[Music] in act 1 scene 2 of Hamlet King Claudius holds court and thanks everyone for their support through the recent death of his brother King Hamlet the marriage between him and Queen Gertrude and his coronation he proceeds to justify the Swift marriage due to the war hungry young Fortinbras whom he suspects may try to attack the kingdom under the assumption that the Danes are in a weak position to defend themselves Claudius assures the court that he has taken the proper action by writing to Fortinbras as uncle the king of Norway in order to persuade his
nephew to leave Denmark alone Laertes the son of Claudius is counselor Polonius asks if he can go back to France to school Claudius agrees after holding court Claudius and Gertrude turned to a depressed Prince Hamlet and scold him for his excessive morning Claudius tells Hamlet to look at him as a father and hopes Hamlet will stay in Denmark instead of going back to school in Wittenberg Gertrude echoes her new husband's words and Hamlet agrees to stay after Claudius and Gertrude leave Prince Hamlet reveals his despair not only is he filled with sorrow over the death
of his father but he is also shocked and upset by the inappropriate wedding between his mother and uncle he says if it were not against God's law he would contemplate suicide Hamlet's grief is then interrupted by the entrance of Horatio Marcellus and Bernardo they tell him about the ghosts they saw and he excitedly asks questions Hamlet decides to stand watch with them that night as the men start to leave Hamlet asks them not to tell anyone about this and the three men give him their word Shakespeare packs this scene with a lot of information through
dialogue the scene introduces many of the main characters of Hamlet the audience is revealed Prince Hamlet's despair the result of the death of his father and the subsequent marriage between his uncle and mother Claudius's treatment of Hamlet shows little to no affection Gertrude's plea for Hamlet to stay in Denmark suggests she is genuinely worried about Hamlet his obedience shows devotion to his mother nonetheless in his soliloquy he questions his mother's decision to marry so quickly he feels betrayed and believes his mother to be disloyal he ends his soliloquy saying that while his heart is breaking
he must hold his tongue although his reason is not made clear
