Act 1: Claudius vs. Hamlet

In Act 1 of Hamlet, King Claudius is introduced as the new king of Denmark with his new queen, the widowed wife of his deceased brother, Gertrude. As Hamlet is introduced after Claudius, the difference in their personalities is strongly emphasized. After just losing his father, Hamlet is in a state of depression; wearing black robes and constantly crying. Through Hamlet's reaction to his father's death, the readers can see that Hamlet is a compassionate and sympathetic character, caring for the things that matter most to him. Unfortunately, King Claudius is not this way. As the man who has taken his father's position, King Claudius reveals no sympathy for Hamlet, telling him that his emotions rule unacceptable and questions why "the clouds still hang." Urging him to take off his "nightly colour," both parents view his mourning as an obligation and not as true emotions for the loss of his father, further illuminating the moral differences between both characters.