Fatherhood In Hamlet Research Paper

The story of Hamlet is one of mental stagnation that ultimately leads to tragedy. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the feelings of duty, honor, and commitment that Hamlet feels towards his mother and father often obscure his ability to act based upon his conscience. Throughout the play, Hamlet encounters many characters that obstruct him from having a mind of his own and formulating his actions on his own.
Research shows that a child’s behaviors and social habits depend “almost entirely on the solidity of the family” (Goldsmith, 2000). The ability for a child to handle situations and meet life’s demands is based upon psychological foundations of early family life. This means that a child who is raised by nurturing parents is more likely to develop into a self-sustaining, mentally stable adult while a child raised by neglecting parents is …show more content…
Often times, children are reluctant to welcome the changes as monumental as a new parent in their life can bring. When entering the life of a child, it is advised that a stepparent move slowly. Most of the time, the child has not asked nor expected a new adult to be present in their life. Unfortunately, this reluctance introduced by the addition to a family can bring feelings of insecurity and unfamiliarity (Darnall, 1998).
This theme is prevalent in Hamlet when readers are introduced to King Claudius, Hamlet’s new stepfather who also happened to be Hamlet’s uncle. Hamlet immediately experiences distrust towards his mother’s new husband due to their hasty, ‘incestuous’ marriage. This leeriness experienced by Hamlet is intensified when the apparition of his father informs him that it was King Claudius that ended his life. When Hamlet’s suspicion becomes too much to bear, he decides to stage a play in which a murder takes place, matching the way Claudius himself killed Hamlet, as a way to stay committed and dutiful to his