Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5
Notes
1. The Ghost


In purgatory because the king died
unabsolved
Angrily gives details of the murder to upset
Hamlet
The Ghost



Speaks of “seeming virtuous queen”
(appearance/reality theme)
Gentle, sad, forgiving, angry and conniving
Stresses revenge and murder
2. Hamlet’s Threefold Oath


“Let not the royal bed of Denmark be a couch
for luxury and damned incest ”(82-83)
Stop the incest
The Oath:


“Taint not thy mind” (85)
Don’t become evil yourself
The Oath:


“nor let thy soul contrive against thy mother”
(85).
Don’t hurt Mom!
Question:

Are all three things possible?
3. Hamlet’s Second Soliloquy


Resolves to act quickly
Can be a man of action, though up to now,
he has spent much time thinking and
wallowing in his emotions
Second Soliloquy


Feels strong emotion (anger, horror,
sadness)
Attempts to control emotion “hold, hold, my
heart” (93)
Second Soliloquy


Is clear about his reaction
“thy commandment all alone shall live
Within the book and volume of my brain.”
(102-103)


Shows lack of equilibrium through
exclamation and repetition
hysterical
4. Hamlet After the Ghost:

Insists Horatio and Marcellus swear to keep
his revenge plan a secret
Hamlet After the Ghost


He will pretend to be mad, put on an “antic
disposition” (172)
If he can get away with unusual behaviour,
he can bring about his revenge
Hamlet After the Ghost


Is this a good plan?
Is Hamlet really going crazy?
Hamlet After the Ghost


Has vowed quick action, and resolves to do
his duty, but doesn’t like his fate
“The time is out of joint. O cursed spite
That ever I was born to set it right” (188189)