Hamlet scene analysis
Act I, scene i
Horatio and two guards are keeping watch and see the ghost of
King Hamlet; the ghost will not speak to them. The appearance of
the ghost suggests that King Hamlet’s soul cannot be at rest due to
unresolved business. Horatio resolves to tell Prince Hamlet of the
ghost. Similar to the opening scene of Macbeth with the witches,
this scene represents the first element of a tragedy: something
disrupts the normal order of things. With the apparition appearing
in the middle of the night, the scene creates an eerie, mysterious
mood.
Act I, scene ii
This is the first scene showing Claudius as king as well as
Hamlet’s first soliloquy. Hamlet is very distraught over the death
of his father, and Claudius and Gertrude encourage him to cease
his mourning. In his soliloquy, Hamlet expresses his disgust at his
mother and uncle’s hasty marriage merely a month after the death
of his father.
He says that his uncle isn’t half the man his father was but resolves
to “hold his tongue” and keep his feelings inside; thus, Hamlet’s
conflict is internal and unknown to other characters.
Act I, scene v
Hamlet speaks to his father’s ghost who reveals that he was
murdered by Claudius. Although Denmark assumes his death was
caused by a snake bite, Hamlet learns that Claudius put poison in
brother’s ear. King Hamlet implores his son to “revenge his foul
and most unnatural murder” yet avoid harming his mother.
This gives Hamlet a reason to act. This scene also exhibits the first
element of a tragedy (something disrupts the normal order) as well
as the topics of revenge, decay and corruption, and appearance vs.
reality.
Act II, scene ii
Gertrude and Claudius ask Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,
Hamlet’s friends, to check up on him and report back to them.
Hamlet feels betrayed when he realizes that they were “sent for.”
Polonius tells Gertrude that Hamlet is mad with love for his
daughter, Ophelia. Polonius and Hamlet speak, and Hamlet
appears insane but may be feigning madness. Thus, this scene
illustrates the topic of sanity vs. insanity.
Hamlet’s second soliloquy- “What a rouge and peasant slave am
I”- expresses his frustration at himself for being reluctant to act on
the information his father’s ghost revealed. He plans to use the
play to elucidate Claudius’ guilt.
Act III, scene i
Hamlet’s third soliloquy-“To be or not to be”- Shakespeare’s most
famous line. Hamlet is contemplating to be alive or to be dead; is
it better to suffer through the pains of life or commit suicide and
face what lies after death? This is a major internal conflict with
which Hamlet is struggling. Then, Claudius and Polonius
eavesdrop on Hamlet and Ophelia’s conversation; Hamlet rejects
her and tells her that he never loved her. This exhibits the element
of a tragedy that characters express extreme emotions as well as
the topics of sanity vs. insanity and appearance vs. reality.
Act III, scenes ii & iii
Hamlet has the players perform a play that mirrors the death of his
father in order to reveal Claudius’s guilt. Claudius, angered and
frustrated, leaves the play (“Give me some light!”) His guilt is
noticeable, giving Hamlet reason to act. This exhibits the second
element of a tragedy that characters express extreme emotions and
chaos or disorder in society occurs.
Scene iii includes Claudius’s soliloquy (“O, my offense is rank”)
in which he tries to repent/confess his crime but is not completely
sincere. He expresses guilt but wonders if he can “have his cake
and eat it, too.” This is an expression of Claudius’s internal
conflict. Hamlet is eavesdropping on Claudius and overhears the
soliloquy, giving him even more reason to take revenge; however,
he opts not to kill Claudius because, since he is confessing, his soul
would go to heaven.
Act III, scene iv
Hamlet speaks to his mother in her room and chastises her for
marrying Claudius, who he compares to a “mildewed ear.”
Polonius is hiding behind the curtain to overhear their
conversation. Hearing noise behind the curtain, Hamlet abruptly
stabs the person who he assumes to be Claudius; when Polonius’s
face is revealed, the third element of a tragedy is displayed: social
restraint disintegrates (as Gertrude notes when she says, “O, what a
rash and bloody deed is this!”). Hamlet’s father’s ghost appears
but is only visible to Hamlet, and he beseeches Hamlet to take
action and get revenge on Claudius.
Act V, scene ii
The resolution of the play and the last element of the tragedy (a
climax is reached where multiple characters die). Claudius and
Laertes have devised a plan: Laertes’s sword is dipped in poison,
and Claudius’s cup is poisoned. Laertes and Hamlet will duel, and
one of the poisoned objects will kill Hamlet. However, Gertrude
accidentally drinks the poisoned cup and dies. Then, Laertes dies,
stabbed with the poisoned sword. Finally, Hamlet kills Claudius
and then dies. A Norwegian army takes over Denmark. This
scene portrays the topics of revenge and decay and corruption.
Hamlet’s tragic flaw = reluctance to act