Hamlet: Act 1 Scene 5 Summary

This is the scene where Hamlet talks to the ghost. As they start talking the ghost tells Hamlet about how the horrors of the after life would literally rip him apart if he knew what they entailed. Then the ghost tells Hamlet that his uncle (the ghosts brother) killed him by pouring poison in his ear. This poison caused his body to go scaly which meant he died a horrible death. The ghost says that is the reason why he is stuck in the horrible after life. He tells Hamlet to go and kill his uncle, but not to harm his mother. The ghost then leaves. Hamlet then tells Horatio and Marcellus to never say anything to anyone ever about what they have seen tonight (and the previous nights). He makes them swear on his sword, while the ghost in the background keeps calling out ‘Swear.’ They then all leave and that is how act one concludes.