Question

When Hamlet sees the ghost for the first time, Shakespeare does not provide stage directions, although he does make the physical actions of the characters clear through their words. Describe the actions of the characters in Act 1, Scene 5 after Marcellus says in line 88, “You shall not go, my lord.” What are Horatio, Marcellus, and Hamlet doing, and why are they behaving in this manner? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Answer 1

In Act 1, Scene 5, Hamlet has just encountered the ghost of his father and found out his father has been murdered by Claudius.

As ghost disappears, Marcellus and Horatio arrive, while Hamlet is still extremely shaken. When the ghost reappears, Hamlet informs them he will follow it. In line 88, Marcellus tries to convince Hamlet not to do it, and both him and Horatio attempt to hold Hamlet back, but Hamlet does not listen and goes after the ghost. Horatio realizes that Hamlet is going crazy after everything that happened to him: 'He waxes desperate with imagination.'