Shakespeare's Hamlet Act 1 Summary

Hamlet's New King

• Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, has replaced King Hamlet on the throne.

Setting

• The play begins at Elsinore Castle in Denmark.

Ghost Sighting

• Marcellus and Bernardo saw a ghost resembling Hamlet's dead father on the previous nights.

The Ghost's Message

• The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother Claudius.

Initial Tone

• The opening scene sets a tone of mourning, fear, and uncertainty.

Celebration and Urging

• King Claudius is celebrating his recent marriage to Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude.
• Claudius urges Hamlet to stay in Denmark, claiming it's for Hamlet's own good.

Warnings and Concerns

• Laertes is warned about Hamlet's priorities, implying that Hamlet may not be trustworthy.
• Polonius is more concerned about Laertes's moral conduct and behavior in France.

Criticizing the Revelry

• Hamlet criticizes the excessive revelry from the castle during the night of the ghost's appearance.

Polonius's Objectives

• Polonius sends Reynaldo to France to gather information about Laertes's activities.
• Polonius suggests that Reynaldo should imply negative qualities about Laertes when talking to people in France, to test Laertes's reputation.

Polonius's Reaction

• When Ophelia tells Polonius about Hamlet's visit to her chamber, Polonius reacts with concern and suspicion.
• Polonius believes it's necessary to inform the king and queen about Hamlet's romantic interest in Ophelia, possibly to gain favor or influence.
• Polonius feels proud of his influence on Hamlet's romantic pursuits, believing he can guide Hamlet's relationships.