Hamlet

Newly minted King Claudius is holding court at Elsinore. He’s got all kinds of announcements: he thanks all of his supporters in this trying time; he sends ambassadors to Norway to avert an attack by their prince, Fortinbras; he sends Laertes, a young courtier, back to France; and he denies Hamlet permission to go back to school in Wittenberg. Claudius thinks Hamlet is far too mopey about his father’s death and should move on with his life. After all, there’s much to celebrate, like Claudius’s marriage to Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude.

Francisco is keeping watch at Elsinore castle. Bernardo arrives to relieve him of duty, and they remark on the quiet, cold night. Horatio and Marcellus enter and exchange greetings before Francisco leaves. Horatio wants to know if a ghost has reappeared tonight. Bernardo and Marcellus swear it’s real, although the ghost hasn’t shown up yet. Marcellus has brought Horatio along to see for himself. Sure enough, the ghost appears, but won’t say a word.