A Hamlet Childhood Memo y

Essay by Anonymous UserHigh School, 12th grade January 1996

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I guess I have been oblivious up to this point. I knew things were getting weird but I didn't realize the magnitude of it until my dead father rose from the grave to explain things to me. I remember back in the day when things were good. Now everything is rotten. Father is dead and mom is married to Uncle Claudius, who is also king. How did I not see what was going on? I never suspected mom of cheating on dad. I guess it was possible because he was always away being a good king. But how could mom help Claudius kill dad, her husband?

I really never paid attention to what mom or Claudius did around the castle when dad was away. He was away a lot, fighting wars, signing treaties, and being king. He was a busy guy. He always told me to keep things in order when he was away.

I guess I screwed up. I remember one incident in particular.

I was must have been eight years old at the time. Dad was going to fight in Norway. We had a talk before he left. We sat down in the courtyard. It was a beautiful day and dad's presence was like another sun. He seemed to glow as he spoke to me. He said, 'Hammy, I will be away for a while. I want you to watch mommy, and guard our fortress from invaders. Take this. It will help you be strong.' He gave me a small gold dagger. He left that afternoon and I knew he wouldn't be back for a long time.

Things carried on as usual. I ran around the castle playing and shirking any responsibility that I had. One day I was playing hide-and-go-seek with Laertes and the other kids. I...