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Jessica Karels

Mrs. Jewell

ERWC 12: Period 6

March 18, 2022

Loss

Loss is a huge emotion and c an affect one in many different ways. In this pernicious time

of Young Hamlet just losing a loved one, his father, his own uncle has come into his life and

altered everything around. Not only is this his uncle but newly married now to be king and to

take over Denmark. Hamlet, heir to the throne, was swept away by the sudden events of his

mothers remarriage and has seeked a plan of revenge. In William Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet,

the antagonist in acts one and two generates the path of Young Hamlet by making him feel

suffocated with feelings, provocative in trying to be a father figure, and demanding with his

words.

First, King Claudius makes Young Hamlet feel as if he is not a man and knowling

suffocates him with different emotions. In act one Claudius has a discussion with Hamlet alone

and begins to show his true colors after just speaking to the citizens of Denmark. For instance

Claudius first announces, “But you must know, your father lost a father; / That father lost, lost

his, and the survivor bound” (1.2.93-94) This not only exposes Claudius but evokes the Prince

with bringing up the loss of his father. Getting hit with this comment of saying that death

happens and that everyone loses a father gets Hamlet resentful. The emotions of Hamlet are

everywhere at this moment because of knowing that his mother is just remarried then to now be

so quick in calling that loss out. Claudius wants Hamlet to get over the emotion and to bow down

to him. Knowing that King Claudius expresses his true emotions when there is nobody to
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impress illustrates the whole map of what type of person he is. Not only does he stop their, but

brings it up again moments after: “A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, / To reason most

absurd, whose common theme / is death of fathers, and who still hath cried,” (1.2.106-108) As in

trend of bringing up the protagonist death of his own father it gets Hamlet vexed that one could

even say such a thing. Death to a young one, especially one close to you like a father, takes time

to heal. Hamlet showing his moaningness is normal and should be happening. Why would

Claudius want Young Hamlet to get over this loss? This expands the understanding and pride that

Claudius holds over Hamlet.

Secondly, King Claudius fully has the courage to tell Hamlet that he is now next to the

throne and his now to be son. He continues with this idea that Hamlet is grieving for too long and

almost as who now controls him. Emotionally, this has overtaken Hamlet and leaves him

infuriated. Namely Clausius states, “You are the most immediate to our throne, / And with no

less nobility of love / than that which dearest father bears his son” (1.2.113-115) As this displays

a selfish, manipulative, and narcissist person the audience has to remember who this is being said

to. Hamlet is fed up and overall plaque with how much pride his uncle holds in calling him his

son. Not only did he take his throne but said it inconsiderately. One of the themes of Hamlet is

set between friendship, madness, and followed by revenge. The King sets up friends of Hamlet to

spy and see what is happening behind the curtains. During this Claudius spoke and said:

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard

Of Hamlet’s transformation, so call it,

Sith nor th’ exterior nor the inward man

Resembles that it was. What it should be,

More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him (2.2.1068-1072)
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Hamlet’s friends now tasked to spy on him puts a block on how Clauius knows something is up

with Hamlet and wants to know. The point of revenge is arriving and almost predicted that

Clauidus will find out what is happening. Hamlet is charged so much more than a father's death

which creates a whirlpool. The author puts emotion to the characters and uses metaphors such as:

“the inward man”. Using phrases such as; creates tension and the plot to emerge. As this

continues to be laid out Shakespeare wants the audience to understand what type of events may

happen now with Young Hamlet trying to rebell.

Finally, after Hamlet currency hearing Claudius’s words he continues to demand and

poke at his feelings. The King continues to talk to Hamlet and tries to get him to stop being so

lonely-some. Such as Claudius says, “Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye, / our chiefest,

cousin, and our son.” (1.2.120-121) This personifies how this new to be king truly is and just

how one can intensify an emotion deeply. As this continues to become exasperating it creates a

trapped emotion of being demanded. Demand coupled with suffocation then anger will create

and finalize the story of this revenge of how Hamlet’s father died. Hamlet knows something is up

and wants it to be known. During this time Hamlet responds to Claudius which shows the

emotion behind:

KING. But now, my cousin Hamlet and my son

HAMLET. A little more than kin and less than kind.

KING. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? (1.2.256-258)

As it holds that Claudius gave a good speech to the citizens it does not match with the way he

talks to Young Hamlet. The difference in tone and use of language is what classifies this. To now

reveal these emotions and expose such rage to one it does not stop. The constant poking and

trying to be demanded is the clause. Hamlet feels trapped as he responds to this comment of
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being called a son again. Grief coupled with demand on top of reprisal will start the story of

Hamlet with the protagonist's actions by dint of Claudius.

Hamlet, who just lost a father, is being forced to now have another to call him and break

him down. This does not just get Hamlet mad but builds up a plot of how these two characters

will react with each other. Claudius is very controlling and wants to be the most important and

Hamlet sees this. In this tragedy of Hamlet, it is shown to prove that King Claudius is trying to

drown Hamlet with feelings, try to be his father figures and demanding tasks and words. What

would you do if this irksome situation came upon you?

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Works Cited

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

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Commentary vs. Summary

Summary:

★ Restating other people’s ideas into your own words

★ Is not your ideas (not original thought)

★ “Gist” of a passage/story

Where it belongs

★ As a paraphrase (evidence)

★ Background info= introduction

★ Lead in before evidence (context)

Commentary:

★ Elaborates on evidence

★ Explains significance of evidence

★ Analyzes characters’ actions/emotions

★ Reveal relationship between evidence and sub-claim and claim

★ Provides “opinion” language

★ Analyze events and the effect on other areas of plots

★ Elaborate on character motivation

★ Talks about what evidence means instead of what happened in it

★ Insight and inference

Where it belongs

★ After the evidence

★ Thesis/claim= sub-claims

★ Conclusion
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Body

=sub-argument/ reason

★ Lead in

★ “Evidence”

★ Commentary reveals its connection to sub-argument

★ Explains how it ties to main claim (transition to next piece of evidence)