Initial Impressions of Hamlet Characters 1.1-1.3

King Claudius seems to act mostly reasonably and somewhat like a father to Hamlet. He justifies his marriage to Queen Gertrude by its importance to the stability of the state and that others commended his action. He also reproves Prince Hamlet for the excessive sorrow by noting not only the similar plight of many others but also his near succession to the throne. The King wants Hamlet to treat him as a father. Queen Gertrude just seems to go along with her new husband, Claudius, and does not have a strong personality of her own yet. Prince Hamlet is very submissive in voice, but he despises the haste with which his mother married King Claudius. For this, he blames first and foremost his mother and shows no suspicion of foul play by the King. I must agree with King Claudius that Prince Hamlet is lacking judgement and manliness in his suffering after two months. Two months is too long for immobilizing sorrow. The sorrow may never go away, but it is simply foolish to suffer such extreme grief for more than a week or two. Besides, if Hamlet's adherence to the statutes of Scripture indicates that he and his father believed in the saving work of Christ, Hamlet should remember that his father is in a better place. As much as Hamlet would like to leave the world immediately, he ought to press forward toward the work that he is called to do on earth. The kingdom will eventually need his leadership. Nevertheless, he at least has the fortitude to listen to reason and forsake suicide. Even though King Claudius seems mostly sincere, he does seem mildly stilted in his attitude toward Hamlet and the deceased King Hamlet. The King is most certainly taking his own advice that the time is passed for extraordinary grief, but I would expect more emotion from the new King and Queen regarding the matter. In fact, Claudius' behavior seems somewhat awry as a whole probably only as a result of his lack of emotion.