Act I: The Ghost and Hamlet's Mission
In the opening of Shakespeare's Hamlet, we are introduced to the royal castle of Elsinore in Denmark. Prince Hamlet is mourning the death of his father, King Hamlet, and is disturbed by his mother Queen Gertrude's hasty marriage to his uncle Claudius, who has now assumed the throne.
The plot thickens when a ghost appears, claiming to be the spirit of Hamlet's deceased father. This supernatural encounter sets the stage for the central conflict of the play.
Quote: "I am thy father's spirit, doomed for a certain term to walk the night."
The ghost reveals a shocking truth: King Hamlet was murdered by his own brother, Claudius, who poisoned him while he slept. The spirit implores Prince Hamlet to avenge this treacherous act.
Highlight: The appearance of the ghost introduces the theme of revenge, which drives much of the subsequent action in the play.
Hamlet, unsure whether to trust the ghost's claims, decides to feign madness to avoid suspicion while he investigates and plans his revenge against Claudius.
Vocabulary: Feign - to pretend or fake something, in this case, Hamlet pretending to be mad.
This section also introduces other key characters:
- Ophelia, Hamlet's love interest and daughter of Polonius
- Horatio, Hamlet's loyal friend
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's childhood friends
Example: Hamlet's famous quote "To be, or not to be" comes later in the play but reflects his inner turmoil and contemplation of life and death, which begins in this act.
The Hamlet historischer Hintergrund is set in medieval Denmark, though Shakespeare wrote it during the Elizabethan era. This historical context adds depth to the political intrigue and power struggles depicted in the play.