Act 1 of Shakespeare’s Hamlet establishes the mood of the play through various conversations and events. These moods include mystery, sorrow, and a desire for revenge. These emotions will likely shape the actions of Hamlet and other events that unfold throughout this tragic tale. From the very beginning, in the first scene and in subsequent scenes, there are indications that a mysterious atmosphere will prevail and that strange occurrences will take place. In the opening of the first scene, Marcellus informs Horatio about a ghost they have witnessed on two occasions, stating, “Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, / With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch” (1,1,76-77). Marcellus and Bernardo bring Horatio along in the hope that his credibility as a scholar and respected figure will lend weight to their claims.
The men attempted to communicate with the ghost without success. In Scene 4, they decided to involve Hamlet, as the ghost resembled his recently deceased father, King Hamlet. The ghost disclosed his identity as Hamlet’s father and revealed that Claudius murdered him using poison. The presence of the ghost and the night-time settings suggest that there will be mysterious occurrences unfolding in the storyline.
Despite not knowing the true cause until encountering a ghost, Hamlet was deeply saddened by the news of his father’s death. His sorrow was amplified when his mother remarried Claudius, who happened to be his uncle, just one month after his father’s passing. Even though two months had elapsed since his father’s demise, Hamlet’s distress remained evident in the second scene. During a conversation with his mother and Claudius, she pleaded with him to move on from his grief and display a more cheerful countenance. She urged him to comprehend that death is inevitable for all living beings and it is natural to carry on with life despite the loss. The text also emphasizes how Hamlet persisted in wearing dark attire, commonly associated with mourning.
Hamlet’s mother is perplexed by his enduring grief because death is inevitable for everyone and he should not continue to mourn. If Hamlet is still in mourning after two months since his father’s death, it is likely that he will remain in mourning throughout most of the play, creating a somber atmosphere. However, when Hamlet converses with the ghost, another emotion emerges strongly: revenge.
After conversing with the ghost in Scene 5, Hamlet discovers that King Hamlet was poisoned by Claudius and the story of a snake bite is false. The ghost urges Hamlet to seek revenge for the unnatural murder, saying “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (1,5,31). This revelation profoundly affects Hamlet, as he becomes consumed with the desire to avenge his father’s death. Consequently, this becomes a dominant theme throughout the play, as Hamlet’s actions are driven by his determination to retaliate against Claudius and bring justice for his father’s demise.
Based on the established moods in the beginning of the play, some predictions can be made about its future events. It is anticipated that more odd occurrences will take place, and there is a possibility of the ghost making another appearance and having a significant role. It is clearly evident that Hamlet will spend the rest of the play seeking revenge against Claudius for his father’s death. These initial moods will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the play’s unfolding and likely influence its conclusion.
