In reading the first act, I can't help to feel absolutely horrible for Hamlet. How can you not? The poor kid's father died a month ago, his mother is now remarried to his loser uncle, he cannot return to school like he wants to, and he's struggling with his religion and whether or not to continue living. If that doesn't warrant some sort of sympathy, than I don't know what does! What's even more disturbing is that I have a feeling that things aren't going to get any easier for him as the play progresses.
Hamlet's relationship with his mother is steadily dwindling, along with any respect for her that he once had (or respect for any female at that rate). And to make matters worse, his uncle who usurped the throne, which was rightfully his, is now trying to play the father figure to him. When questioned about his black clothes of mourning Hamlet is forced to express his sorrow, as if it weren't obvious why. And I find Claudius's 'advice' to him as insulting and disrespectful. He basically tells him to suck it up because all fathers die and all sons must lose their fathers. While he does understand and expect him to mourn his father's death, he also says that mourning for too long is unmanly and inappropriate. I find it ironic that he, of all people, is giving advice on what's appropriate behavior. To top it off, he further advises Hamlet to think of him as a father and reminds him of his position as next in line to the throne. Now isn't that just a slap in the face?!
The unnaturalness and dysfunction of Hamlet's 'family' is further illustrated when we are introduced to Polonius and his family. At first glance, these families are complete opposites. Polonius appears to be a good, loving father to his children, Laertes and Ophelia. This is displayed in his speech that he gives to Laertes as he prepares to leave for France. He gives his son advice, almost to the point of excess but typical of a concerned father. This father-son relationship reminds us, the reader of Hamlet's feeling of abandonment and lack thereof.
On the other hand, I'm not as comfortable with Polonius' relationship with Ophelia- although being a female may be giving me a biased opinion. Both Polonius and Leartes seem to doubt and disregard Ophelia's judgment and feelings when it comes to her relationship with Hamlet. Though they may just be concerned and looking-out for her, their 'advice' seems more like an order to me and week-willed Ophelia is unfortunately quick to comply. Whether or not she will stick to her word is yet to be seen!
2 comments:
I too feel horrible for Hamlet after reading the first act I don’t think you can read it and not feel sympathy for him. We see him struggle with dealing with his mother’s new marriage, to his uncle, and he contemplates living. I agree with you when you say you have a feeling things aren’t going to get any easier for him as the plat progresses, after all the title is The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, so we have to expect so sort of downfall and we’ve learned from the previous plays we read that all tragedies end in some sort of death. I also found Claudius’s advice insulting and disrespectful and at the same time sort of harsh; telling him to be a man and suck it up because all fathers die and all sons lose their fathers. You would think Claudius would be a little more sympathetic and understanding considering it was his brother. I like the connection you bring up about how the unnaturalness and dysfunction of Hamlet’s family is illustrated when we are introduced to Polonius and his family; I didn’t notice this until you mentioned it and now I can see it. I too am a little uncomfortable with Polonius’s relationship with Ophelia because both him and Leartes completely doubt and disregard her feelings and emotions.
This was a nice blog. I agree with what you said about Hamlet. There is definitely an element of great sympathy for Hamlet. H really is getting the raw end of the deal here. On top of everything you mentioned Hamlet is also in a bad position when it comes to power. He technically has absolutely no rights to his fathers throne and any rights he might have seem to be quickly dwindling. If his mother and uncle have a (male) child then he technically becomes an illegitimate child, or as Shakespeare likes to say it, a 'bastard.'
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