Hamlet, Act One

Scene One

Straight away in the play we are introduced to it's primary theme. Tragedy. We are introduced to Haratio, Barnardo and Marcellus on night watch at the
Elsinore Castle, a ghost is sighted and it will not talk to the guards, Haratio being the immediate communicator. This is how tragedy is first unveiled, thought we know little of King Hamlets importance to the play, death itself is a tragic tale and cannot be cast aside and a mere act of loosing a life.

Hartio is a follow student of Prince Hamlet and the guards conclude that the apparition is that of King Hamlet due to the unmistakable amour the King once would wear. Haratio is quick to assume this haunting is "some strange eruption of our state" due to the quarrel with Fortibras and the bitter taste it left Norway with.

The apparition again appears before the guards for a third time, Haratio is protected by the guards partisan, yet after much attempted communication the ghost 'faded on the crowing of the cock.

Scene Two

The newly dated King Claudius holds the court to promise the people what good will come of his appointment and it is possible to balance woe and joy and he used pretty language to distinguish propriety and mask the horror and tragedy. Cornelius and Voltemand are sent to deliver a letter to the Uncle of Fortibras, The King of Norway, to deny any handing over of land and power. Lareties is aloud back to study in France and Hamlet appears in his moarning clothes much to his Mothers and Uncles confusion as they wish to see this as excitement rather than bereavement. To the mother is 'seems particular' to which Hamlet replies 'Seems', madam? Nay, it is I know not 'seems'. 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother' By emphasizing that how he "is" is more important than how he "seems," Hamlet implies that his interior reality is more powerful than any appearance.

Hamlet is appointed to next in line to the throne.

Claudius attempts to persuade Hamlet that it is natural for the death of a father to come past. Yet Hamlet knows not of the tragic murder and this speech is an act of reality vs. appearance. The wish is for Hamlet not to return to Wittenburg, his mother seconds the wish Hamlet insists he will obey his Mother regardless of the circumstances. All leave the hall minus Hamlet and then produces his soliloquy. He describes his mother as a lustful beast and the thought alone of his uncle with his Mother is enough for him to contemplate suicide, this is even without the knowledge of the deviousness of his incestuous uncle in killing his father. Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo enter. Hamlet, who studied with Horatio at Wittenberg, is happy to see his friend, and pleased when Horatio agrees that Gertrude and Claudius's marriage was hasty. Hamlet is told of the ghostly discovery and he understands he may be the only one able to communicate.

Scene Three

A fairly short scene yet still with it's justified flowing themes. Ophelia is told by Laertes is not the person to be with, and his passions will change, love may not be able to fit into his marriage commitments as he must marry for the sanity and health of the state. Similar situations to gertrude and her marriage. Polonius meets with the two tells of how they should act around the land, he queries the dialogue the two shared towards Ophelia and condemns her not to go near Hamlet, for sake of the state. This shows a indifference between rank and also a grotesque inequality between men and women.

Scene Four

The ghost is spotted by Hamlet and the guards, rather than follow the good health of the state, Hamlet indulges and follows the father like ghost.
Marcellus insists Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. the guards chase after Hamlet.

Scene Five

Hamlet meets with the ghost and is told the is infect his father. Following from the theme of tragedy Hamlet now has to face the reality of his father's death. He will find out that the myth of the serpent killing is infect untrue and it was his Uncle Claudius that Murdered his father, for his wife and for the throne. You could suggest Claudius is just a vicious and envious brother to King Hamlet, and all he wanted was power. His uncle poisoned his father and poured poison into his ear.

The Ghost of King Hamlet commands Hamlet to murder his incestuous brother and show the people the corruption of Gertrude, however not to harm her. Hamlet obeys and this is showing the honour he holds towards his father.


Horatio and Marcellus rush in. Hamlet refuses to tell them what happened, saying they'll reveal it. But he does say he may pretend to be insane, and makes them swear to silence on his sword. The Ghost's voice echoes: Swear! They swear.











Joe