Full Title: Analyse the varying impressions the audience receives of Hamlet through Shakespeare’s presentation of his protagonist during the first two acts of the play

Throughout the first two scenes of “Hamlet”, the audience receives many different impressions of Hamlet’s personality. The complex character of Hamlet begins to unfold as Shakespeare presents his many-faceted personality.

Our first direct meeting with Hamlet is in the presence of his uncle, King Claudius. From his first line we already gain an impression of Hamlet’s relationship with his uncle. The line “A little more than kin, and less than kind” shows Hamlet’s resentment of how his uncle has seemingly replaced his father. This feeling is reinforced through the subsequent line, “… I am too much in the sun”. This provides a play on the word “son” – a pun which Claudius would be expected to understand. This shows the courage of Hamlet to make subtle slights against the new king of Denmark.

However, Hamlet remains a dutiful son and remains in Denmark when his mother asks him to, “… ’tis a loving and a fair reply”. Hamlet’s first soliloquy follows this, in which he proves further his admiration for his now dead father, “Hyperion to a satyr”. Then, when the ghost of his father appears to him, Hamlet learns of how his father truly died and vows to take revenge. This devotion emphasises his presentation as a good son.

In order to exact his revenge more easily, Hamlet decides to adopt an “antic disposition”. This ‘mad’ aspect of Hamlet’s personality seems to be just an act he is playing in the first two scenes. Whilst he achieves fooling people into believing he is man, “you are a fishmonger”, this also provides comic relief for the audience. Hamlet is shown to be a quick-witted and intelligent character.

Hamlet is also portrayed as a romantic lover during the first two acts of the play. The first mention of this comes from Laertes who warns his sister about Hamlet’s affections for her. Laertes suggests that Hamlet’s love is not true or long-lasting, but whimsical instead. Therefore the first impression we receive of Hamlet as a lover is quite negative. Polonius also mentions this subject to his daughter, warning her to stay away from Hamlet. Ophelia, however, defends herself saying how Hamlet has “importuned me with love / In honourable fashion”. Having already met Hamlet, we are more likely to believe Ophelia’s defence, so the audience’s perception of Hamlet is not entirely tainted. However the audience does wonder, taking Hamlet’s personality with more caution.

Another side of Hamlet is shown when his friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive. The student banter which ensues shows Hamlet’s wit and good humour towards his fellow students, followed by a short intellectual, student-like debate. However, Hamlet knows that his friends were sent for, seeing through their feeble facade immediately, “To visit you my lord, no other occasion.” This shows how well Hamlet knows his friends and can read the psychology of others.

Throughout the second act the first signs of Hamlet’s procrastination become apparent, even he himself notices it in his second soliloquy. Whilst the sadness of his father’s death still grips him, no real plan of revenge is formulated until his second soliloquy.

In conclusion, Shakespeare has presented the audience with a character who is very genuine and multi-faceted. Hamlet is a loving son to his dead father and dutiful to his mother, despite her fall from grace in his eyes. Hamlet also seems to reflect the traditional lover, attempting to write a love poem to Ophelia, “… celestial and my soul’s idol”. However he realises his lack of skill and shows his love in plain language. He seems very genuine in his love.

_{Mark achieved: 13/20}

_{Teacher’s comments: A sound effort, though each point here requires more exploration. Your approach is a little superficial at times.}

_{My comments: After reading through this essay it’s clear I didn’t get a good night’s sleep before writing it. All I’ve really done is tell the story, with very little insight. Dozens of opportunities for quotations were missed and every point I made was cut short before it was developed. Poor show me.}