The relationship between father and son in Hamlet Hamlet, from the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is a young man with many distinctive characteristics. He is the loving and beloved son of Hamlet, the late king of Denmark. He is talented in many ways, as an actor, athlete, and scholar. Prince Hamlet draws on many of his talents as he goes through a remarkable metamorphosis, transforming from an average, responsible young prince to a seemingly mad and furious son, intent on avenging his father's untimely death. At the beginning of Hamlet, the prince behaves as any normal person would after the death of a loved one. Not only is he a loved one, but a truly special person; it is her loving father whom she adored. Hamlet is saddened, depressed, and even angry that his mother remarried so soon after his father's death. Having witnessed how his father had treated his mother with great love and respect, Hamlet cannot understand how his mother could shorten her mourning period so much to marry someone like Uncle Claudius. He is incapable of rationalizing his actions and is haunted by his actions. Throughout the play Hamlet is in constant conflict with himself. The appearance of a ghost claiming to be his father, "I am the spirit of your father" (Iv14) compounds his grief, almost driving him to suicide and leaving him deeply disgusted and angry. After speaking with his ghost father, Hamlet discovers that his uncle-stepfather killed King Hamlet. “The serpent that stung your father's life now wears his crown” (Iv45-46) Hamlet is beside himself and becomes obsessed with plotting and planning revenge for his father's death. Hamlet constantly struggles, trying to decide how to act to avenge the loss of his father to his dishonest uncle-stepfather. Planning to kill him is not easy. Hamlet is given many opportunities to kill Claudius, but he continues to take his time to be sure that the ghost told the truth about the murder. Ultimately, Hamlet decides on a plan. “the thing is the play/where I will take the king's conscience” (II.ii.612-613). He will put on a show for the king which would actually be a re-enactment of his father's murder. The play he chooses to stage is titled "The Murder of Gonzago" with some changes made to accommodate Hamlet's new lines and actions that reflect Claudius' murder of his father. After seeing Claudius' crazy behavior during and after Hamlet's play, Hamlet realizes that his ghost father had been telling the truth..