A look at Hamlet, the prince of Denmark
As one
of Shakespeare’s great tragedy we expect to see dark depressed characters, and
we do with the main character of Hamlet. After returning home to find his
father dead and his uncle on the throne the reader finds Hamlet to be such
character.
In
scene two we find a great example of these characteristics while his uncle,
mother, Laertes, Polonius, and Hamlet are sitting in a room in the castle
having a conversation. In line 66 the king leads in when he asks Hamlet, “How
is it that the clouds still hang on you?” referring to the depression apparent
in the expression of Hamlet. This is further brought to the reader’s attention
when the Queen, Hamlet’s mother, tells him in line 68, “Good Hamlet cast thy
knighted colour off,” talking about his clothing he is wearing, that is the
color of morning, black. Hamlet goes on to fully reassure the reader of this in
lines 77-79 when he tells his mother, “
’Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
Nor
customary suits of solemn black,
Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,”
To me he is clearly talking about paying respect for his
father and how the pains of his lose has caused him great laborious pains to
breathe.
Hamlet
is reluctant to do what the ghost has asked of him because he wants proof,
proof the ghost is honest and proof that his uncle is guilty. In act III scene
ii he gets his proof when a small troop of actors are visiting the castle.
Hamlet instructed the actor to perform the play, "The Murder of
Gonzago" which mirrors the way his father was murdered. The king however seems to be unmoved then leaves rather ubruptly.
Great job on your response! I really liked how you used Hamlet mourning over his dad as to show he is a dark character. He is still trying to mourn over the death of his dad and it also seems like everyone else doesn’t want him to be sad about it anymore. The way his uncle and his mom are asking why are you still sad to Hamlet, made me in a way upset. He should mourn over his dad’s death in any way he wants to. I really like how you used that portion to describe Hamlet.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your response. Its amazing looking at the difference between Hamlet's and his mother's reactions and feelings after the their father/husband. I like how you used the quote about is mother saying he is still wearing his close for mourning to show that Hamlet was still mourning the death of his father. There his mother was remarried to his uncle who stole the throne from him. I also agree that he was reluctant to carry out the ghosts request to kill his uncle because he was not completely sure if the ghost was correct.
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