SYNOPSIS OF HAMLET’S ACT-I AND THE SUMMARIES OF THE FIRST TWO SOLILOQUIES.

1. Assignment of Drama – II.
Name: Aleena Farooq.
Roll No. 07.
B.S. English – 6th Semester.
TOPIC: SYNOPSIS OF HAMLET’S ACT-I AND THE SUMMARIES OF THE FIRST TWO
SOLILOQUIES.
¶ Background:
The Tragical History Of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, or, as it's more simply known, Hamlet, is a play
that holds immense importance in English literature. This drama was written by William Shakespeare between
1599 and 1601. The plot is set in the country of Denmark, and the main protagonist is Prince Hamlet.
Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest drama. It is still considered a pioneer in English literature. Several films
and plays have been made as adaptations, featuring many renowned actors.
¶ Synopsis of Act-I:-
Shakespeare's longest play and the play responsible for the immortal lines "To be or not to be: that is the
question:" and the advice "to thine own self be true," begins in Denmark with the news that King Hamlet of
Denmark has recently died.
Denmark is now in a state of high alert and preparing for possible war with Young Fortinbras of
Norway. A ghost resembling the late King Hamlet is spotted on a platform before Elsinore Castle in Denmark.
King Claudius, who now rules Denmark, has taken King Hamlet's wife, Queen Gertrude as his new wife and
Queen of Denmark.
King Claudius fearing Young Fortinbras of Norway may invade, has sent ambassadors to Norway to
urge the King of Norway to restrain Young Fortinbras. Young Hamlet distrusts King Claudius. The King and
Queen do not understand why Hamlet still mourns his father's death over two months ago.
In his first soliloquy, Hamlet explains that he does not like his mother marrying the next King of
Denmark so quickly within a month of his father's death.
Laertes, the son of Lord Chamberlain Polonius, gives his sister Ophelia some brotherly advice. He warns
Ophelia not to fall in love with Young Hamlet; she will only be hurt. Polonius tells his daughter Ophelia not to
return Hamlet's affections for her since he fears Hamlet is only using her.
Hamlet meets the Ghost of his father, King Hamlet and follows it to learn more. Hamlet learns from
King Hamlet's Ghost that he was poisoned by King Claudius, the current ruler of Denmark. The Ghost tells
Hamlet to avenge his death, but not to punish Queen Gertrude for remarrying; it is not Hamlet's place and her
conscience and heaven will judge her. Hamlet swears Horatio and Marcellus to silence over Hamlet meeting the
Ghost.
 What Is A Soliloquy?
The term "Soliloquy" ( so-lil-o-quy) is generally used as a means of character revelation or character
manifestation to the audience or the reader of the drama. Soliloquy is used as a tool or process by which the
dramatist conveys the secret thoughts and/or intentions of the character, to the audience or the reader of the
drama, but; also while doing so, it preserves the secrecy of those thoughts from the other characters of that
drama. A soliloquy is generally made when the character is alone, or when he/she thinks to be alone, in order to
preserve the secrecy from other characters.

2.  What Is The Purpose Of Soliloquy?
 The main purpose of a soliloquy remains to acquaint the audience or the reader, the secret
thoughts and/or intentions that the character is having in his mind.
 It also puts light on the external relationships, thoughts, and the future actions related to the
character and to the other characters of the drama. Hence, it also discloses the feelings, the
thoughts that the character has in his mind for the others.
 Development of Plot:
 Furthermore, the soliloquy also acquaints us of the development of the play with what the
speaker decides to do in his mind. It means that, after having the knowledge of the secret thoughts of
the character, and his/her intentions, we can presume what is next to come.
 Summary:
 A soliloquy means, when a character of a drama/play conveys his/her secret thoughts and/or
intentions to the audience or the readers.
 While doing so, he/she preserves the secrecy of those thoughts/intentions from other characters
of the drama. It just the character and the reader.
 It helps the audience/reader to better understand: the character, his thoughts, his intentions, and
the presumable development of the play.
¶ Summary of Hamlet’s First Soliloquy (Act-I: Scene-II):
The first soliloquy of Hamlet falls in the Act 1, Scene II, after the King Claudius and the Queen
Gertrude urges Hamlet in the open court to cast off the deep melancholy which, as they think, has taken
possession of his mind as a consequence of his father’s death. In their opinion, Hamlet has sufficiently grieved
for his father’s death already. Prior to the soliloquy, the King Claudius and Queen Gertrude makes
announcement to their marriage, as according to them, the court could not afford excessive grief, which further
saddens Hamlet.
Hamlet refers the world as an ‘unweeded garden’ in which rank and gross things grow in abundance. In
the first soliloquy, Hamlet bemoans the fact that he cannot commit suicide. He wishes that his physical self
might cease to exist. He says:
“O that this too too solid flesh would melt,
Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!”
Though saddened by his father’s death, the larger cause of Prince Hamlet’s misery is Queen Gertrude’s
disloyal marriage to his uncle, barely in a month of his actual father’s death. He scorns his mother by saying:
“Frailty, thy name is woman!”
Prince Hamlet mourns that even ‘a beast would have mourned a little longer.’ Hamlet considers this
marriage of his mother, to be an incestuous affair.
This soliloquy shows Hamlet’s deep affection with his beloved father. It also puts light on the character
of the dead King that he was a loving husband and a respected father. This soliloquy also enlightens the fact in
the haste in which Queen Gertrude decides to marry with the dead King’s brother, without mourning for a
respectable period of time.

3. ¶ Summary of Hamlet’s First Soliloquy (Act-I: Scene-V):
Hamlet’s second soliloquy occurs in Act 1, Scene 5, right after the ghost of the dead King, Hamlet’s
father, leaves having charged Hamlet with the duty of taking the revenge upon the murderer of his father:
“foul and most unnatural murder”
The ghost of the dead king tells Hamlet that as he slept in his garden, a villain poured poison into his
ear. The ghost reveals to Hamlet about the murderer by saying:
“The serpent that did sting thy father’s life / Now wears his crown”
It reveals the fact to Hamlet, that actually King Claudius is the real murderer of his dead father. Hamlet
got stunned by the revelation and echoes of the Ghost’s words asking him to remember it.
This soliloquy, as reveals an important secret to Hamlet, carries within the rage and grief of Hamlet. He
is shocked, stunned and in great grief upon the revelation of the fact that his father was rather murdered by
Hamlet’s uncle, than to be naturally died. Hamlet now refers to his mother as the “most pernicious woman”
and to his uncle as a “villain”, a “smiling damned villain”. In the end of the soliloquy, Hamlet swears to
remember and obey the ghost.
This soliloquy holds immense importance and is one of the pivotal pillars in Act 1.