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Jeramiah Fair

Mrs. Jewell

ERWC: Period 1

17 March 2022

Hamlet Essay

People take advantage of their powers and it can cause a bad relationship within a

community. This relates to William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet in acts 1 and 2. Newly crowned

King Claudius is very cocky and is starting conflict within the kingdom, specifically with

Hamlet. After Hamlet’s dad (the late king) passes away, his uncle, Claudius, marries Hamlet's

mom, the queen. This builds an immediate and natural conflict within tragedy. As Claudius

starts his new role as King, he is being a demanding and condescending leader, which leaves

Hamlet frustrated, secretive and strategic, and eventually revengeful.

Initially, Claudius pushes Hamlet to get over his father’s death which results in Hamlet’s

frustration toward Claudius. Claudius explains to Hamlet that he needs to change his mindset:

“But you must know your father lost a father/that father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound/in

filial obligation for some term” (1.2.93-95). The way in which Claudius is condescending in this

situation is he doesn't allow Hamlet to have emotions like a normal human being. He reminds

Hamlet that it is an obligation to mourn and not burden. The condescending attitude becomes

frustrating to his mom, “within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the

flushing in her galled eyes, she married.”(1.2.158-160) Hamlet is frustrated with Claudius

because his dad just passed away and he is trying to get over his father’s death. Hamlet is also
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frustrated that his sadness has a time frame, and then when his frustration towards Claudius falls

on his mom.

In addition, Claudius keeps getting on hamlet now hamlet is keeping secrets for him due

to the fact that hamlet can't do anything without Claudius saying something. Hamlet states,

“Appears before them and with solemn march go slow and stately by them.”(1.2.211-212)

Hamlet starts keeping secrets because he finds out this information about how his dad is a ghost.

The info he just found out has to stay in Hamlet and nobody can know about this. Tasked with

knowing this information, Hamlet’s behavior begins to change. King Claudius and Queen

Getrude soon notice his change of demeanor. When Hamlet is around his friends Rosencrantz

and Guildenstern, he doesn’t share all the details about the ghosts.

Furthermore, with knowing the possibility of Claudius being a murderer and marrying his

brother’s widow, Hamlet is now determined for revenge. In one of the famous soliloquies within

the play, the audience sees how rageful Hamlet is at this point. Hamlet states,“The play’s the

thing/ Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king”(2.2.633-634). At this point in the play,

Hamlet is filled with grief from the death of his father. Additionally, filled with rage from the

remarriage of his mother. Lastly, overflowed with revenge from his uncle, now king, Claudius.

Young Hamlet

In conclusion, Claudius has taken the new role of being a new king, husband, and father

in the kingdom of Denmark. As king of Denmark, Claudius has taken advantage of his power.

By taking the position of king, he took the throne instead of young Hamlet. While being king, he

has been manipulative and controlling over Hamlet and Gertrude. Ultimately, even though

Claudius has performed well as a political leader, he takes advantage of the people around him.
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Works Cited

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