Kiran McWilliams

25 February 2022

Period 3

ERWC

Gain Trust to Kill

What if your father tragically died? You would probably feel many emotions and

everything around you would affect you more easily. In the tragic play: Hamlet, written by

William Shakespeare, Young Hamlet goes through this situation and his behavior has immensely

changed for multiple reasons. In the first two acts, we figure out that he is against Claudius being

a father figure, he thinks he should be King himself, and he wishes his father’s ghost would have

told him that Claudius had murdered him to be the King. Moreover, Young Hamlet’s life is being

affected by the role of King Claudius. The King’s characteristics of controlling, superficial

empathy, and eagerness to be a leader/take charge prove this and evoke the different feelings

Hamlet goes through.

Since Claudius is the new King, it is crucial for him to be a leader however he might

come off as controlling. He exemplifies this when he says: “Tis unmanly grief; it shows a will

most incorrect to heaven, a heart unfortified, a mind impatient,” (1.2.98-100). King Claudius is

telling Hamlet to grow up and be a man because he is grieving the loss of his father. By Claudius

being controlling and telling Hamlet that mourning is going against all that is natural, it

influences him to turn his depression into anger. Subsequently, this causes Hamlet to feel trapped

and lash out.

Unexpectedly, Claudius tells everyone that the King has recently died and shows much

superficial empathy for him. “That we with wisest sorrow think on him together with
remembrance of ourselves.” (1.2.6-7). Empathy is something that the King uses around others

but may just be a trap to gain the trust of others.This action influences Hamlet and others to have

faith in him, be reassured, and build a team. Additionally, the King has empathy towards the

Queen since she is suffering and has just lost her husband. However, King Claudius is going

against what he said to Hamlet about grieving, and how unmanly it is. Therefore, he uses this as

a distraction to everyone including Hamlet, to never think he would be responsible for the death

of Young Hamlet’s father.

The last characteristic Claudius conveys that influences Hamlet to act the way he does, is

his eager need to take charge. “Thus much the business is: we have here writ to Norway, uncle of

young Fortinbras, who, impotent and bedrid, scarcely hears” (1.2.27-29). The King is trying to

build trust within the kingdom among all of the citizens. Claudius lets the kingdom know that he

has a plan and that they shouldn’t fear that they are in contact with Norway. Furthermore, this

reveals his confidence and protectiveness as a King, which gives Hamlet another reason to trust

him and not suspect him of anything.

Ever since Hamlet’s father died, the combination of grief, anger and all other emotions

has taken a toll on Hamlet. All of Claudius’s actions and qualities relate back to the main topic of

Young Hamlet’s bizarre actions and changes in behavior.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2012.

 Commentary
What is commentary?
-Thorough interpretation of text
-Connects evidence back to support argument
and your overall claim
-Provides depth of evidence
-Provides insight into characters, plot, theme,
setting, conflict
-Opinions based on evidence provided
-Explanation of characters (emotions) and
how they affect the other char/plot, etc.
-Rhetorical choices of the author/effects on
audience
Intro:
-hook first sentence (question, imagine, quote/proverb) (universal statement)
-background/summary in middle
-thesis/claim at end
Summary (AVOID!)(when writing
commentary)
What is summary?
-Concise explanation of plot
-Key details of story or characters
-Details of author’s story
-Not original thought
-Repeating in your own words
Where does summary belong?
-Introduction (background)
-Context/lead-in
-Paraphrased evidence