The Analytical Breakdown of Hamlet, Act 1
Act 1 Scene1:
Play begins with a question, during the cloak of darkness, with talk of impending war, and the
appearance of a ghost, twice (certainly a foreshadow of violence to come). Questions and rapid dialogue
at the outset add to a foreboding mood:
 “This bodes some eruption to our state.” – Horatio, 1.1.69
 We hear Horatio tell the tale of Norway and Denmark’s history (79-107) AND the list of omens
that preceded Julius Caesar’s downfall (112-125)
 We see a number of references to the sky, night, then dawn (check out the personification of
dawn, 166-167  you find LOTS of this in the play!)
Minor characters (why are they best suited?) give us details of important antecedent action:
 King Hamlet (of Denmark) is dead
 King Fortinbras (of Norway) is dead, slain by the late King Hamlet
 The young Prince Fortinbras threatens attack to avenge his father’s death
 In both cases, the uncle, not son, becomes king
 Fortinbras = FOIL! Look for LOTS of oppositions in characters, language, images, and themes!
Act 1Scene 2:
Wow! What a huge contrast to the previous scene! Note the way mood shifts from scene to scene.
Germs of conflict emerge & first talk of melancholy, rot, and illness emerge:
 We first meet Claudius, look carefully to his first speech to uncover his true, double-faced
nature – note the rhetoric here!
 Note Hamlet’s first 2 lines and the cynical (and the puns) & melancholy that follows
o “Seems madam? Nay it is, I know not seems.”  appearance v. reality
 Note Hamlet’s first soliloquy = his true feelings,
o Soliloquies usually function as dramatic irony
o “…’tis an unweeded garden…”
o Classical allusions to emphasis characteristics of his father, mother, and himself
 Scene changes mood with the entrance of Hamlet’s friends—note strong bond between Hamlets
& Horatio
o Their dialogue, called stichomythia, (a technique in which actors deliver speech in
alternating lines)  This emphasizes the importance of the information being delivered –
with news of ghost, Hamlet is momentarily not so sad, they plan to watch again tonight in
secrecy
o “Foul deeds will rise / Though all the earth o’erwhelm them to men’s eyes.”
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The suspense built is so exciting!
Act 1 Scene 3:
Intimate family conversation between Polonius and children, Laertes & Ophelia – characterization of all
 Yet another contrasting scene! (How does he do it?)
 We learn important family dynamics  this scene foreshadows what will happen to each
 Laertes warns Ophelia about Hamlet  more likely due to his own treatment of women, not
Hamlet’s behavior: “…forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting…”
 He also reminds her of their place: “His greatness is weighed, his will is not his own…”
 Did you notice how she calls him on this (45-51) and suddenly he feels the need to leave, “O! fear
me not. I stay too long.” HA!
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Polonius’ substance-less “precepts” (advice) show how little control he has over Laertes
o Does this back up Ophelia’s comment on his character? Hmmm…
Note: Hamlet wants to go back to school  Laertes wants to go back to Paris to party!
Treatment of Women (keep your eye on Ophelia and Gertrude, the only ladies):
o Both father & brother attempt to control Ophelia
o Laertes reminds us of the importance of her “chaste treasure” (31)
o She meets the expectation of the day & obeys her father’s command to not see Hamlet
 He does not seem to care about her feelings!
 “You speak like a green girl…” (101) & “Think yourself a baby…” (105) … nice!
 How will this ultimatum affect the already sad Hamlet?!
o Ophelia (& Hamlet) stand out as idealists
Act 1 Scene 4:
Again, cold, dark, ghost watch, BUT this time contrasted with the party (i.e. Claudius’s excesses)
 Hamlet begins to pontificate on why a fault or another person can ruin a good person = here is
Hamlet is seeking truth… watch out! t’will happen again!
 He also foreshadows his own downfall (as the tragic hero he is):
o “…some vicious mole of nature in them…” (26+)
o “Carrying I say the stamp of defect…” (31)
o “The dram of eale…” (36)
 Ghost appears, gesturing to Hamlet to come, like good friends, they physically restrain him,
despite possible danger he follows (more clues about his character)
 “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” – Marcellus (90)
Act 1 Scene 5:
Hamlet and the ghost speak = Hamlet learns the ugly truth (should he believe the ghost?) and we learn
about the importance of avenging a father’s death and the pain of purgatory
 Suspense of entire Act leading to this scene  finally NO change of mood for this scene
 We learn the real reason for King Hamlet’s death & what Hamlet must do to seek revenge
(though it will not come easily and without questioning)
o Note the vivid imagery used in the Ghost’s speech
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Hamlet’s 2nd soliloquy filled with anger, excitement, & resolution
o he vows revenge
o condemns Claudius for making him do so
o his father’s last words ring in his ears “remember me”!
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Note Hamlet’s change in mind when friends re-enter
o He refuses to tell them what happened  he only tells Horatio, a true confident, the ghost
was “honest”
o “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Then are dreamt of in your
philosophy.” – Hamlet (166-167)
Both Hamlet & freaky omniscient ghost force Horatio & Marcellus to swear by the sword
Introduction of Hamlet’s feigned (or is it?) madness: “To put an antic disposition on – ” (172)
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“The time is out of joint: O cursed spite,
That ever I was born to set it right.”
-- Hamlet (189-190)
Trust  Questions  Reality v. Appearance  Family/Gender Roles  Disorder  Insanity  Rot