Act+One+Scene+One

Hamlet: Act 1,Scene1&2 Summary: A group of guards talk about a "ghost" that only some of them have seen. They wait for it to appear and it does. The ghost does not speak, but they notice his expression and attire and comment that he looks like the King of Denmark who recently passed away. The ghost appears for a second time, but disappears when the sun starts to rise.

In the second scene, the main characters--the royal family--are finally introduced. Hamlet is the so of the dead King. His mother has married her dead husband's brother. Laertes goes back to college, but Hamlet is asked not to go by the new King and his mother. The guards from the first scene appear and tell Hamlet about the ghost. Hamlet agrees to go and see for himself.

Line 55-59, 75 Such was the very armour he had on When he th' ambitious Norway combated. So frown'd he once when, in an angry parle, He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. 'Tis strange.
 * Comment in one sentence on what you think is the significance of this scene. Then what would the play be like without the scene?**
 * [|Bernardo].** Looks it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio. 55
 * [|Horatio].** Most like. It harrows me with fear and wonder.
 * [|Bernardo].** It would be spoke to.
 * [|Marcellus].** Question it, Horatio.
 * [|Horatio].** As thou art to thyself.

I think this scene is significant because it foreshadows the rest of the play. The presence of a ghost suggests that something is not right, and the fact that the ghost is wearing military clothing hints that there is violence and death in the future. Without this scene, there would be no plot. This ghost initiates everything that happens in the rest of the play. His face expression, attire, and his presence in general is a critical factor to the story.

Horatio is the guard that is doubtful of the "ghost" that the others claim to see during the night. When someone claims to have seen a "ghost" the most likely response is to think that they are either delusional or crazy. By having a rational man first doubt the ghost then completely believe it, it shows the audience that the ghost truly does exist in the story.
 * Describe your reactions to a character, action, or idea you confronted in the scene.**

//Horatio:I can't believe I'm actually doing this. Of course the ghost doesn't exist. It's impossible! All the guards must be losing their minds..ridiculous. It's so dark that we can't even see anything..this is ludicrous. I should know better, I'm a rational man. This can't be true..can it? But it's not just one guard that claims it is true..it is several. No, no it's impossible. No "ghost" will appear tonight and they will see I am right.//
 * Write a diary entry from the perspective of one of the characters. Get inside that character’s mind. Tell how the character feels about herself, about other characters, about the situation of the scene.**

This shows how ridiculous Horatio thought the idea of a ghost was. But the fact that he went with the other guard to see if it was true shows that he had a sliver of doubt.