to prevent Prince Hamlet from going back to school. I am assuming this is a place Hamlet enjoyed going, so he must have felt upset. His life was turned upside down by the tragic death of his father, triggering the sympathy in the reader. Hamlet contemplating suicide was not particularly surprising to me because I predicted this. However, in scene iii, Hamlet begins to confuse me because I am unsure of whether he will be a protagonist or more of a scheming character. I am curious about what will happen with Ophelia and Hamlet’s relationship because it seems as though not many people approve of their love.