First Impression of Hamlet

Rachel Igoe

English Honors

G-Period

21 March 2011

First Impression of Hamlet

            “Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I know not “seems.” / ‘Tis not alone my inky cloak,{good} mother, /  Nor customary suit of solemn black, / Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, / No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, / Nor the dejected habior of the visage, / Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, / That can {denote} me truly” (I.ii.79-86).

            In act one scene two the reader is first acquainted with the main character Hamlet. Hamlet seems bitter toward the other characters that appear in this scene. For example in the quote his tone is as if he is talking back to his mother. She comments on how he wears all black and he says that even his black clothes, heavy sighs and weeping does not show how he really feels. Hamlet might be bitter towards the other characters because he has been mourning over the death of his father. Hamlet almost seems as if he is being sarcastic when he responds to his mothers comment. She says that death happens all the time and he replies by saying “Ay, Madam it is common” (I.ii.76). Other characters such as Claudius and Gertrude notice that Hamlet is gloomy and unfriendly. Hamlet acts the way he does in this scene because he is upset about the loss of his father.