DRJ #1 Hamlet Act I

Initial Reaction: In the play Hamlet, the character that reminds me of someone I know would be Ophelia. She is in love with Hamlet, but doesn't know if she can trust him, her brother tries to talk her out of her feelings for Hamlet but she seems truly in love. She reminds me of all females in movies, real life, or fictional- every girl feels in love and have a block between them and their lover. She loves someone she may not, she has the disapproval of the king and her own brother. It's sad.

Character Analysis: Ophelia, while she wasn't in Act I very much, she still stood out to me as a character, maybe because of similar circumstances. She is one of the main characters of the play, due to her being connected to Hamlet. She has flaws, like every human being. She falls for a man that she cannot trust, and has the disapproval of many. She isn't a tragic hero I do not think. She seems to be the damsel in distress in a comic book. She is the one who needs to be saved by the hero. Her supporting character would be Hamlet, in the first Act they do not interact, but just knowing her love for Hamlet and her connection to him makes him a supporting character to her.

Theme Analysis: The theme expressed in Act I would be Love and Family. When the play opens we learn about the different characters, and find out how they are all related. It shows irony because Hamlet's uncle killing his father, was very ironic. When talking to the ghost I had a feeling that Hamlet's father's ghost would give incite into his death. Also the love between Ophelia and Hamlet is expressed in Act I, we are introduced to them and how no one approves of the relationship.