Hamlet Summaries

Setting: Ramparts of kings castle in Elsinore (MIDNIGHT TO DAWN)

One cold winter night, Bernardo, an officer comes to relieve the watchman Francisco. They both acknowledge that they are both watchmen, then Francisco thanks Bernardo for relieving him because he is cold and tired from the many hours of guarding the castle. Soon after, another watchman named Marcellus joins Bernardo and also Heratio, who is a friend of the prince Hamlet. Bernardo and Marcellus want Heratio to stay on guard with them because they feel that they have something shocking to show him, the ghost of the recently passed away King Hamlet. Heratio was skeptical at first but then the ghost suddenly appears and then disappears without saying a word. Heratio acknowledged that the ghost figure did resemble the deceased King Hamlet.

Characters: King, Queen, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, Voltimana, Cornelius, Heratio, Bernardo, Marcellus, Lord, Attendant

Setting: A public state room in the castle.

Hamlet is now keeping watch outside the castle with Heratio and Marcellus and waiting for the ghost. The ghost finally appears and wants to Hamlet to follow it, Heratio and Marcellus urge him not to, but he is unsure whether the ghost is truly the ghost of his dead father, or if it was an evil spirit. Hamlet follows the ghost, and soon after so do Heratio and Marcellus.

In the churchyard, two gravediggers shovel out a grave for Ophelia. Hamlet and Horatio come in at a distance and watch the gravediggers work. Hamlet looks with wonder at the skulls they dig up to make room for the fresh grave and wonders about what occupations the owners of these skulls served in life. Ophelia?s body arrives, Hamlet is not yet aware about Ophelia?s death. He wonders who has died, and soon after he realizes it was Ophelia who has died.

Some topics in this essay:
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