Hamlet by William Shakespeare | Act 1, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

King Claudius justifies his swift marriage, while Prince Hamlet reveals his despair over his father's death and his mother's inappropriate wedding.

Key Insights

• 😨 King Claudius justifies his marriage for political reasons, fearing a potential attack from Fortinbras.
• 👨 Prince Hamlet's grief over his father's death is further intensified by the inappropriate marriage between his mother and uncle.
• 😑 Claudius and Gertrude show little affection towards Hamlet, while Gertrude expresses genuine worry for him.
• 🍵 Hamlet's obedience in agreeing to stay in Denmark hints at his devotion to his mother, despite his internal conflicts.
• 😫 The court scene introduces important characters and sets the stage for the central conflicts in the play.
• ❓ Hamlet's soliloquy reflects his sense of betrayal and his struggle to voice his true emotions.
• 👻 The arrival of Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo introduces the supernatural element of the ghost.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why does King Claudius justify his swift marriage?

King Claudius justifies his marriage because he suspects that Fortinbras, the war-hungry young prince, may attack Denmark and believes the marriage will strengthen the kingdom's position.

Q: How does Prince Hamlet feel about his mother's marriage?

Prince Hamlet is filled with despair and feels betrayed by his mother's quick marriage. He considers it inappropriate and believes she is disloyal to his father's memory.

Q: Why does Hamlet agree to stay in Denmark?

Hamlet agrees to stay in Denmark at the request of King Claudius and Queen Gertrude, who implore him to look at Claudius as a father figure. He obediently agrees despite his internal turmoil.

Q: What does the court scene in Hamlet reveal about the main characters?

The court scene introduces King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Prince Hamlet, Laertes, and Polonius. It reveals the strained relationship between Claudius and Hamlet, Gertrude's concern for Hamlet, and Hamlet's despair over his father's death.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In Act 1 Scene 2 of Hamlet, King Claudius justifies his quick marriage and assures the court that he has taken action to prevent an attack from Fortinbras.

• Prince Hamlet expresses his sorrow over his father's death and his anger towards his mother's marriage to his uncle.

• Hamlet decides to join Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo in standing watch for the ghost that they have seen.