In response to Jamie Pouliot’s post, I agree that Act One in the play Hamlet written by William

Shakespeare has a depressing undertone to it. Jamie makes a very strong argument with her
points which include that Hamlet is trying to grieve his deceased father but has to deal with his
mother remarrying his uncle, Claudius. In addition to Jamie’s argument, the country of Denmark
is currently unstable and there is tension building around the recent death of the King which adds
an undertone of gloominess to the play. Throughout the play Shakespeare effectively establishes
the depressing undertone by the theme of death and instability of the country.
Hamlet is truly going through a stage of grief but other feelings of confusion as well since his
mother is remarrying so quickly, let alone it being his own uncle. In Act One, Scene Two Hamlet
says so no one can hear him, “(aside) A little more than kin and less than kind”
(Shakespeare 25), meaning Hamlet is reflecting on his emotions of his mother remarrying so
quickly to his uncle. Hamlet means that he thinks the marriage is not truly a marriage of love and
rather a marriage that is forced. Hamlet also says in Act One, Scene Two,
““Seems,” madam? Nay, it is. I know not “seems.” ’Tis not alone my inky cloak good mother,
Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful
river in the eye, Nor the dejected havior of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shares of
grief, That can denote me truly. These indeed “seem,” For they are actions that a man might
play;” (page 26)
Hamlet is saying that he is truly grieving when his mother is saying to him that she thinks he is
just putting on an act of grieving. Hamlet is saying that someone could do all of the things he is
doing to act like they are grieving but that he is doing these things because he truly is grieving
the death of his father. Hamlet expressing his true feelings of grief to his mother contributes to
the depressing undertone of Act One.
The country of Denmark is not doing too well after the death of King Hamlet and adds to the
gloominess of Act One. The King’s death left a void in the country of Denmark as they now do
not have a leader. The people are left feeling uncertain about what will happen for the future of
Denmark. When Horatio and Marcellus discover the ghost of King Hamlet in Act One, Scene
One, Horatio says, “In what particular thought to work I know not, But in the gross scope of
mine opinion This bodes some strange eruption to our state.” (13) meaning that Horatio thinks
that the ghost they have discovered is going to be bad news for the country of Denmark. Horatio
speaking that he thinks the country is in trouble provides the undertone of the unstableness that
the people of the country are having after the death of King Hamlet.
Overall, the undertone of depression and the unsteadiness of the play is relayed successfully by
Shakespeare in Act One. King Hamlet’s death provides an undertone of sadness and uncertainty
to the country which is effectively shown throughout Act One giving the play tones of sadness,
depression and gloominess.
Works Cited
Hamlet - entire play (no date) Folger Shakespeare Library. Available at:
http://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/hamlet/read/. (Accessed: 28 January 2024).