| Laertes tells Ophelia Hamlet cannot marry Ophelia even if he wants to | his will is not his own |
| Hamlet has responsibility to the state. Image of Denmark as a body with the king as the head | He may not… carve for himself, for on his choice depends the safety and health of this whole state |
| Ophelia only has her reputation/ no other power | weigh what loss your honour may sustain |
| Ophelia tells Laertes not to be hypocritical | a puffed and reckless libertine , himself the path of dalliance treads |
| Polonius tells Ophelia he has heard gossip about her and Hamlet | ‘Tis told me he hath very oft of late given private time to you |
| Polonius is much more demanding of Ophelia that Laertes because she is his property | it behoves my daughter |
| Polonius is patronising to Ophelia | green girl / I will teach you / think yourself a baby |
| Lexical set of marriage being a transaction | That you have ta’en these tenders for true pay which are not sterling |
| Polonius says passions burn out | These blazes daughter giving more light than heat… you must not take for a fire |
| Ophelia agrees to obey polonius – he has complete control of her | I shall obey my lord |
| Tension drains away- they are expecting the ghost but… | A flourish of trumpets and two pieces goes off |
| Trumpets caused by Claudius and he is foolish/ bestial | trumpets thus bray out |
| The King is the head of Denmark but he is not looking after the state well enough | heavy-headed |
| Hamlet’s speech is interrupted by the ghost. Manipulation of tension | To his own scandal- |
| Hamlet invokes heaven to protect him from the ghost- it could be a devil | Angels and ministers of grace defend us! |
| Doubt around the ghost | a questionable shape |
| Questions show Hamlets confusion about the ghost | Say why is this? Wherefore? What should we do? |
| Horatio is worried the ghost is tempting Hamlet to madness | which might… draw you into madness |
| Marcellus takes the ghost as an omen | Something is rotten in the state of Denmark |
| Act 1 scene 5 – important that Hamlet and ghost are alone | enter ghost and Hamlet |
| Fragmented conversation between hamlet and the ghost | Stychomythia Ghost: Mark me Hamlet: I will |
| Ghost creates sense of panic/ there isn’t much time | my hour is almost come |
| Hamlet is destined to hear what the ghost has to say | I am bound to hear |
| Hamlet’s obligation | so art thou to revenge when thou shalt hear |
| Emotional blackmail of Hamlet | If thou didst ever thy dear father love |
| Ghost tells him what Hamlet wants to hear | murder most foul |
| compares claudius to a … | The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown |
| King poisoned in the ear- same as lying | the whole ear of Denmark |
| Hamlet expected this | O my prophetic soul |
| Ghost speaks in a similar way to Hamlet | that incestuous adulterate beast / the most seeming virtuous queen |
| Ghost blackmails Hamlet-says if he is human he must revenge this | If thou hast nature in thee bear it not |
| After the ghost’s speech Hamlet’s speech becomes fragmented; questions parenthesis | O all you host of heaven, O Earth- What else?… O fie! |
| Calls Claudius a … Even his appearance is deceptive | O villian, villain, smiling damned villain |
| Hamlet refuses to tell Horatio because he knows how hard it is to keep a secret in Elsinor. Here he isolates himself | No you will reveal it |
| might find it useful to pretend to be mad later on | to put an antic disposition on |
Hamlet Act 1 scenes 3/4/5
September 8, 2019