Hamlet Journal

Hamlet Journal

Response Journal for Act 1, Scene 1 to Act 1, Scene 5

Q1. How does the play make you feel at this point? Record your emotional response(s) in a few sentences and then explore them for a few minutes, trying to figure out why you feel as you do.

When I finished reading from scene one to scene five, I was surprised how a human can be so tainted like Claudius. He killed his own brother, married his brother’s wife, and seized the throne. I was also disgusted at Gertrude how she couldn’t live without man in her life. It seemed like she betrayed her former husband, King Hamlet, and married the one who killed his husband.

Q2. In what situations have you felt similar to the characters? What persons, places, or ideas from your own experiences came to your mind while you were reading this portion of the play? Try to list at least three associations, but don’t worry about trying to figure out why they came to mind. Just accept that they occur.

A. My brother Steve went to the United States for an exchange student two years ago. When my brother was leaving, my parents gave my brother a lot of advices. They told him not to spend too much money and time on entertainments and to study hard. When Leartes was leaving, his father gave him a few advices, and this reminded me of the situation of my own family as I read Hamlet.

B. I have a few friends I trust and tell secrets to. When I had problems I couldn’t solve, my friends helped me solve it. They gave me advices and helped me when I was in adversaries. I trust them and I know that they will come tell me if there are problems going around me too. My friends to me are like Horatio to Hamlet.

C. My parents are wiser and more experienced than I am. Therefore I listen to their advices even though I don’t like it, and most of the times, they are correct. My parents worry for me and tell me what’s best for me to do. I think it was same for Ophelia’s dad. He found out that Ophelia was in love with Hamlet, and he knew that they will not be able to be together after all. That’s why he prohibited his daughter to meet Hamlet.

Q3. What portions of Shakespeare’s language attracts your attention? These might be individual words, phrases, lines, scenes, or images. Make note of whatever features draw your attention. Speculate for a few minutes about what you think they might mean.

Hamlet is written in Old English, and I do not quite understand. However, as the title as one of the best writers, descriptions William Shakespeare used are very harmonious. One of the features that attracted my attention was when Claudius says “But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son.” Knowing that Claudius was the one who killed King Hamlet, I was very irritated. How can a person be son thick faced and act like the kindest person in the world? I think this phrase was quite important because it seemed like Claudius was kind at first, but later on when King Hamlet’s ghost tells Hamlet about his death, Hamlet feels betrayed.

Q4. Make note of any portion of the play, its language, or events that cause you problems. Note any questions that you might ask.

I wonder if Ophelia will really keep the promise of not seeing Hamlet again. If she can’t live without her love and breaks the promise with her dad, how would her dad and other people react, and exactly what would happen to Ophelia and Hamlet?