Reflection: Initial impression of Hamlet

My initial impression of King Claudius is that he greatly enjoys his newfound power. He keeps referring to himself as various forms of “the king” which suggests that he is trying to prove to himself and to others that he really is the new king now. It also suggests that he is trying to convince those around him that he is fit for the job, if not better than his predecessor. He seems arrogant and he is up to something by the way he pushes Hamlet. By insulting Hamlet’s manhood in order to show him that he should stop grieving over his dead father, Claudius reveals just how suspicious his whole new role truly is. Claudius is trying so hard to make it seem as though he is the new King Hamlet who he seems to desire to be better than. Neither Claudius nor Queen Gertrude seems as phased by the former King’s death as Hamlet does. Gertrude even encourages Hamlet to get over his father’s death.  I would think both Gertrude and Claudius would be more mournful than they are, especially considering their great loss. It is suspicious and Hamlet is aware of this. He is very observant and seems to be catching on to his mother and new step-father when he speaks of the closeness in timing of the funeral and the wedding.  He seems like the victim of circumstances in the case of his father however by the way Laertes and Ophelia portray about him, he seems full of poor intentions. Each character and situation appears to have two sides and only one has been fully revealed thus far.