Hamlet
By William Shakespeare
Act I scene 1 (I.i.)
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Setting – Denmark, Elsinore Castle
Enter Barnardo, Francisco, Marcellus (all guards) and Horatio (a good friend of Hamlet’s)
The guards have twice seen the ghost of the dead King Hamlet (Hamlet’s father)
The ghost will not speak with them – men thought ghost would speak to Horatio
Ghost suddenly appears
Horatio tries to speak to ghost – ghost will not answer
Ghost exits
Men notice the ghost is wearing armor he wore when he won battle against Norway – bad tiding for Denmark
(impending doom)
Horatio tells story of King Hamlet
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King Hamlet was challenged by King of Norway (Fortinbras) to a fight (war)
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King Hamlet (warrior) agreed
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Wager – each country would put up land, winner takes the land and the life of the King
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King Hamlet won, received the land from Norway and took life of the King of Norway
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Now, Young Fortinbras (King of Norway’s son) is angry – wants his land back and is creating an
army to attack Denmark (this is why men are on watch every night)
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This ghost appearing is a bad omen
Ghost appears again
Horatio tries again to speak to it – ghost will not speak
Horatio believes the Ghost will speak with Hamlet – will tell Hamlet all that has happened to try to get Hamlet to
talk with the Ghost
Act I scene 2 (I.ii.)
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Enter King Claudius, Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother), Polonius, Laertes, Hamlet and others.
Claudius speaks of his brother’s death (King Hamlet) – states it is sad but let us move forward with business
Mentions Young Fortinbras coming after Denmark for land
Claudius (politician) sends a letter to Young F.’s uncle, telling him of Young F.’s plan and asking him to stop the
attack.
Laertes (son of Polonius and Hamlet’s friend) asks to return to school
Claudius allows him to leave
Gertrude (Hamlet’s mother) asks why Hamlet “seems” so sad
Hamlet says it is not “seems” – he is truly devastated- unlike his uncle and mother
Claudius tells Hamlet that it is time to stop mourning his Father (it has only been a few weeks since his death) –
basically, everyone loses a parent, move on
Claudius also tells Hamlet he and his mother do not want Hamlet to return to school – basically, you are not going
back to school
Exit all but Hamlet
Hamlet’s soliloquy (alone on stage telling audience inner thoughts) –
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wishing God didn’t forbid suicide
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father less than two months dead
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father was an excellent King – adored by subjects and especially Gertrude
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confused as to how Gertrude could appear to love father so much and then so quickly after his
death, marry another man “’frailty, thy name is woman!’” (Shakespeare I.ii.150).
Enter Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo
Hamlet asks Horatio why he has returned from school – questioning to find out if Horatio is honest
Horatio says he came for his father’s funeral – and admits Gertrude and Claudius’ wedding followed quickly after
King Hamlet’s death
Men admit that they believe they have seen the Ghost of King Hamlet
Act I scene 3 (I.iii.)
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Enter Laertes and Ophelia, his sister
Laertes tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet – “’his will is not his own,/For he himself is subject to his birth’”
(Shakespeare I.iii.20-21).
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Laertes believes that Hamlet cannot choose his own wife (must marry a princess to increase the
strength of Denmark) and that Hamlet is using her
Ophelia agrees to listen to Laertes advice
Enter Polonius (father to both Laertes and Ophelia)
Polonius gives Laertes advice before he leaves for school:
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Never tell what you are thinking
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Be friendly but do not cheapen yourself
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Don’t start fights but don’t back down from one
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Listen to all but give advice to few
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“’Neither a borrower nor a lender (be,)’” (Shakespeare I.iii.81).
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Trust in yourself
Polonius asks Ophelia what she and Laertes were discussing before he appeared – Ophelia admits it was about
Hamlet
Polonius forbids Ophelia to see Hamlet any longer – says she will either be labeled a fool for believing his
advances or he will become a grandfather to a love child.
Ophelia says that she will obey Polonius
Act I scene 4 (I.iv.)
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Enter Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus.
They have come to find the Ghost
King, Queen and court are having a party
Hamlet admonishes the custom of drinking to oblivion – He says it makes the country appear weak and puts them
at risk
Enter the Ghost
Hamlet tries to talk with the Ghost in front of the others, but he will not speak.
Ghost beckons Hamlet to follow him
Horatio and Marcellus don’t want Hamlet to follow alone – too risky
Hamlet claims that his life is worthless anyway, so he will follow
Horatio says the Ghost could be a demon that “’…might deprive your sovereignty of reason/ And draw you into
madness?’” (Shakespeare I.iv.81-82). Foreshadow!!!
Hamlet follows the Ghost anyway, claims fate is making him brave.
Marcellus states, “’Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’” (Shakespeare I.iv.100). The appearance of the
Ghost is a sign that there is evil afoot in Denmark.
Act I scene 5 (I.v.)
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Enter Ghost and Hamlet
Ghost tells Hamlet that he is his father’s spirit, doomed to walk the night and spend his days in purgatory (no
funeral rites at death)
Ghost tells Hamlet he has returned so Hamlet might “’Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder’”
(Shakespeare I.v.32).
Story given to Denmark:
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King Hamlet would nap each day in his orchard
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On day of his death, Denmark told he was bit by a poisonous serpent
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Truth - Claudius, Ghost’s brother and new King of Denmark, poured poison into King Hamlet’s
ear as he slept in the orchard; it curdled his blood and left leprous marks all over his body.
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Never given time to purge his sins/ask for forgiveness
Ghost tells Hamlet get revenge on Claudius but leave Gertrude, his mother, alone. She will have to face her own
demons one day.
Ghost exits.
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Hamlet is distraught – angry at Claudius and his mother
Enter Horatio and Marcellus
They ask what Hamlet heard from the Ghost
Hamlet does not tell them what he heard but asks them to keep secret what they have seen tonight
Hamlet has already started to show signs of lunacy – he is speaking irrationally and quickly – “’These are but
wild and whirling words, my lord’” (Shakespeare I.v.148).
Hamlet says he knows it to be an honest Ghost and asks the men to swear by his sword that they will not speak of
anything that they have seen or heard.
Ghost is heard saying, “’Swear’” (Shakespeare I.v.168).
Horatio and Marcellus swear not to speak of it
Hamlet then says to them that no matter how insane I act or portray myself, pay no attention to it. “’(As
perchance hereafter shall think meet/To put an antic disposition on)’” (Shakespeare I.v.191-192).
Hamlet believes his life is cursed because he must set this right.