Early on in the play we learn that forces are gathering around the country of Denmark. These forces are led by the young Fortinbras, son of the late King of Norway. He is hoping to regain the lands that his father “did forfeit with his life” (Ii.88) when King Hamlet “did slay this Fortinbras” (Ii.86) and seized parts of Norway. Also “now sir, young Fortinbras, of unimprovèd mettle hot and full” (Ii.95-96) seeks revenge for his father’s death. At the end of the play young Fortinbras has more than succeeded in his plans. He sits upon Denmark’s throne with the kingship handed to him by young Hamlet who proclaims:

“But I do prophesy th’election lights on Fortinbras; he has my dying voice” (Vii.334

It is a damned ghost we have seen” (IIIii.70-73)

And, would it were not so, you are my mother” (IIIiv.15-16)

“No, No, the drink, the drink – O my dear Hamlet

Claudius, the arch-villain in the play, has not only killed Hamlet’s father; he has also taken his mother “won to his shameful lust the will of my most seeming virtuous queen” (Iv.45-46). The result, as warned by the ghost, for “the royal bed of Denmark be a couch for luxury and damned incest” (Iv.82-83). Hamlet has the queen character in his play pledging to remain loyal to the dead king. In Hamlet’s eyes, this contrasts with his mother’s behaviour. Gertrude sees in this ‘queen’ a woman who “doth protest too much methinks” (IIIii.211) while Hamlet declares “oh but she’ll keep her word” (IIIii.212). He regards his mother as one who married with “most wicked speed to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets” (Iii.156-157). His feelings of shame are such that he struggles to even regard her as his mother:

Some topics in this essay:
IVv48-51 Laertes, , Iiii110-111 Despite, Hamlet Polonius, Fortinbras” Ii86, Hamlet Directly, IIIii211 Hamlet, IIIiv96 Gertrude, Rosencrantz Guildenstern, Vii304 Claudius, rejects hamlet, drink drink �, king hamlet, drink �, father’s murder, hamlet feels, believes hamlet, drink drink, father’s death, polonius believes, loss father,