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.
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 themes 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 theme 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
themes 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 themes of revenge and decay and corruption.