Hamlet Act 1, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts
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Inside the walls of Elsinore, Claudius—the new king of Denmark—is holding court. With him are his new wife Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and the queen; Hamlet himself; Claudius’s councilor Polonius; Polonius’s children Laertes and Ophelia; and several members of court. Claudius says, he has married his
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Summary
Claudius, the new King of Denmark, is holding court with his new wife Gertrude, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes and Ophelia. Claudius announces he has written to the new King of Norway to stop Fortinbras. He then tells Laertes he can ask for anything he wishes, as Polonius is so important to him. Laertes requests to return to France, which Claudius grants. Claudius then orders Hamlet to stay in Denmark and not return to school in Wittenberg. Hamlet agrees, and the court adjourns.
Top Highlights
- Inside the walls of Elsinore, Claudius—the new king of Denmark—is holding court. With him are his new wife Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and the queen; Hamlet himself; Claudius’s councilor Polonius; Polonius’s children Laertes and Ophelia; and several members of court.
- Claudius says, he has married his former sister-in-law Gertrude and become the new king.
- Claudius is determined to keep Denmark strong
- Claudius announces that he has written to the new King of Norway—Fortinbras’s uncle, an “impotent and bedrid” man who has no idea of what his nephew is planning—to make sure that Fortinbras is put to a stop.
- Claudius says that he knows Laertes has a request for him, and tells the young man to ask for anything he wishes—Polonius is so important to Claudius that Claudius will do whatever Laertes asks
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