The scene starts off in the morning after Horatio and the guards see the ghost at the castle, King Claudius gives a speech to his people about his recent marriage to Gertrude (His Brothers Wife), this sparks controversy with Prince Hamlet as his uncle is also his father which is very close to being incest as King Claudius is both his uncle and his step-father. King Claudius then expresses his sadness for his brother’s death but also while expressing his happiness for his new wife Gertrude. His speech then concludes.
King Claudius then expresses his concern for Hamlet’s emotions after mourning his father’s death for so long, he also tells hamlet to grow up and get over his father’s death and just accept the fact that he is gone and he is now his new father.
Hamlet then expresses to Claudius how he wishes he could die and tells us even more about his deep sadness for his mother marrying his uncle and how he is a much worse person than his father ever could be. This is expressed in a long Shakespearian soliloquy.
Horatio then enters and says that he has seen what is presumably his father’s ghost in the castle and knows where he will be, Hamlet is asked if he will come watch with them, he agrees and the scene ends.
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