Hamlet I, i

Bernardo and Francisco are on watch. Francisco relieves Bernardo Marcellus has asked Horatio (Hamlet’s best friend) to come on watch so that he might see the “sight”

Horatio sees the ghost and tries to get the ghost to talk. Some think that the ghost looks like the dead King Hamlet

Horatio introduces the sub-plot of Fortinbras of Norway. Wants revenge because (dead)King Hamlet took land from his dad. The ghost returns.

Horatio says: “If thou art privy to thy country’s fate, Which happily foreknowing may avoid, O, speak!” I, i (page 16)

The cock crows to signify a new day and the ghost leaves. Marcellus asks if he should stop the ghost with his spear, but before he can, the ghost is gone.

Horatio has decided to tell Hamlet about the ghost because he thinks the ghost will speak to Hamlet.

I, ii

Claudius (the new king of Denmark) is addressing council meeting.

Claudius announces the following: 1.His recent marriage to Gertrude 2.Prince Fortinbras assumes Denmark is vulnerable now that King Hamlet is dead and wants the land his father lost to Denmark back.

3. Claudius wrote a letter to Fortinbras’ elderly, ailing uncle to put a stop to the young man’s military activities. Voltimand and Cornelius are to deliver the letter.

Laertes (Polonius’ son) requests permission to return to France. He returned to Denmark for Claudius’ coronation but now wants to France. Claudius grants permission.

King and Queen are telling Hamlet not to be so sad (about King Hamlet’s death) and to get on with his life Hamlet is upset by this. Claudius tells Hamlet that everyone must die—natural way of life.

Claudius tells Hamlet it is stubborn and unmanly to keep a hold of his grief. He asks him to stay in Denmark and not go back to school in Wittenberg (school). Hamlet says he will obey.

Hamlet’s First Soliloquy: I, ii, He is definitely angry at Gertrude for marrying Claudius when King Hamlet has only been dead 2 months. 2.He says that King Hamlet and Gertrude were devoted to one another.

3. He says it is not her fault because women are weak. “Frailty, thy name is woman.” I, ii, 148 (page 30) 4. Hamlet thinks of the marriage as incestuous and that nothing good can come of it.

5. Hamlet has resolved to do nothing at this time. Horatio and Marcellus enter and tell Hamlet about the ghost. Hamlet is going to go on watch to see for himself it the ghost is the ghost of his father.

Hamlet tells them not to tell anyone about this. Hamlet suspects that something is not right.

Act I, iii

In this scene we are introduced to Polonius’ family. Laertes is giving his sister, Ophelia, a bit of advice about Hamlet before he departs for France.

Laertes is telling Ophelia that Hamlet’s interest in Ophelia might not be long lasting and that she should be weary of it. He also reminds her that Hamlet is of a higher social class and doesn’t make his own decisions.

He is telling Ophelia to be chaste Do not dishonor yourself by giving away your virginity to someone who is not serious about you. Because they are of different social classes, Laertes thinks Hamlet is just using Ophelia for sex.

Ophelia says she will take his advice to heart, but she also tells him not to be a hypocrite because he’s telling her not to do things that he does while away at school.

Laertes mistrusts Hamlet. It will come out later in the play, but there is a rivalry between Laertes and Hamlet.

Polonius enters and gives Laertes some fatherly advice about returning to France: Choose friends wisely Be kind to everyone Don’t cause conflicts Be a good listener

Wear the best outfits you have because some people judge by outward appearance. Don’t borrow or lend money Be true to yourself.

Polonius to Laertes: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be;/ For loan oft loses both itself and friend,/And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.” I, iii, 79-81

Polonius to Laertes: “This above all: to thine own self be true,/And it must follow, as the night the day,/Thou canst not then be false to any man.” I, iii, 82-84

Polonius is angry with Ophelia because he has heard that Ophelia has been spending lots of private time with Hamlet. Polonius doesn’t want Ophelia to dishonor him in any way.

Ophelia says that Hamlet has declared his love to her. Polonius says that she should not believe him and that his intentions toward her are not honorable. Polonius forbids Ophelia to see Hamlet. Ophelia reluctantly obeys.

I, iv

Hamlet is on watch with Horatio and Marcellus. Hamlet tells the others that Claudius is up drinking and partying which makes Denmark look badly to other countries. The ghost appears but will not say anything.

Hamlet questions the origin of the ghost: is the ghost sent from heaven or hell. The ghost wants Hamlet to follow him. He won’t speak to Hamlet unless he follows him. Horatio doesn’t think this is a good idea, but Hamlet goes anyway.

I, iv, 99 Marcellus about the ghost. “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

I, v

The ghost tells Hamlet that he will be ready for revenge after he hears his story. He tells Hamlet that he is his father’s ghost and that he is destined for an afterlife in purgatory until the sins of his life are forgiven.

The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered. The people of Denmark think that he died from a snake bite while he was resting in the garden.

The ghost says that he was murdered by Claudius. “But know, thou noble youth,/The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/Now wears his crown.” I, v, Ghost to Hamlet

Claudius killed King Hamlet by pouring poison in his ear as he slept in the garden. He died without confessing sins. He died without forgiveness, therefore he is a ghost.

King Hamlet tells Hamlet not to punish Gertrude. Heaven will do that. Hamlet makes Marcellus and Horatio swear to never speak of what they saw.

Hamlet devises a plan to pretend he is insane so that Claudius won’t suspect that Hamlet is a threat to him. Horatio knows of this plan.