Hamlet Reading #2

               During the first part of Act I, we are introduced to Hamlet’s family. Immediately it becomes clear that Hamlet’s family is a little odd, because of the rapidness of Claudius and Gertrude’s marriage after King Hamlet’s death. Everyone in the family should be in mourning, but the only character that is expressing grief is Hamlet, and Claudius and Gertrude think he is weird for doing so. In scene II we are introduced to Laertes family, which includes his sister Ophelia and his father, Polonius. It is revealed that Ophelia and Hamlet have a relationship, and in this scene Laertes is giving advice to Ophelia about her relationship with Hamlet. Laertes’ advice for Ophelia is to stop seeing Hamlet because it is impossible for the Prince of Denmark to love a girl like Ophelia. Ophelia responds, “I shall the effect of this good lesson keep As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, While, (like) a puffed and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads And recks not his own rede” (I. iii. 49-55). Ophelia is acknowledging the advice that Laertes gave her, but she seems to believe that Laertes is acting hypocritically because she tells Laertes to take his own advice. The contrast to Hamlet’s relationship with his family to Laertes’ relationship with his family is dramatic. It is clear that Laertes is the typical overprotective brother, who does not want his little sister to get hurt. While Ophelia plays the innocent sister who respects her brother, but she still might not take his advice all the time.