Hamlet

Sc. 2, Lines 129–159

1. Sc. 2, Lines 129–159: What does this speech reveal about the reason for Hamlet’s attitude toward Claudius and his mother? What does he resolve to do about this situation?

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Many critics think Hamlet had a "thing" for his mother. For a guy mourning the death of his father, Hamlet sure is obsessed with the sexual habits of his mother. He is very upset by the fact that Gertrude had wed his Uncle so soon after her husband's death. Hamlet is preoccupied with his mother's sexual habits throughout the play. He wonders how, at her age, she could hang from Claudius, As if increase of (sexual) appetite had grown... He directly chastises his mother for having sex with his uncle, "Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love. Over the nasty sty..."Hamlet is so frustrated (perhaps sexually) with mother that he colors all women as "frail". Hamlet equates his father's funeral and his mother's wedding to being linked in the corruption of Denmark. Hamlet does not yet know the truth about his Uncle but his hatred for Caludius and his frustrations with the marriage represent Hamlet's internal crises.