Family Relationships In Hamlet

No one in life has the choice to pick his or her family that they are born into. When he or she is brought into this world, their status is already placed upon them as a result of their parents. As one of the most well-known plays in history, William Shakespeare’s tragic story Hamlet looks into the themes of families and roles. Delivered into a household of royalty and poise, the young prince Hamlet collides with negative emotions that spur from the unforeseen affliction of his father’s death and hasty marriage of his mother and his uncle. Sprung forth from these events, other families were affected and tested to see if their love for each other could keep them together. Every family has a choice to remain as a whole no matter what life throws

He came back to ask his own son to avenge his death. The ghost told Hamlet “List, list, O list! / If thou didst ever thy dear father love / Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (1.5.29/31). It is very clear that Shakespeare wants readers to pay attention to the father-son relationship. King Hamlet chose to corrupt Hamlet even more by asking him to murder and Hamlet chose to listen and obey in return. Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother grieved in only a short 2 months before marrying his brother Claudius. As if it wasn’t traumatic enough that Hamlet lost a father, and Gertrude a husband, he now has lost his mother to an “incestuous, that adulterate beast / with witchcraft of his wits, with traitorous gifts--” (1.5.49-50). Claudius was Hamlet’s uncle and Gertrude’s brother-in-law. Hamlet’s relationship with his own father, even in death is stronger than the one that he has with his step-father. Claudius tried in the beginning to establish a bond but Hamlet of course, denied it. Claudius said “Time be thine, / And they best graces spend it at they will.-- / But now, my cousin Hamlet and my son--” (1.2.65-66) to which Hamlet replied “A little more than kin and less than kind / I am too much in the sun”

In the beginning it is shown that they have the strongest bond. Laertes asks King Hamlet to leave Denmark to be in France. King Hamlet agrees without hesitation. This unknowingly begins the tear in their household. Before departure, Laertes expresses his farewells gives Ophelia a big lesson about loving a royal; Hamlet. “Perhaps he loves you now, / And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch / The virtue of his will; but you must fear, / His greatness weighed, his will is not his own / (For he himself is subject to his birth)” (1.317-21). Hamlet is subject to his birth and acts as a spoiled royal. His father, Polonius also exchanges words to his son before he goes. As Polonius enters Laertes says “ But here my father comes, / A double blessing is a double grace. / Occassion smiles upon a second leave” (1.357-59). This confirms a strong bond is made between his father as well. Laertes choice to leave impacts his family. If Laertes had not left, maybe Polonius wouldn’t have gone as far as spying on Hamlet after seeing he was not mad out of love. Polonius’ relationship with his daughter impacted his decision to go talk and act with the murderous king. “I will go seek the King. This is the very ecstasy of love, / Whose violent property fordoes itself” (2.2.113-115). Their rapport also impacted Polonius’ to further his investigation with Hamlet. Ophelia’s relationship with her father impacted her decision