Although Hamlet is about political intrigue, it is also a play about family. In this scene we are introduced to Hamlet, his new step-father (and uncle), and Hamlet's mother. In a well-structured essay, describe each of these three characters and how they relate to one another in this scene.
Answers
The audience is introduced to Hamlet indirectly, through Horatio, Hamlet's friend, who wants to tell Hamlet about the late king's ghost. Act 1 Scene 2 opens with Claudius' speech, in the presence of Hamlet, Gertrude, Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia and the courtiers. Claudius seems to be running the show since he continues speaking for a while before Hamlet or Gertrude utter a word.
Though Claudius begins his speech with a reference to the death of his brother, he is quick to shift the focus from the grief of the 'whole kingdom' to his own well being and his marriage to Gertrude. He sounds insincere, for he tries to equate the well-being of the kingdom with his own selfish motives. His love for family is also dubious, since he is supposedly grieving the loss of his brother, yet has married his widowed sister-in-law within a couple of months of losing his brother. On the contrary, he tries to persuade Hamlet to come out of grieving and stay back in Denmark. When Hamlet agrees, Claudius takes it as a reason to celebrate. Overall, Hamlet's step-father, Claudius is trying to win everyone's hearts, especially in the family.
Gertrude is Hamlet's mother. However, she is relegated to the background, with Claudius handling everything. She too, does not seem to be in mourning since she has married her brother-in-law rather hurriedly. She too wants Hamlet to quit mourning and requests him to be with her in Denmark and not go back to his university. She comes across as a loving mother, but her sincerity towards family ties is unclear.
Hamlet is extremely clear as a character. He is the only one who seems to be upset about his father's death. His clothes, mood and talks all show that he is still in mourning. Though he obeys his mother and decides not to go back to Wittenberg, he does not like the circumstances in Denmark. His mother's marriage to his uncle, who is a lowly 'beast', makes him suicidal. It is only his religious beliefs that stop him from taking the extreme step, because suicide in Christianity means going to hell.
Overall, though the scene focuses on the royal family, there is no feeling of closeness to cherish. Instead there are strong undercurrents of betrayals and plots. No character is 'connected' with the other in the real sense. The family structure is as fractured and unstable as is the political scenario in the kingdom of Denmark.