[Music] in act 1 scene for Hamlet and Horatio accompany Marcellus on his watch while waiting for the ghost they hear much revelry from within the castle Hamlet remarks that the new king is drinking and partying again he talks for a while about how Claudius is behavior gives Denmark a poor reputation taking away from its better qualities carrying the thought further Hamlet talks about how one fault can overwhelm all the positive attributes someone has Hamlet is then stunned by the ghosts appearance it really does look like his late father he begs the ghost to speak and
tell him why he has come in response the ghosts ominously beckons Hamlet to follow him which Hamlet is eager to do Horatio cautions Hamlet not to follow the ghost because it's probably dangerous Horatio and Marcellus tried to stop Hamlet but he breaks free and follows the ghost the two friends in turn follow Hamlet this short powerful scene at last confronts Hamlet with the ghost Claudius his character is further tainted with his drunken celebrations not a great way to honor the memory of his dead brother and this kind of behavior makes Denmark look bad although Claudius
is not the first ruler to indulge in such revelry Hamlet seems to think it's pretty excessive given the circumstances the scene shifts sharply with the appearance of the ghost a stark contrast is set between Hamlet's distant and negative view of his uncle and his devotion to his father literally following him even in death Shakespeare uses this tension-filled moment to introduce a few important ideas first the depth of Hamlet's sadness I do not set my life at a pins fee Hamlet thinks his life has no value second the theme of madness Horatio warns Hamlet that if
he follows the ghost he could go mad madness whether real or pretended plays a central role much of what transpired with Hamlet and the ghost takes place out of sight and earshot
