Act Two, Scene One Bloglet

1. In this scene, Ophelia describes to Polonius a disturbing interaction she had with Hamlet. Hamlet just grabbed her but did not speak. Polonius is convinced that the cause of Hamlet's insanity is his mad love for Ophelia. Polonius believes Hamlet has gone mad after Ophelia stopped seeing him. He rushes off to tell the king.

2. Ophelia's line describing her interaction with Hamlet is important to scene one.

"He seemed to find his way without his eyes, for out o' doors he went without their helps, and to the last bended their light on me."

It seems to me that his line is what convinces Polonius that Hamlet is mad with love. It demonstrates both Hamlet's insanity as well as his love for Ophelia. Because Polonius is convinced of this, he goes to tell the king. The king's reaction to this will set the course for several events later on in the play.

3. Why would Hamlet behave so strangely toward Ophelia? Is it all part of his "antic disposition?" Or is he truly insane? How will the king react to Polonius's claims?

Bloglet: Act One, Scene Five

2. The line "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder," is very significant in scene five. It changes the future events of the play. Hamlet's father's ghost revealed this information and wants to Hamlet to seek revenge. From this point on, I believe that this revenge scheme will dictate Hamlet's actions for the rest of the play and cause his inevitable death.

3. Why can Hamlet only hear the ghost? Because Hamlet is the only one to hear the ghost does that mean maybe the ghost is not real? Perhaps the ghost is just a figment of his imagination?

5. The ghost bothers me. Though others can see it, Hamlet is the only one to hear it. It makes me worry that maybe Hamlet is just imagining things. The ghost is possibly just a manifestation of his thoughts andn suspicions.

Bloglet: Act One, Scene Three

1. In this scene, both Ophelia's father and brother try to convince her to break up with Hamlet. Laertes tells her that Hamlet will have to marry someone of a higher social standing. Her father Polonius demands her to break it off with him. Ophelia, though in love with Hamlet, says she "shall obey, my lord."

2.Ophelia's final line, "I shall obey, my lord," is of major significance to scene three. This line foreshadows a future conflict in the play. If Ophelia did not make this promise, it could completely change the course of the play.

3. Why are Polonius and Laertes so adamant about Ophelia breaking up with Hamlet? Why did Ophelia agree to do this? Why do her father and brother not have faith that Hamlet will treat Ophelia well?

Hamlet: Act One, Scene One

2. Lines twenty-three to twenty-seven stood out to me as important. These lines establish Horatio as a sensible, reasonable character. Horatio will only believe in the ghost if he sees it himself. When he does see the specter, it offers proof that ghost Hamlet will see later on in the play is real. If Horatio, the level-headed character, sees the ghost, readers are more likely to believe that Hamlet truly did see the ghost of his father. Without these lines, Horatio would appear as just another curious, frightened man like Bernardo and Marcellus, offering no support of Hamlet's later seeings.

3. When will Hamlet arrive? Why is there a ghost? Why will the ghost not speak? Is it really the ghost of King Hamlet? What's the deal with the ghost leaving when the rooster crew?

5. I thought the ghost sightings were interesting. Ghost King Hamlet wandered through the halls but would not speak to Horatio. I am curious as to why he is haunting the castle. Typically in plays, novels, movies, etc. a ghost appears because the person's soul is not at rest (or at least that's how it was in the Haunted Mansion, well I think so at least. I haven't seen it in a while). Therefore, I believe there is something fishy regarding the king's death. Why else would he haunt the castle?