September 13, 2013, Blog post #3

 Act One

Shakespeare's Hamlet offers much intrigue! In the first act, we are introduced to Prince Hamlet, his father King Hamlet, appearing as a ghost.  Prince Hamlet's mother Gertrude, her new husband and uncle to Hamlet, Claudius. Polonius, father of Ophelia and Laertes, also the Lord of Chamberlain.  Macellus and Horoatio, friends of Hamlet.  Early on, Prince Hamlet is seen as grieving his father as his mother and uncle are married just after King Hamlet's death.  The prince is disgusted by this arrangement.  Claudius inherits the throne and urges Hamlet to halt his grieving and partake in the celebration of his mother's marriage and the institution of the new king.  Meanwhile, Polonius urges his daughter Ophelia to not fall for Prince Hamlet.  He tells Ophelia she is not good enough for Hamlet.Of these main characters, Claudius seems to  be the most calculated.  He married his dead brother's widow to secure his place on the throne.  Hamlet's suspicious of Claudius murdering the late King.  His suspicions are confirmed as the ghost explains to Hamlet how his death occurred at the hands of Claudius.  Early on, Claudius is the evil one, deceiving Gertrude.

Who is "rotten" in the state of Denmark? Marcellus worries that King Hamlet's appearance is in premonition of something horrible that is about to Denmark.  Maybe a military strike.  The ghost is a visible reminder of Claudius' incestuous, poor behavior and the dark omen in Denmark.

The ghost visits Hamlet for forewarn him of impending danger.  And to provide clarity to Prince Hamlet surrounding the untimely death of his father.  The ghost is a symptom of the corruption that is happening in Denmark brought on by Claudius.

 Even Hamlet is unsure if his father's ghost is evil or heaven sent.  By this point, Hamlet no longer values his own life and sees no harm in following the ghost into the dark.  Purgatory holds this ghost from the gates of heaven.  The ghost recites that he is doomed" to suffer in "sulph'rous and tormenting flames" until the "foul crimes done in [his] days of nature / Are burnt and purged away."

Victor Garber would be my choice to portray the ghost of King Hamlet.  The actor should be strong in presence with a gentle nature, though taken seriously by his audience.

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Elsinore Castle:  Kronborg Castle was immortalized in Shakespeare's Hamlet. The castle was built in the early 1400's and is located in Helsinger, Denmark and still stands today.  It is considered one of the most important Renaissance castles in Europe.

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