Hamlet is shown to be loving, admiring and loyal towards his father, the King. Hamlet is devastated by his death, even considering killing himself to see him again. He is angry that everyone seems to have moved on so fast from the king’s death so quickly. We see Hamlet compare his father to Claudius, saying that he was “So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr” (I,II,142-143), where his father was like a god, while Claudius was, in his eyes, a goat man.
By reading the first act, we see that Hamlet very clearly resents his uncle for marrying his mother. Since the two married, Hamlet’s relationship with his uncle has been tarnished. He looks down upon Claudius, especially when comparing him to his father. When Claudius asks Hamlet “How is it that the clouds still hang on [him]” (I,II,68), Hamlet sarcastically states that he is "Not so, [his] lord. [He is] too much i' the sun" (I,II,69). This is essentially hamlet making fun of the relationship with Claudius using a play on words, by first saying that he is actually filled with “sun”, but referring to how he is troubled by the events in his life that have led to his uncle becoming his step-father.
In Act I, Hamlet is very angry at his mother since he doesn't agree with her and Claudius’ marriage. He cannot understand how she could move on so quickly and “With such dexterity to incestuous sheets” (I,III,160). He believes that this marriage is doomed and that “It is not nor it cannot come to good” (I,III,161). However, although he is angry, he still carries enough respect for his mother to “...hold [his] tongue” (I,III,162) and not speak to her about his feelings.
Hamlet himself does not speak about Ophelia, his love interest, in the first act, but she speaks highly of him to her father and brother. Ophelia wants to be with Hamlet, but her family thinks that he may not be able to love her in the same way due to his responsibilities as king. She defends him, however, noting that “he hath importuned [her] with love/In honorable fashion” (I,III, 115-116).
Horatio and Hamlet have been friends since they went to school together. Horatio views himself as Hamlet’s loyal servant, but Hamlet tells Horatio that he is only “[his] good friend” and that he no longer wants Horatio to be referred to as a servant, thus saying “ he’ll change that name with [him]” (I,II, 166-167).
