Hamlet: Act 1 Scene 5 - Summary

Hamlet: Act 1 Scene 5 - Notes

Contextual Info:

• Hamlet Act 1 Scene 5 involves Hamlet, Horatio, Marcellus, and the Ghost
• This scene occurs somewhere outside Elsinore castle, and is a notable scene because it’s the first time Hamlet (or anybody) has a meaningful interaction with the Ghost
• It’s also the first time the ghost speaks, and he has some pretty interesting news for both Hamlet and us, the audience

Plot Summary:

• The scene opens with Hamlet chasing after the Ghost, demanding some answers
• The Ghost confirms that he is indeed the Ghost of the late King Hamlet, Hamlet’s father, and that he’s been stuck in purgatory which, according to Catholic belief, is a place between earth and heaven for spirits to be punished for their sins during life
• Hamlet’s naturally surprised/shocked, but what he’s about to hear will do more than just shock him
• The Ghost of King Hamlet reveals that even though everybody believes he died due to a poisonous snake bite that happened while he was sleeping in the orchard, his brother Claudius was actually the one who murdered him by pouring poison in his ear
• The Ghost continues to describe Claudius as a murderous, incestuous, adulterous beast since not only did Claudius murder his brother, but he also seduced Gertrude
• Since the King died suddenly and had no time to repent his sins to the Heavens, his spirit is now stuck in purgatory
• After saying all this, the Ghost has a final command for Hamlet: To take vengeance on Claudius, but also to leave his mother (Gertrude) alone as he takes his revenge; the Ghost exits the scene, leaving Hamlet alone
• Hamlet swears to take action and curses his mother, saying that a person can smile and appear decent, but can also be a villain on the inside
• Horatio and Marcellus catch up to Hamlet and they want to know what happened, but Hamlet doesn’t fill them in on his discussion with the ghost
• Instead, Hamlet simply gives a vague hint as to a great offense that occurred - but he still won’t tell them exactly what happened
• In the end, Hamlet makes his friends swear 3 times to never speak about or reveal the night’s events, the last 2 requests demanding that his friends swear by his sword
• The Ghost’s voice chimes in like an echo of Hamlet’s, also demanding 3 times that the others will not reveal this secret, and the last time he also demands that the others swear by Hamlet’s sword
• In the end, Hamlet tells Horatio that if he acts crazy/mad/insane in the next few days, that Horatio should not be surprised, but more importantly, that Horatio should not reveal that he knows anything about Hamlet’s act