Scene Summaries- Ghost (1.2; 1.4; 1.5; & 3.4) and Osric (5.2)

Act 1 Scene 2

The late king Hamlet’s brother has married the kings widow. Now to write of young Fortinbras who was hoping to take back the land that belonged to the late king of Norway that was taken by the late king Hamlet. The queen wishes for Hamlet to no longer morn his fathers death, but to celebrate the new king that his mother had married, which is Hamlets Uncle. His uncle belittles Hamlet him in front of his people. Hamlet cannot speak of his rightful thrown, as it would surly be the death of him, as he contemplated suicide. Marcellus and Horatio tell Hamlet of seeing a ghost in the shape of his father.

Act 1 Scene 4

Hamlet and Horatio about the tradition of doth and rouse (drinking to celebrate) as an honor, as they wait for the ghost to appear. As the ghost appears at midnight, Hamlet follows it as it asks him to, then Horatio and Marcellus try to stop him from going with the ghost. Hamlet tells them not to come with them, but as Hamlet leaves they begin to follow them against Hamlets orders.

Act 1 Scene 5

The spirit of Hamlets father tells him that his death was not accidental. That the late king Hamlets brother Claudius had murdered him, and that he wanted to take the thrown. Claudius tried to make it look as if, King Hamlet had been bitten by a snake, when he was really poisoned in the ear. The Ghost leaves and makes Horatio and Marcellus swear that they would never say anything about what they had seen. They had to swear till Hamlet and the Ghost were satisfied that they wouldn’t say anything.

Act 3 Scene 4

Polonius (Councilor of State) is hiding behind the curtains to spy on what Hamlet and his mother are talking about. Hamlet tells her that she has offended the late king Hamlet, and Hamlet get rough with her and she asks him to leave. He hears Polonius behind the curtains, and thinking it is Claudius he takes his dagger though him. Then realizing the mistake he has made is no worse than that of Claudius had done, he begins to feel bad for what he had done. He tells his mother not to go to his uncle’s bed, even when she is temped to. Just then his fathers Ghost appears and tells him that he should not bother with this news, but to get revenge of his death on Claudius. Hamlet tells his mother goodnight and leaves, taking Polonius’ body with him to finish what had to be done.

Act 5 Scene 2

Hamlet tells Horatio that he had found a royal letter that was to have him killed on reading the letter. This was to be brought from King Claudius and taken to the king of England. Then Hamlet told Horatio how he had switched the letter to say Rosencrantz and Guildenstern upon arrival of this letter, and sealed it with his fathers’ royal seal. Then Hamlet talks of how Claudius had betrayed him and his father. Then Hamlet later told Laertes that he was sorry for the way he had acted at Ophelia’s funeral, that he was crazy and didn’t mean any harm by it. Hamlet tells Horatio that Osric owns a large portion of land. Osric has come to tell Hamlet that the King wants him to fight Laertes. Hamlet agrees to the proposal and says he will try to win for the king. Before the fight Hamlet apologizes for his insanity, as they begin to choose their armor. During the fight Laertes cuts Hamlet with the poisoned sword, then they lose their swords and Hamlets ends up getting the poisoned sword and cuts Laertes, as the queen unknowingly drinks the poison that was meant for Hamlet. As Hamlet discovers that that his mother had drunk poison that was meant for him he made Claudius drink it and then Claudius died, and Laertes was soon followed by death. Hamlet tells Horatio to give Fortinbras his support shortly before he died. Then Horatio and Fortinbras army took the bodies to the stage to tell the story of what had happened and give Fortinbras Hamlets blessing to be the new king.