The new King is marrying Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and his brother’s widow. It happens in less than two months after the demise of old King Hamlet. On the wedding day, many people had come to witness King Claudius justify his marriage. It could be incestuous to marry so soon while people are still mourning; therefore, the King had to explain the matrimony. The justification will show that he is kindly and Denmark’s capable defender. People are finely dressed for the occasion except for Hamlet, who is clad in black. Hamlet is still mourning his father’s death and is not happy that her mother decided to remarry so fast. The King informs the court that every person should be sad just as he is sad too at the loss of his brother, but they should think of him with "wisest sorrow." He claims that life is in motion and does not end at the demise of one person. Paradoxically, the King weds Gertrude "With mirth in funeral, and with dirge in marriage" (1.2.12). Since no one objected to the marriage, the King wants his people to be calm and happy. He pledges to maintain and combine the grief for the King’s demise and the joy for his marriage equally.
After showing kindness and promising his people of defense, the King focuses on Hamlet. Confirming his new position, he begins by saying, "But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son." Hamlet responds, "A little more than kin, and less than kind" (1.2.65). Hamlet means the King who is "more than kin" is unkind and not his relative. The King asks Hamlet to forget his father and leave than to him, but Hamlet retorts that he dislikes being called son. Gertrude intervenes as she needs his son to befriend the new King of Denmark. The Queen says, "all that lives must die, / Passing through nature to eternity" (1.2.72-73). Hamlet later uses this statement in diverse ways to the King, Ophelia sings too about it. However, Hamlet thinks that just because every person dies should not be why Gertrude rushes from the lost King's grave to Claudius’ bed. Hamlet says that no one will find him in “windy suspiration of forc’d breath / No, nor the fruitful river of the eye” to explain why he is dressed in black (1.2.79-80). King Claudius now attempts to turn Hamlet next to him to show the people how he is a caring and kind person. The speech by Claudius has several contradictory phrases, words, and ideas.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
There were many foods and decorations at King Hamlet's funeral and Gertrude's and Claudius' wedding. Hinting at the speedy wedding, Hamlet says, "(t)he funeral baked meats / Did coldly furnish forth the marriage table" (1.2.180-181). The statement connects the two happenings temporally and also creates an uncomfortable link between them. The same meals served at the funeral were available at the wedding for everyone. The wedding meal implied inappropriateness and indecency. Hamlet is feeling disgusted by Claudius' drinking.
Bernardo, Marcellus, and Horatio had seen what looked like late King Hamlet’s ghost. Horatio goes on to tell Hamlet what they had seen. Amazed, Hamlet decides to stay and keep watch at night; he hopes to speak to the ghost. The ghost appears at night, and Hamlet calls it. The apparition signals Hamlet to follow it into the dark. His friends tell him not to follow, pleading with him to contemplate that the ghost might be harmful. But Hamlet no longer fears after losing his father and claims that the ghost cannot harm his soul if it is immortal. He goes after the apparition and vanishes in the dark. The shocked Marcellus and Horatio declare that the occasion portends ill for the nation.
Reference
Godwin, Simon (Director). (2016). Hamlet [Film]. Royal Shakespeare Company. https://wwwdigitaltheatreplus-com.belhaven.idm.oclc.org/education/collections/rsc/hamlet
