Hamlet Act 1 -- Hamlet

Hamlet

Act 1 -- "Hamlet"

How do you learn in the first scene that something is wrong in Denmark?

Almost immediately, the viewer learns that something is wrong in Denmark because two guards are standing watch before the palace gates. They seem on edge, rather than relaxed, as is evident by their questioning of 'who's there' in very sharp tones. Then, the viewer learns that the old king's ghost has been seen haunting the outside of the castle. The king, Horatio later tells Hamlet, was armed, even though he wore his helmet visor up so he could be recognized.

In Scene 2, how does Claudius seem? Does he seem rational? Good? A good administrator? A competent ruler? A loving husband and uncle?

Although Hamlet hates his uncle, before the audience learns more about the crime Claudius committed, the new king of Denmark seems like a fairly able administrator. He deals forcefully with the impending attack by Fortinbras. He is loving and respectful towards Queen Gertrude. Then, Claudius even encourages Hamlet to stay to please his new wife. He encourages Hamlet to put aside his mourning, but Gertrude does the same, and their advice seems sensible, as Hamlet is the only person at court still wearing black for the old king.

What does Hamlet reveal about his own mental and psychological state in the first soliloquy?

Hamlet is extremely, pathologically depressed. He is upset that the "everlasting," or God, has not prohibited "self-slaughter." He obsessively speaks about how his mother has remarried, and how much better his father was than his uncle.

Why do both Laertes and Polonius caution Ophelia about Hamlet's interest in her?

Laertes warns Ophelia directly that she should not give her virginity to Hamlet, even though he evidently is not chaste, because she jokes that he is showing her a "steep and thorny" path of righteousness while he is taking a "primrose path" of dallying with women. Polonius' concerns are different -- he warns her that Hamlet is "out of her star" and that she should not give too much weight to Hamlet's "tenders" of affection.

What does the Ghost tell Hamlet to do and not to do? Why does Hamlet believe he needs independent proof about the validity of the Ghost?

The Ghost tells Hamlet to take vengeance upon his uncle for his death, but not to harm Hamlet's mother. Hamlet knows that his mind is slightly unbalanced from his grief, though, so he devises a test. He believes that devilish beings often prey upon people who are slightly unhinged because of a loss.

Act 2

Who is Polonius? What is his analysis of Hamlet's "madness"? What do his speeches show us about him?

Polonius is the king's advisor and counselor. He believes that Hamlet is mad for love of Ophelia. He speaks in long winded cliches, showing that he is extremely arrogant and sure of himself, although not especially quick to catch on when he is the object of someone else's fun, in contrast to Hamlet.