Hamlet, Act One: the Exposition

12/29/2016

Based on Act One, Scenes 1, 4, and 5

Reportedly, both Hamlet and his good friend Horatio attend the University of Wittenberg. The renowned reformer (or notorious heretic, depending on your religious affiliation) Martin Luther was a professor at the University of Wittenberg.

Considering that the Protestant faith in the form of the Anglican Church was carved in the national psyche of the English, Hamlet's encounter with the ghost of his late father is particularly disconcerting to the Elizabethan audience. Hamlet himself is also facing the anathema of his academic conviction--the ghost and the purgatory are Catholic concepts.

Do you think Hamlet the younger has to take the Ghost's words at face value and run to avenge his father? If not, what do you think Hamlet needs to verify before carrying out the vengeance?

15 Comments

Luis Villanueva 1-2A

1/8/2017 10:30:52

Honestly I believe young Hamlet is emotionally unstable at this point and is grieving his father. Therefore, I don't believe he should just seek revenge because when you lose a loved one you tend to believe about anything and come up with theories in your mind. Hamlet is also unstable because his mother married his uncle who is now taking his fathers place. He is is in shock because a short period after his father passed she remarried and although that is very unlikely Hamlet needs to know and hear the mothers reason for remarrying. Hamlet believes that his fathers death wasn't an accident because the ghost told him , but I believe that assumptions is what has caused the tragedies in a lot of Shakespeares plays one example is Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet both assumed and in the end both died. Hamlet assuming is not accurate because he is emotionally and physically unstable since events in his life took place that could have multiple meanings which he does not know. The ghost is playing tricks with his mind, but in reality when it comes to knowing the truth he is clueless. The reason the ghost appears is because he still misses his father and it is very hard for him to just let him go.

Kay

1/8/2017 21:28:52

You seem to stretch the dramatic reality a bit too far. Hamlet is not the only one who encounters the ghost. In fact, sentries and Horatio inform Hamlet of the ghost in semblance of his late father.

Melissa Menchaca

1/8/2017 20:10:02

Hamlet is showing the side of himself that is most vulnerable due to him losing his father. His grieving is shown in many of the scenes, but his revenge that he seeks therefore should not be done because he is not well in mind. Hamlet is not thinking straight as he is seeking his revenge for what has happened to him and his beloved father. Though, he is unstable as well due to his mother remarrying his uncle after not long of his fathers passing. I believe Hamlet just wants reassurance that his mother remarried because of something important or at least be spoken to by his mother. As well, The ghost that Rome's the building tells Hamlet that his fathers passing wasn't an accident but as we've seen in other plays that Shakespeare has created such as A Midsummers Night Dream it could be a play of trickery from the ghost or it could be possible that something really happened to his father that he is not being told by his mother. The ghost appears as he is mindless at knowing what happened to his father and him wanting to know what occurred but not being told. So in the end, Hamlet just needs his father even though he is gone and wishes that he was alive and this is his way of grieving and dealing with the loss of his beloved father.

Luis Villanueva 1-2A

1/8/2017 20:31:41

You make a really great point that is similar to mine Hamlet is not in the right state of mind so I don't believe it is best for him to go through with revenge. His mother remarrying so soon made Hamlet very curious because it seemed like she married for a title rather then for love which alters Hamlets opinion on love. This emotional imbalance has been the main reason for hamlet because he is mourning his father and some ghost who just appears could very well just be his mind finding an explanation for his fathers death. Hamlet like most of Shakespeares plays end in tragedys because like Melissa says they are all assuming the worst and I believe that's because they are being corrupted by their mind.

Kay

1/8/2017 21:49:56

As Melissa and Luis have illustrated, Hamlet has to reconcile with the world of his parents--father's death and mother's remarriage to his uncle (which in his mind is no different from incest). In addition, he also has to deal with his own world that is spinning upside down. As a scholar educated at the University of Wittenberg, he probably has a hard time believing in the purgatory or a spirit that dwells in between heaven and hell. Now, the unthinkable reality materialized in the ghost of his dead father is about to take the rein off Hamlet's hand (and head). No wonder he is confused and becomes maniacal.

Adaylin Alvarez

1/9/2017 02:02:41

Hamlet is blinded with a revenge-seeking rage and has become a bit reckless as a result. Hamlet lost someone he loved and looked up to, his father, and this is why he seeks revenge no matter the consequences. Hamlet feels alone and lost as a result of his father’s death, especially because his mother and uncle betrayed him by marrying each other not long after the passing of his father. The ghost is kind of like Hamlet’s conscious because he raises questions in order to reassure or deter Hamlet’s vengeance. One’s conscious must make you second-guess things in order for one to see if what they are going to do is moral or immoral. Hamlet’s incapability to cope with the loss of his father and the betrayal of his mother results in his wanting to seek revenge and his impulsiveness to do things.

Denise J Ruiz

1/13/2017 23:38:59

I agree with every single one of you guys. Overall, Hamlet is so confused by the fact he goes through his father death, her mother re-marrying with his uncle in a short period of time and having such small support from his surroundings. Although, he has a high capacity of intelligence he later, because of his situation becomes frustrated and eager for revenge. I overall, can related some what with Hamlet because us teenager at this age become eager to gain something and when we don't gain what we wanted we become frustrated and anger at ourselves. Hamlet is a huge role in this act/book that gives many meaningful meaning about his role.

Denise J Ruiz

1/14/2017 00:11:21

The video display based on Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2, it shows a great example of the actor (Hamlet) expressing his emotions and facial expressions. It gives a lot of contribution of how people can understand the character and gives a more attraction on the audience to get more involve or see the play. Based, on what I have catch up I love Hamlet character but I believe this character is one of the most exaggerated ones which makes me more into reading it.

Carlos Ramírez Jr

2/23/2017 20:04:18

I agree Denise, in a drama or play, facial expressions and insight to a characters emotion is crucial to the story line. This way the author can bond a connection between the audience and the characters.

Frizia Lei Ramos

1/15/2017 17:11:37

It's understandable that Hamlet will seek revenge because of the situation he is in his father's loss and betrayals from his mother and his uncle. Many teenagers hear rumors and believe that it's true in an instant which in most cases the rumors are not true at all. Hamlet should first verify that Claudius killed Old Hamlet because he needs the assurance of truth as well as he doesn't really know whether the ghost is an evil ghost or not. Even though many betrayals have happened which made him furious and confused as to what is happening he shouldn't act yet, just like some teenagers who fight because of tittle-tattle.

Roxanne Flores 3/4 B

1/15/2017 20:14:15

It is difficult for Hamlet to go against his supposed father. Maybe if one were in his position then we would see how uneasy it is to go against your own blood. But of course since I don't know his exact feelings i may have a clearer conscious and go with the fact that killing isn't the answer. There is no doubt that Hamlet should take the ghosts words as the honest truth but should think about what problems a dreadful vengeance can cause. During a time of losing his father he is desperate of an answer and so when he sees the ghosts that appears to look just like his father, he has no choice but to be pulled in by his words.

Yomeini Alfaro

1/16/2017 09:21:42

Throughout the book (Hamlet) is more than just about a prince who's father was killed by his brother; about a mother who dishonored and betrayed her husband and son. Hamlet represents what problems society had at that time,where we may face these problems today. One of the problems in this play is Social class power, envy towards the rich people, and death. In the play Hamlet has trouble making us his mind of the decisions he has to make, he is focused on revenge and justice.

Antuan Jimenez

1/22/2017 19:34:15

I think hamlet might have more reasons to get revenge than not doing anything at all. Everybody things because is a ghost the one that is telling Hamlet what really happen to his father, no body should listen to the ghost but, he turns hamlets head on fire meaning that is still giving purpose on why he should kill his uncle. One of them is because he marries his mother and Hamlets father told her not to marry another man and more if is his brother. At the end he makes a decision of doing something about it which he should in order to honor his father for defending his properties.

Desiree Trejo link

1/22/2017 22:48:45

Through out Act 1, the reader is able to look at the situation from Hamlet's pov and sympathize with him due to the fact that so much has happened to him over a short period of time. The audience discover's Hamlet's internal thoughts through his soliloquy which explains how ouraged and berayed he feels due to his mother's marriage to his own uncle. I believe all these emotions he feels takes into play with the manifestation of his father's ghost. Hamlet is a lonley, confued and misunderstood individual hence his inner conscious has come to seek his vengance through an image of his father and use it as a way to achieve his vengence. Hamlet does not trust anyone at this point therfore the ghost of his father seems to be the only realiable spirit he may listen to.

Carlos Ramírez Jr

2/23/2017 20:00:11

In act one, to me the most attention grabbing, makes the reader want to continue the book. They make the audience want more and more, he leaves them guessing till the last second and kills us with suspense. Hamlet is not the most mentally sane person but he isn't any less optimistic. Despite the tragic events ongoing in his life, he still strives to meet his goals. But before he completes his task he needs to know for sure he's doing the right thing.

Hamlet, Act One: the Exposition

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