Hamlet Act 1 Summary

Act 1.1 Character list Barnardo---guard Francisco---guard Marcellus---guard Horatio---Hamle’ts friend Ghost

Scene 1 Details Barnardo and Francisco have seen a ghost twice Marcellus brings Horatio to confirm sighting; Horatio skeptical Ghost appears; looks like dead King Hamlet; it exits There’s talk about Denmark’s political problems—Fortinbras of Norway Enter ghost again; Horatio tries to speak to it; ghost exits again Morning comes; Marcellus and Horatio will tell young Hamlet about it

Act 1.2 Character list King Claudius Queen Gertrude Cornelius/Voltemand---messengers sent to Norway Laertes Polonius Hamlet Marcellus Horatio

Scene 2 Details 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)

Scene 2 continued 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”

Act 1.3 Character list Ophelia Laertes Polonius

Scene 3 Details 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”

Act 1.4 Character list Hamlet Marcellus Horatio Ghost

Scene 4 Details 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

Act 1.5 Character list Hamlet Ghost Marcellus Horatio

Scene 5 Details 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”