full play
,Name is above the speech - remember that
Synopsis:
Events before the start of Hamlet set the stage for tragedy. When the king of Denmark, Prince
Hamlet’s father, suddenly dies, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, marries his uncle Claudius, who becomes
the new king.
A spirit who claims to be the ghost of Hamlet’s father describes his murder at the hands of Claudius
and demands that Hamlet avenge the killing. When the councilor Polonius learns from his daughter,
Ophelia, that Hamlet has visited her in an apparently distracted state, Polonius attributes the prince’s
condition to lovesickness, and he sets a trap for Hamlet using Ophelia as bait.
To confirm Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet arranges for a play that mimics the murder; Claudius’s reaction is
that of a guilty man. Hamlet, now free to act, mistakenly kills Polonius, thinking he is Claudius.
Claudius sends Hamlet away as part of a deadly plot.
After Polonius’s death, Ophelia goes mad and later drowns. Hamlet, who has returned safely to
confront the king, agrees to a fencing match with Ophelia’s brother, Laertes, who secretly poisons his
own rapier. At the match, Claudius prepares poisoned wine for Hamlet, which Gertrude unknowingly
drinks; as she dies, she accuses Claudius, whom Hamlet kills. Then first Laertes and then Hamlet die,
both victims of Laertes’ rapier.
1
, ⟨ACT 1⟩
⟨Scene 1⟩
Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels.
BARNARDO
Who’s there?
FRANCISCO
Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.
BARNARDO
Long live the King!
FRANCISCO
Barnardo?
BARNARDO
He.
FRANCISCO
You come most carefully upon your hour.
BARNARDO
’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.
FRANCISCO
For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart.
BARNARDO
Have you had quiet guard?
FRANCISCO
Not a mouse stirring.
BARNARDO
Well, good night.
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
FRANCISCO
I think I hear them.—Stand ho! Who is there?
HORATIO
Friends to this ground.
2
, p. 9
MARCELLUS
And liegemen to the Dane.
FRANCISCO
Give you good night.
MARCELLUS
O farewell, honest ⟨soldier.⟩ Who hath relieved
you?
FRANCISCO
Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.
Francisco exits.
MARCELLUS
Holla, Barnardo.
BARNARDO
Say, what, is Horatio there?
HORATIO
A piece of him.
BARNARDO
Welcome, Horatio.—Welcome, good Marcellus.
HORATIO
What, has this thing appeared again tonight?
BARNARDO
I have seen nothing.
MARCELLUS
Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy
And will not let belief take hold of him
Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us.
Therefore I have entreated him along
With us to watch the minutes of this night,
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes and speak to it.
HORATIO
Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.
BARNARDO
Sit down awhile,
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we have two nights seen.
HORATIO
3
,Name is above the speech - remember that
Synopsis:
Events before the start of Hamlet set the stage for tragedy. When the king of Denmark, Prince
Hamlet’s father, suddenly dies, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, marries his uncle Claudius, who becomes
the new king.
A spirit who claims to be the ghost of Hamlet’s father describes his murder at the hands of Claudius
and demands that Hamlet avenge the killing. When the councilor Polonius learns from his daughter,
Ophelia, that Hamlet has visited her in an apparently distracted state, Polonius attributes the prince’s
condition to lovesickness, and he sets a trap for Hamlet using Ophelia as bait.
To confirm Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet arranges for a play that mimics the murder; Claudius’s reaction is
that of a guilty man. Hamlet, now free to act, mistakenly kills Polonius, thinking he is Claudius.
Claudius sends Hamlet away as part of a deadly plot.
After Polonius’s death, Ophelia goes mad and later drowns. Hamlet, who has returned safely to
confront the king, agrees to a fencing match with Ophelia’s brother, Laertes, who secretly poisons his
own rapier. At the match, Claudius prepares poisoned wine for Hamlet, which Gertrude unknowingly
drinks; as she dies, she accuses Claudius, whom Hamlet kills. Then first Laertes and then Hamlet die,
both victims of Laertes’ rapier.
1
, ⟨ACT 1⟩
⟨Scene 1⟩
Enter Barnardo and Francisco, two sentinels.
BARNARDO
Who’s there?
FRANCISCO
Nay, answer me. Stand and unfold yourself.
BARNARDO
Long live the King!
FRANCISCO
Barnardo?
BARNARDO
He.
FRANCISCO
You come most carefully upon your hour.
BARNARDO
’Tis now struck twelve. Get thee to bed, Francisco.
FRANCISCO
For this relief much thanks. ’Tis bitter cold,
And I am sick at heart.
BARNARDO
Have you had quiet guard?
FRANCISCO
Not a mouse stirring.
BARNARDO
Well, good night.
If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,
The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.
Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
FRANCISCO
I think I hear them.—Stand ho! Who is there?
HORATIO
Friends to this ground.
2
, p. 9
MARCELLUS
And liegemen to the Dane.
FRANCISCO
Give you good night.
MARCELLUS
O farewell, honest ⟨soldier.⟩ Who hath relieved
you?
FRANCISCO
Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.
Francisco exits.
MARCELLUS
Holla, Barnardo.
BARNARDO
Say, what, is Horatio there?
HORATIO
A piece of him.
BARNARDO
Welcome, Horatio.—Welcome, good Marcellus.
HORATIO
What, has this thing appeared again tonight?
BARNARDO
I have seen nothing.
MARCELLUS
Horatio says ’tis but our fantasy
And will not let belief take hold of him
Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us.
Therefore I have entreated him along
With us to watch the minutes of this night,
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes and speak to it.
HORATIO
Tush, tush, ’twill not appear.
BARNARDO
Sit down awhile,
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we have two nights seen.
HORATIO
3
