Hamlet+1.1

4. When Horatio says, "Stay! speak! speak! I charge thee, speak!" you can hear the eagerness in his tone to understand who the ghost is and why it is here (1.1.61). However, his forthrightness scares away the prescence who is presumed to be the desceased King Hamlet. The ghost's exit is significant because it shows that the ghost has humanly qualities and it feels intimidated. Another line that I like addresses the time of day as Marcellus states, "The bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, the nights are wholesome" (1.1.175-177). This is significant because the scene takes place during an ambiguous time between night and dusk, where the ghost appears.

6. It is clear that the guards view Horatio as a very intelligent man and convince him to try to communicate to the ghost and explain its prescence. Horatio listens to Barnardo's story and he displays a great amount of gusto when adressing the ghost, but once assured of its existence he becomes more fearful like Marcellus. Marcellus states, "Tis gone. We do it wrong, being so majestical, To offer it the show of violence, For it is in the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery" (1.1.156-160). Marcellus feels as though they acted wrongfully towards the ghost. In the beginning of the scene the dynamic between the characters is as though Horatio is superior, but after experiencing the ghost for himself with the other men, they all become equalized.

8. The stage direction, "//It spreads his arms,//" is an extremely ambiguous action displayed by the ghost (1.1.139). The fact that the ghost may in fact have a physical effect on Horatio heightens the fear associated it. It is unclear exactly how the ghost manipulates Horatio's body and his purpose for doing so. It is also interesting how when Horatio asks if the ghost has a voice, it doesn't respond; however, a bird crows instead. The ghost itself is ambiguous since it seems to have physical control, but is unable to make sounds at this point