How does this speech relate to Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus’s conversation in the first scene?
Hamlet’s speech relates to Horatio, Barnardo and Marcellus’s conversation through many inquisitive questions. Like Horatio, Barnardo and Marcellus, Hamlet was eager to know why his father’s ghost was there and what it wants. They are all curious to know why the ghost is out of its tomb and, though it might be bringing something evil, Horatio and Hamlet are eager to talk to it nevertheless. This is seen when Barnardo and Marcellus urge Horatio to speak to it , and when Hamlet says “thou com’st in such a questionable shape that I will speak to thee” (1.iv.45-46) . Horatio and Hamlet are both very curious about the ghost’s wanderings and insist that they do not remain ignorant. This is shown when Horatio says “if there be any good thing to be done that may to thee do ease, and grace to me, speak to me” (1. i.142-144) and when Hamlet says “ king, father, royal Dane. O, answer me”( 1. iv. 48) and “say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do?” ( 1.iv.60). In Horatio, Barnardo and Marcellus’s conversation, Horatio implies that the appearance of the ghost has caused him to worry and exposed his mind towards unpleasant things. He also implies that its appearance signifies disaster and irony, as though something horrible is about to come upon them. This is shown in the line “ this bodes some strange eruption to our state” (1.i.80). Hamlet seems to have similar thoughts, as he says, “ so horridly to shake our disposition with thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?” (1.iv.58-59). They are also concerned about the form in which the ghost appears in and this is shown when Horatio says “ together with that fair and warlike form” ( 1.i.56) and “such was the very armor he had on when the ambitious Norway combated” (1.i.71-72). This implies that the ghost had on the same steel armor that Old Hamlet used while he was in an angry battle with Norway. Therefore, the fact that he appears in this steel armor is not a good sign. Similarly, Hamlet also raises his concerns about this when he says, “what may this mean, that thou, dead corpse, again in complete steel…” (1.iv.54-55).
How would you describe Hamlet’s state of mind in the rest of the section? What type of character does he appear to be here?
In the rest of the section, Hamlet appears to be a rather impulsive character, and seems to be thinking irrationally. This is seen when he completely ignores Horatio and Marcellus’s words of caution and insists in flowing the ghost. His irrationality is further seen when he says “ why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life in a pin’s fee; and for my soul, what can it do to that…” (1.iv.70-71). He is implying that he does not care about what happens to him, and would even put his life at stake just to follow the ghost. He overlooks everything that is going around him and nothing anyone says or does can keep him from doing what he has set his mind to. Even Horatio’s long speech which begins by saying “what if it tempt you toward the flood…” (1.iv.75) is unsuccessful in keeping the shrewd Hamlet from doing something as impulsive as mindlessly following the ghost. Hamlet also appears to be going slightly insane in this scene, as he goes to the extremes of threatening whoever tries to stop him. This is seen in the line “ I’ll make a ghost of him that lets me!” (1.iv.94). He is obviously not in a very rational state of mind.
Identify the line which reinforces the idea that external forces are also a component in the nature of tragedy.
The idea that external factors are also a component in the nature of tragedy is seen when Horatio says, “heaven will direct it” (1.iv.100). Horatio is trying to say that regardless of all human efforts, what happens to Hamlet will be decided by fate and is beyond our control. Hamlet himself implies that he does not care very much about what happens to him and would not make any special efforts to protect himself. This is shown when he says, “ I do not set my life in a pin’s fee; and for my soul, what can it do to that, being a thing immortal as itself?” (1.iv.71-73). Another external factor could be Hamlet’s tragic flaw itself (hamartia), which is his negligence of self worth and refusal to follow the advice of others. Furthermore, Horatio points out some factors that could lead to tragedy when he says “ what if it tempt you toward the flood…and draw you into madness?” ( 1.iv.75-80).
Comment on Marcellus’s remark. How does this relate to earlier issues in the play?
Marcellus’s remark suggests that disaster is about to come upon Denmark and that something is not quite right. This directly relates to the first scene when the ghost first appears, when Horatio says “ this bodes some strange eruption to our state” (1.i.80). Both Marcellus’s and Horatio’s remark suggests that there is a problem in Denmark and that something foul is about to happen. This also relates to Hamlet’s remark, “ it is nor it cannot come to good” (1.ii.160) and “I doubt some foul play…foul deeds will rise…” (1..ii.273-274). He is implying that unpleasant things will arise after learning about the appearance of the ghost.
