The Play Opens at Castle Elsinore
ACT 1 SCENE 1
Line 1-13: Bernardo(Bernardo in some scripts)asks who is coming. Francisco asks the person to "unfold" himself as he is covered all over because of the extreme cold. Bernardo identifies himself and Francisco is glad that he is on time (midnight). Francisco sets the atmosphere by saying it is not only cold, but there is something sad going on. Bernardo asks Francisco if Marcelus and Horatio are coming to relieve him.
Line 14-39: The two arive and identify themselves. They are all followers of the King (dane). When Bernardo asks if Horatio is there, he jokes "A piece of him" because he is covered and perhaps because most of him wants to be somewhere else. Marcellus asks if the ghost has appeared yet. When he is told no, he is informed that Horatio does not believe in ghosts. He is told that they have seen the ghost twice already. When Bernardo explains that the ghost appeared at 1:00 a.m. they see it.
Line 40-45: When they see the ghost, take 2 things into mind: thatv ghosts don't speak unless spoken to and that Scholars are better prepared to talk to them. Now Horatio admits it is like King Hamlet that he sees. They ask Horatio to talk to it.
Line 46-55: Horatio asks the ghost why he is wearing his armor like the king. The ghost does not talk and disappears. Bernardo asks Horatio if he now believes them.
Line 56-59: Horatio says he would not have believed it if he did not see it. Horatio explains that it was the same armor he had on when he fought against Fortinbras. Marcellus says this is the third tune he has appeared with the same costume. Horatio says there is something bad going on in Denmark.