RALPH:  The first moment we’ll look at together is the first of Hamlet’s famous monologues, or soliloquies. It’s in Act 1, near the end of scene 2, so we’re diving into the play midstream.  We’ll begin by quickly reviewing what’s happened so far.

SARAH:  In the first scene of the play, we learn that a ghost has been seen haunting the walls around Elsinore Castle, and it appears to resemble Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, who recently died.  In fact, Prince Hamlet’s been away at school, and he’s returned for his father’s funeral…

RALPH:  As well as his mother’s remarriage to Hamlet’s uncle Claudius.  That’s right, Hamlet’s mother has married her dead husband’s brother.

SARAH:  Just before Hamlet’s soliloquy, we’ve heard the new King, King Claudius, justify to the court why it was so important to remarry quickly, in order to maintain political stability in Denmark.

RALPH:  But Hamlet’s not crazy about his new stepfather, and he’s quite upset that his mother, Gertrude, has remarried so soon after his father’s death.

SARAH:  The court has left Hamlet alone on stage, as he reveals to the audience his innermost thoughts.