Not only can he not decide his own fate, but he also struggles to decide whether or not he should kill Claudius. ... This only leads Hamlet farther in his misery and intensifies his hatred for Claudius. ... This leads him to ponder true love and make a hasty generalization about all women. ... The relationship between his mother and father in comparison with his mother's decision to embark on a new relationship with his uncle makes Hamlet give up on true love. ... Although he does finally gain the courage to act on this, it is rash and turns out to not be Claudius after all. ...

• Word Count: 1324
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

A Parent's Love Has No Bounds " Harry, your father loves you," a loving father says to his son, who refuses to communicate with him, in the short story "My Son the Murder". ... "I remember when we weren't afraid to show we loved each other."... Hamlet's father tells him that his brother, Claudius (the new king of Denmark), assassinated him. Only one month after his father was murdered, Gertrude (Hamlet's mother) married his Uncle Claudius, leaving Hamlet feeling betrayed and depressed. ... To make things worse, Hamlet has "sworn't" (p.63: 119) his revenge on King C...

• Word Count: 1446
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Laertes advises Ophelia to treat Hamlet's love as a "trifling of his favour," and a "fashion and a toy". ... Laertes points out that "Perhaps" Hamlet loves Ophelia now, but "his will is not his own" and "he himself is subject to his birth". He reminds Ophelia that Hamlet is a Prince, and that he may be forced to choose a wife who has royal blood, regardless of whom he might actually love. ... Polonius is under the impression that Hamlet's advances towards his daughter have no true meaning and are not fuelled by real love. ... Furthermore, Hamlet's mother's marriage to Claud...

• Word Count: 1408
• Approx Pages: 6