Act 1 Summary

Barnardo---guardFrancisco---guardMarcellus---guardHoratio---Hamle’ts friendGhost

Barnardo and Francisco have seen a ghost twiceMarcellus brings Horatio to confirm sighting;

Horatio skepticalGhost appears; looks like dead King Hamlet; it

exitsThere’s talk about Denmark’s political problems

—Fortinbras of NorwayEnter ghost again; Horatio tries to speak to it;

ghost exits againMorning comes; Marcellus and Horatio will tell

young Hamlet about it

King ClaudiusQueen GertrudeCornelius/Voltemand---messengers sent to

NorwayLaertesPoloniusHamletMarcellusHoratio

Formal appearance made by Claud and Gert (kind of a business meeting/mourning period/wedding celebration)

King sends Corn. And Volt. to Norway to inform King of Norway about is nephew Fortinbras

King gives permission for Laertes to return to France

We meet Hamlet who is scolded for his “unmanly grief”

King tells Hamlet NOT to go back to Wittenberg (college)

Hamlet left alone for first soliloquy: contemplates suicide and reveals feelings about mother’s marriage and father’s death

Enter Horatio and Marcellus to report about the ghost; say it looked like dead King

Hamlet will meet them that same night between 11 and midnight

Scene ends with Hamlet alone believing in “some foul play”

OpheliaLaertesPolonius

Laertes says goodbye to Ophelia

Tells her to guard her heart against Hamlet

Polonius gives “sound advice” to his

Exit Laertes; Polonius confronts Ophelia about Hamlet

She defends her relationship as honorable

Polonius scolds her and tells her to stop seeing Hamlet immediately

Ophelia “shall obey”

HamletMarcellusHoratioGhost

Hamlet meets Horatio and Marcellus outside castle

Hamlet tells them about Claud’s partying ways

Enter Ghost; wants Hamlet to follow him and Hamlet is willing

Horatio fears for Hamlet’s safety

Hamlet will follow the ghost despite objections

“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”---Marcellus; Horatio and Marcellus will follow

HamletGhostMarcellusHoratio

Ghost speaks to Hamlet ; confirms he is Hamlet’s father

Wants Hamlet to seek revenge against Claudius for his “foul and unnatural murder”

Claud poisoned his brother in the ear while he was sleeping in the orchard

Warns Hamlet not to harm mother only Claud

Hamlet will obey the command

Makes Horatio and Marcellus swear to keep tonight a secret; they do

Hamlet will put “an antic disposition on”