Drama: Hamlet- Act 1 Flashcards
Scene 1- Why are the sentinels weary?
Because it’s nightime, and there’s been apparitions
Scene 1- What happens when the ghost appears?
Horatio demands them to talk, and Marcellus tries to get rid of it, which Skaespeare uses to reflect the opinions on the supernatural at the time of the play.
Scene 1- What does Horatio stress in this scene?
That the recent land King Hamlet took from Norway was lawful, especially in the line “Well ratified by law and heraldry”
Scene 2- How does Shakespeare set up the first appearance of Claudius to represent him throughout the play?
He begins his speech to his audience by addressing the elephant in the room, his brother’s death, and moved onto talk about how he and Gertrude have gotten married, and what to do about Norway. Shakespeare does this to show how he is quite brass and isn’t ashamed to address the subject, even though we know he killed the old king. He sets Claudius up to present like a good leader and king, however, whether this stands up or not, is yet to be seen. Claudius uses King Hamlet to get people to like him, in the line “…Than is the throne to Denmark to thy father.”
Scene 2- How do Claudius and Hamlet interact with each other in this scene?
It is quite a stiff interaction, with Hamlet providing quite witty remaks hiding his meaning to Claudius, whilst Claudius tries to save face in front of the others.
KING: But now, my cousin Hamlet and my son—
HAMLET: A little more than kin and less than kind.
KING: How is it that the clouds still hang on you?
HAMLET: Not so, my lord; I am too much in the sun.
Scene 2- What does the King say about Hamlet’s grief?
“We pray you throw to earth this unprevailing woe”
Scene 2- What ideas are explored in Hamlet’s first soliliquy?
-How he wants to kill himself, but doesn’t because (whether or not its the main/sole reason) he knows it’s a sin “Or the Everlasting has not fixed his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter”
-Nilhilsm and feels quite pessimistic about future
-The unaturalness of his uncle and mother’s relationship
-compares dad and uncle using mythology, links to reniassance era
-blames mum for relationship and for wanting more than his dad “fragility, thy name is woman”
-mum and uncles relationship is incestuous
-feels like he has to supress his emotions
Scene 2- How does Hamlet’s demeanour changes from his soliliquy to when Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo come in?
He goes from being nihlistic and pessimistic to happy and joyful and inquiring about them and how they are doing
Scene 2- How does Hamlet react when his friends tell him they have saw the ghost of his father?
The conversation quikcnes, as Hamlet beings rapid-firing questions. This also links to the wider context of the Elizabethean time, when peopel generally believed in ghosts, however knew they were dangerous.
Scene 2- How does Hamlet end the scene?
He remarks “My father’s spirit—in arms! All is not well. I doubt some foul play.”
Scene 3- How does Laertes and Ophelia interact with each other in this scene?
-Laertes, who is Ophelia’s brother, begins lecturing her about her spending time with Hamlet. He ends up discussing about her virginity and staying pure, which we can understand would’ve been an uncomfortable subject to talk about for Ophelia with her brother.
-Also, the audience at the time and even today would have saw this conversation as awkward.
-Ophelia struggles to get a word in, and seems wuite weak at the beginning of the scene, however, towards the end of their interaction she seems stronger, telling him to essentially practice what he preaches, and not get someone else pregnant.
-Laertes cuts off their interaction when Polonious, their father comes in, showing how he knows his place
Scene 3- How does Laertes and Polonious interact?
-He gives his son advice, in quite a friendly manner, and seems a world away from the conversation that Laertes and Ophelia have just had, showing the patriarchal society and how men and women are treated differently.
Scene 3- How does Polonious and Ophelia interact at the end of this scene?
At the beginning of thier interaction, Polonious asks what Laaertes had already said to Ophelia, seemingly using this as gospel and his starting point at also betreating her. He goes on to saying that they have been spending a lot of time together recently, and that he is worried about his reputation, which seems quite mild in comparison to what Laertes said to her. He highlights her innocenece, and gives his commands that she stays away from the Prince.
