Thesis

Support arguments/topic sentences

Directly quoted evidence

Transition words and phrases

Abigail Abono

English 12

Jewell p.2

Written by Abigail2-25-22

Revised by Abigail 3-9-22

Edited by Izabelle Molina 3-17-22

Deceit of Claudius

In the drama Hamlet written by William Shakespeare, the reader follows the story of a

young man named Hamlet. The reader witnesses the young man navigate through his crazy life.

Hamlet is the young prince of Denmark and the book begins with death. Through a series of

unfortunate events, or a scheme unbeknownst to the young prince, Hamlet finds himself in the

depths of despair after his father's passing. While young Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark, his

fate is cursed by the treachery of his own uncle, King Claudius.

The tragedy is about the life of the prince but is only called such due to the young man's

uncle, and the role he plays in the life of Hamlet junior. At the very beginning of the writing the

king announces:

“Therefore our sometimes sister, now our queen…”

“...with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,

taken to wife” (1.2.8-14)

He explains to the people of Denmark that he has taken the late queen to wife. They are now

married, very soon after the late king's death. Therefore making the late queen Gertrude, queen

yet again. Thus making dead Hamlet’s brother, the king. The man married his sister-in-law in

order to become king, leaving Hamlet, the still prince of Denmark. This makes Hamlet quite

upset:

“She married. O, most wicked speed, to post

with such dexterity to incestuous sheets!

It is not, nor it cannot come to good.

But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue.” (1.2.161-164).

The life of the prince is already quite tragic, but this is just the beginning.

Not only did uncle Claudius marry young Hamlet's mother and take young Hamlet's

position as king, but he also makes a show of it by taking control of Hamlet's life. Hamlet's

mother condemns Hamlet to joylessness as well. “Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet./ I

pray thee, stay with us. Go not to Wittenberg.” (1.2.122-123). Wittenberg is the college Hamlet

attends. Hamlet replies with, “I shall in all my best obey you, madam.” (1.2.124). If Hamlet

wasn’t depressed yet, he may be now. He is being alienated and separated from his friends, his

peers, and his education. But nye, Hamlet was sad, to begin with. His uncle and mother couldn't

care in the least bit. Both characters do their absolute best to undermine and disregard Hamlet's

very normal feelings, alienating him even more so:

“'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,

To give these mourning duties to your father:

That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound

In filial obligation for some term

To do obsequious sorrow: but to persever

In obstinate condolement is a course

Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief;

It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,

A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,

An understanding simple and unschool'd” (1.2.90-100)

The new king is berating Hamlet and insults his holiness and his adeptness. His own mother

insults him too saying, “Thou know’st ‘tis common; all that lives must die,/ passing through

nature to eternity.” (1.2.208-209). Hamlet's parents essentially tell him that his father is dead, it's

not a big deal, and that he needs to get over it. What a terrible way to help someone process the

death of a loved one.

One would be right to assume that Hamlet is alone in the world with no allies until two

young men Marcello and Horatio enter the room to bring Hamlet some groundbreaking news.

“In the dead waste and middle of the night,/ Been thus encountered: a figure like your father, “

(1.2.208). Bringing to Hamlet the first bit of hope in a very long time, that Hamlet might get to

see his father's ghost. The men take Hamlet to the time and place where the apparition is known

to walk. The spirit talks to Hamlet, the story of his death,

“Ghost. Revenge for his foul and most unnatural murder.

Hamlet. Murder?

Ghost. Murder most foul.” (1.5.31-33)

“Ghost. The serpent that did sting thy fathers life

now wears his crown.

Hamlet. O, my prophetic soul!My uncle!”(1.5.46-48)

The kings apparition tells the living Hamlet that hed been murdered by his very own brother.

This then proves that Claudius's actions did start the story.

The play is about the tragedy of Hamlet. Hamlet is sad because his father died. The play

began because Hamlet is sad. Claudius killed his father, therefore making the young prince sad,

therefore starting the plot of the play and the story of Hamlet. Claudius’s actions affect Hamlet in

many ways, but in the biggest way was when Claudius killed his own brother.
 Work Cited

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