Day: September 30, 2015

This is the scene where Hamlet meets the ghost. As Marcellus, Horatio and Hamlet wait for the ghost to appear, Hamlet tells them about how other countries look down on Denmark because of the way they act (more specifically, loud parties and drunkenness). The ghost then appears and beckons Hamlet forward to follow him. Hamlet tries to follow, but is held back by Marcellus and Horatio as they believe it will lead him to his death or drive him mad. They only let go once Hamlet draws his sword and threatens to turn them into ghosts (he means he would kill them if they held him back once more). Hamlet follows the ghost and then reluctantly, Marcellus and Horatio follow as well.

In this scene, Ophelia is being told by her brother and father to stay away from Hamlet. They try to explain to her that Hamlet has alot more freedom than her as he is the future king so he can do as he pleases. Her father, Polonius, tries to tell her that the love that Hamlet is showing her is just false love. He says it’s because Hamlet is young and he doesn’t know what he is doing. Ophelia doesn’t seem to try and protest about what her father is saying. Finally, Polonius just tells Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet and talk to him less, and again, she doesn’t protest.

In this scene it is shown that Hamlet is extremely upset with his mother’s decision to marry her brother-in-law (her dead husbands brother ). Hamlet is told by Claudius (the brother) to stop mourning the death of his father as it is something that would have happened anyway. While Hamlet is by himself, he talks about how his mother married pretty much instantly after his father died. At one point he even uses the word incest because she is marrying her brother-in-law. Claudius is nothing of a man compared to Hamlets father which is another reason why Hamlet is upset. Finally, Bernardo, Marcellus and Horatio appear and tell Hamlet about the ghost they have seen. They explain to Hamlet that the ghost looks like his dead father. Hamlet tells them that he will come with them at night in hopes to see this ghost, but tells them not to tell anyone else.