Hamlet Act1 Summary and Analysis

Throughout the play, Hamlet undergoes a painful split between head and heart, caused by numerous family problems. When the prince returns home to pay his final respects to his dear and beloved father, he discovers a most terrible fate. He learns that his noble father whom he had loved so, is not only deceased, but his own uncle is to blame. Hamlet's mother, whom he also loves dearly, is now sharing an "adulterous bed" with the very murderer of her once beloved husband. Initially, Hamlet is driven to a state of ruin by

murder in a rash mood. It is not seen by Gertrude. It tries to urge

Hamlet by William Shakespeare focuses on the title character plotting vengeance against Claudius for his father's murder to capture the Danish crown. The new king is also Hamlet's uncle and now stepdad due to the marriage with his mother, Gertrude. Through a sequence of events, the protagonist eventually avenges his father, although both his mother and himself fall to a tragic fate as well. Throughout the course of the play, the relationship between Hamlet and Gertrude changes from strained to a disrespectful and mistrustful to a bittersweet ending.

The play “Hamlet” depicts the life of a prince who wants to avenge his father’s death. In his journey, he takes the lives of many, but manages to kill Claudius, the one who killed his father. The soliloquy being analyzed is located at the end of Act 2 Scene 2. This extract takes place after Hamlet is left alone in a room in the castle. A character in this soliloquy is Hamlet. In the extract, he is releasing his fury as a player could get more emotional about his father’s death than Hamlet. He is reflecting at what he has done and what will he do to avenge his father.

Act one scene two starts off with King Claudius mourning the death of his brother Old Hamlet and rejoicing about marrying Hamlet’s mother. Claudius brings up the issue about Fortinbras plan to invade Denmark, he states the he has talked to Fortinbras uncle who told him that Fortinbras promised not to stop the plan to invade Denmark. Claudius sends Cornelius and Voltemand to Norway to settle the dispute. Claudius begins to talk to Laertes and Laertes asks the king could he return to France and Claudius lets him. Claudius asks Hamlet why does he look upset and his replies are kind smart aleck. Hamlet says that his father death is the reason why he is acting like that. Claudius gives Hamlet a speech basically telling him that losing a father

Hamlet is mourning over the death of his father, he is in a depressed mood. He is mad at his mother Gertrude for marrying his uncle Claudius.

The final way that Laertes acts as a foil to Hamlet occurs once again when Claudius and Laertes are discussing Laertes’ actions to achieve his vengeance. Claudius gives Laertes advice saying, “That we would do/ we should do when we would; for this ‘would’/ changes” (4.7.134-136). Claudius is warning Laertes that if he waits long enough, he will probably end up not doing anything at all and will not achieve his goal of vengeance. This quote spoken by Claudius is quite similar to when King Hamlet’s ghost meets with Hamlet earlier in the play to warn him about how he was killed by Claudius and that he must get revenge. King Hamlet’s ghost also warns Hamlet saying, “Taint not thy mind” (1.5.92), telling him to not over think his plan because otherwise he will not pursue his vengeance. After Claudius warns Laertes to not get side tracked, the audience is reminded of King Hamlet’s ghost telling Hamlet to not over think because then their plans will not be pursued. This scene acts as a foil towards Hamlet because soon after the conversation, Laertes does pursue his plan of seeking vengeance, whereas Hamlet has been working on his plan the whole play, and has still not started to execute it.

One of the best known pieces of literature throughout the world, Hamlet is also granted a position of excellence as a work of art. One of the elements which makes this play one of such prestige is the manner in which the story unfolds. Throughout time, Shakespeare has been renowned for writing excellent superlative opening scenes for his plays. By reviewing Act 1, Scene 1 of Hamlet, the reader is able to establish a clear understanding of events to come. This scene effectively sets a strong mood for the events to come, gives important background information, and introduces the main characters. With the use of this information, it is simple to see how Shakespeare manages to create stories with such everlasting appeal.

In “Act 5” the listener get to seen into the growing theatre program in a prison. These prison inmates were putting on an intimate production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a story of a man arguing with the idea of murdering his uncle and avenging his father. While this story itself is not something the inmates related to directly, they related to that struggle and those ideas in a way many, if not most, actors could not. The purpose of “Act 5” was to show the heavy influence of an actor on a character and as a result the effects of specific characters and stories on us on humans. Experiences shape how we see the characters and the story but, not just our personal experiences this includes the experiences of the creatives working on the

“To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (3.1.64). This famous line in William Shakespeare's Hamlet perfectly encapsulates Hamlet’s internal struggle throughout the play. Hamlet tells the story of the young prince of Denmark and his desire for revenge on the uncle, Claudius, who murdered his father. As is the case in many works of literature, Hamlet changes greatly throughout the play. However, because of his attempts to act insane, it can be difficult to precisely map the changes in Hamlet’s character. By carefully investigating his seven soliloquies, where he is alone and has no need to “put on an antic disposition,” one can understand and interpret how Hamlet’s character develops throughout the play.

Hamlet is a suspenseful play that introduces the topic of tragedy. Throughout the play, Hamlet displays anger, uncertainty, and obsession with death. Although Hamlet is unaware of it, these emotions cause the mishaps that occur throughout the play. These emotions combined with his unawareness are the leading basis for the tragic hero’s flaws. These flaws lead Hamlet not to be a bad man, but a regular form of imperfection that comes along with being human.

To begin, the most important tragic flaw of Hamlet’s is his unwillingness to let go of his past, which in turn controls his fate. Hamlet’s father is killed by Claudius, his uncle, to marry his mother Gertrude, which drives Hamlet and his need to avenge his father’s death throughout the play. Hamlet is unable to let go of this desire which consumes his thoughts, which will not disappear until it is fulfilled. Hamlet returns to Denmark, prompted by the urge to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet continues to struggle with the death of his father when he

Hamlet is very distraught and grief stricken for the death of his father, the King of Denmark. As well, he is upset with his mother's quick marriage to his uncle Claudius, who is now King. Hamlet is emotional and melancholy, and he considers suicide because he wonders

In Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Prince Hamlet’s speech or soliloquy from Act 4, Scene 4 effectively targets both the plays audience and other characters in the play. In Hamlets speech, he is reflecting on how he is meaninglessly prolonging Claudius’s death, even though he could have killed him at anytime and how he has everything he needs to accomplish his goal. He is also reflecting on how God has blessed humans with the power of thought to use when needed and that blessing is what makes humans different from animals. Hamlet’s speech opens the eyes of the audience by showing them how humans are capable of doing anything they put their minds too and the consequences of overthinking and not taking action to

This story begins on a cold night in Denmark Elsinore Castle when Hamlet’s trusted friend Horatio, and some guards see a ghost, the ghost of King Hamlet to be exact. The philosophical and complicated yet socially popular young Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, is busy fuming at his uncle Claudius who married his mom two days after his father's death. Hamlet suspects that they conspired to kill his father, and he even contemplates suicide. His hopes are lifted when he hears about the ghost.