Hamlet Grief And Loss Essay

Hamlet Act 1: Grief and Loss Writing The play, Hamlet, by the renowned Shakespeare, presents a multitude of ideas and dynamics that shape the characters. One of these is shown in a conversation between Gertrude, Claudius, and Hamlet in Act 1. The dynamics between Gertrude, Claudius, and Hamlet are undoubtedly close minded, for the King and Queen are unable to sympathize with Hamlet’s situation. Their interactions are complex because they present the characters’ contrasting principles and views on the death of Hamlet’s father. Shakespeare emphasizes these dynamics with the use of differing tone amongst the characters, and irony specifically concerning Hamlet’s mother. At the start of the scene, King Claudius insensitively asks Hamlet why he has continued to feel sorrowful, very much aware of

To continue, the King’s inability to sympathize with Hamlet’s situation later in the scene brings about the stark contrast between Claudius and Hamlet’s principles regarding “the death of fathers”(Shakespeare Scene 2). For example, when asked about his grief, Hamlet dramatically and full-heartedly exclaims how anguish has truly enveloped him. On the contrary, Claudius replies to Hamlet in a long, nonchalant lecture about how Hamlet’s “father lost a father; That father lost, lost his”(Shakespeare Scene 2) and more. This dynamic shows both the King’s dearth of sympathy for Hamlet’s father’s death, as well as the complex difference between Claudius and Hamlet’s contradicting point of view on the same subject. The substantial shift from Hamlet’s fleeting, overwhelming speech, to the monologue Claudius gives to express his ideology, plays a significant role in highlighting the complexity of their dynamic. Moreover, the same dynamic is presented between Hamlet and the Queen, Gertrude, near the beginning of Act 1 Scene