Hamlet Notes

I, i - I, ii, 159

The watchmen of the Elsinore Castle believed that they saw the ghost of King Hamlet who had recently died. So the next night they asked Horatio, and intellectual and a friend of Prince Hamlet's to accompany them for his opinion on it. Horatio tried to speak to the ghost but it did not respond so he suggested to get Prince Hamlet to speak to the ghost. There is a party thrown by the new King (Hamlet's uncle), and this is where the reader learns how Hamlet feels about his mother marrying his uncle a month after his father's death.

4. Quote lines from the scene(s) that you enjoyed and comment on them.

Horatio: What art thou that usurp'st this time of night,

Together with that fair and warlike form

In which the majesty of buried Denmark

Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak!

I chose this quote because it the reader a sense a bit of aggravation that Horatio felt because the ghost of King Hamlet would not speak to him. This quote shows that there is a problem that has to be solved. It is also a good example of Shakespeare style of writing and how his character spoke so poetically, when he was basically just saying talk to me King. It also shows that even though Horatio also seemed to be scared of the ghost, he had the courage to speak to it, unlike the guards.

3. Ask questions about the scene(s).

What does this ghost of the King want?

I think that the King's ghost is trying to warn the guards and the people of Denmark that something terrible is going to happen, like a war or maybe a scandal inside the castle. Since the King is dead, he can see what goes on in everybody's lives from above, he knows something important. I don't understand why he won't speak, maybe he can't physically speak, or maybe he doesn't want to tell just anyone his information, he wants to tell someone who will know what to do, like the Queen, his brother, or his son Hamlet.

Feb 10th, 2005

I, ii, 160 - I, iv

Horatio and Marcellus tell Hamlet about seeing his father's ghost. Hamlet tells them not to tell anyone else because he does not see this as a good sign. We meet Ophelia, Laertes, and Polonius.

5. Describe your reactions to a character, action, or idea you confronted in the scene(s).

I think Ophelia is a very naпve person. She is convinced that Hamlet loves her and that he will choose her over his position in the royal family. Her brother and her father both try to convince her otherwise and she promises both of them that she will no longer see Hamlet. This seems to be a lie because she truly believes that what Hamlet and her have is true love. One of the reasons I think Hamlet doesn't really love her is because he was very upset that his uncle took his position in the thrown. If he was in love with Ophelia and if he really wasn't planning on becoming king, then he wouldn't have been as upset about it.

With Ophelia blinded by what she thinks is love, she doesn't seem to notice that Hamlet is taking advantage of her, and he is manipulating her by telling her things that aren't true. Hamlet knows that he will become king eventually and that he will find a princess to marry when the time comes. Ophelia, on the other hand, will be sent off to the nunnery. Because she is no longer a virgin, no one will want to marry her, at least not in her social class. This puts her in a difficult position though, because no one can know about her love for Hamlet until she knows that Hamlet is prepared to marry her and leave the thrown behind. Ophelia doesn't realize that all the control of their relationship lies on in the hands of Hamlet.

Feb 14th, 2005

I, iv - II, i

In these scenes Hamlet meets the ghost. We learn that Old Hamlet was killed by his brother, and that Hamlet is planning to take revenge against his uncle for his father.

4. Quote lines from the scene(s) that you enjoyed and comment on them.

I, iv, 167-168

Hamlet: There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in our philosophy

This quote, said by Hamlet to Horatio,, while asking him to swear to never speak a word about the ghost, was one I liked very much. Although it does not have major significance to the scene I thought it was a quote that was very much true. Hamlet was saying that there are so many things in the world that we have yet to discover and also things that we don't understand. It also indicated to me that Hamlet believed in the ghost and he didn't think it was his imagination. Hamlet doesn't seem to be a narrow-minded person, or somebody who thinks that they know everything. This quote also led to me to believe that although Hamlet comes from a royal family, he doesn't think that he owns the world and that he always knows better.

3. Ask questions about the scene(s).

Hamlet made a very big deal to Horatio and Marcellus about swearing their silence, this leads me to think that Hamlet is seriously considering taking avenge for his father. It seems that he honestly believes the ghost and that he will do this. Could it be that the ghost of Hamlet's father is really an impostor-possibly the deceased King from Norway trying to get revenge on Hamlet (since he is the son of his murderer)?

Feb 16th, 2005

Movie: I, ii - II,ii

Polonius gives his lectures to both his children about behaving properly. Hamlet goes into Ophelia's room, acting crazy and shakes her hand good-bye. Polonius thinks that he does this because Ophelia told him to stay away. Polonius now thinks that Hamlet does really love her and that he is acting crazy because he is love-sick.

3. Ask questions about the scene(s).

In the movie Ophelia seems to be much more true to her word when she says she will stay away from Hamlet than in the novel. Does this mean that she is a good