Hamlet’s Love of His Father

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Hamlet’s Love of His Father

In the play, Hamlet, by Shakespeare, Hamlet is presented as a devoted son to the memory of his father, King Hamlet. He is displeased with the marriage of his uncle, Claudius, to his mother so soon after the death of his father. It has been a mere two weeks since the death and his uncle has now become his father and king of Denmark.

When he sees the apparition of his late father he is astonished at the mere sight of it. He questions whether it is from heaven or hell. Why has it appeared before him in such a manner? What are it's intentions with Hamlet? Hamlet is unaware, until the ghost speaks, that his father was murdered. It was a cruel and cold murder at the hand of his uncle, and now his stepfather, Claudius. The ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his death, to which Hamlet agrees.

Hamlet tells his son of his murder by his own brother, in contradiction to the story Claudius told the court. He told him how Claudius poured poison into his ear when he was napping in the orchard. He also tells Hamlet of his brother's adulterous behavior even before his premature death, and asks of him to leave Gertrude's punishment to the higher authority of God.

Young Hamlet is outraged by the news and vows to avenge his father's death. His friend and confidant, Horatio, and Marcellus who first saw the ghostly spirit, are both sworn to secrecy on Hamlet's sword. Young Hamlet does not tell them what he knows for fear they will "reveal it". Hamlet is now ready to set a plan into action to avenge his father's death. He warns his friend and confidant of his impending "madness" for this purpose.

Hamlet has the chance to kill Claudius while he is praying in the chapel but abandons it for good reason. If he should kill Claudius now, he would be no better than Claudius for killing his father, and he would not get just punishment for his deed. It would be better to kill him in his " "adulterous bed", or when he was in a "rage". But better than any of these, it would be best to make the deed of his uncle publicly known.

Hamlet devises a plot to make known Claudius' murder of his father.

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