Hamlet, Act I, Scene 4

Hamlet
Act I, Scene 4

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The platform.
(Enter HAMLET, HORATIO,
and MARCELLUS.)

HAMLET
The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.

HORATIO
It is a nipping and an eager air.

HAMLET
What hour now?

HORATIO

It is that same night, at about midnight, outside the castle. Hamlet has met with his friend Horatio and Marcellus (one of the guards), and they are hoping for a repeat performance from the ghost.

I think it lacks of twelve.

HAMLET
No, it is struck.

HORATIO
Indeed? I heard it not; then it draws near the season
Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.

They argue over what time it is. Hamlet forgot to wind his Timex, and he knows that any respectable ghost will wait until 12 midnight to make an appearance.

(A flourish of trumpets, and
ordnance shot off, within.)

What does this mean , my lord?

HAMLET

When they hear the noise of trumpets followed by gunshots, they realize that King Claudius is having quite a party inside the castle.

The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse ,
Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels;
And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,
The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out
The triumph of his pledge.

HORATIO
Is it a custom?

HAMLET
Ay, marry, is't:
But to my mind, though I am native here

They recognize these sounds as a traditional "toast," where people drink, and then fire off a gun. Apparently, King Claudius is known to fire off an Uzzi or two when he gets really rip-roaring drunk.

And to the manner born, it is a custom
More honour'd in the breach than the observance.
This heavy-headed revel east and west
Makes us traduced and tax'd of other nations: Hamlet is bitter, as he thinks that this “custom” is becoming too much of a “custom” (lines 39-40). Apparently this is not the first time Claudius has thrown a party. Hamlet believes this ritual has given the entire country the reputation of being a bunch of drunken idiots. After all, if the king is an alcoholic, drunken sot who does nothing but sit around and party, then people might think this is true of others in Denmark, as well.

They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase
Soil our addition; and indeed it takes
From our achievements, though perform'd at height,
The pith and marrow of our attribute.
So, oft it chances in particular men,
That for some vicious mole of nature in them,
As, in their birth--wherein they are not guilty,
Since nature cannot choose his origin--
By the o'ergrowth of some complexion ,
Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,
Or by some habit that too much o'er-leavens
The form of plausive manners, that these men,
Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,
Being nature's livery , or fortune's star,--
Their virtues else--be they as pure as grace,
As infinite as man may undergo--
Shall in the general censure take corruption
From that particular fault: the dram of eale
Doth all the noble substance of a doubt
To his own scandal.

HORATIO
The word "clepe" means "call." Hamlet says that people from other countries already call us "drunkards."

He is worried that Denmark's reputation is ruined. Drunks? Idiots who shoot off guns for no reason? Already, others refer to them as "Bubbas" behind their backs.

Look, my lord, it comes!

(Enter Ghost.)

HAMLET
Angels and ministers of grace defend us!

Horatio interrupts Hamlet's speech. He sees a familiar face approaching. It is the ghost, back for an encore performance.

(Speaking to the ghost.)

Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn 'd,
Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,
Be thy intents wicked or charitable,
Thou comest in such a questionable shape

Young Hamlet tries to speak to the ghost.

That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet,
King, father, royal Dane: O, answer me!
Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell
Young Hamlet calls the ghost by name. "Yoo-hoo!" he says. "Old Hamlet." "Daddy." "Great Dane." "Here, doggie..."

Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death,
Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre ,
Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd,
Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws,
To cast thee up again. What may this mean ,
That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel
Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon,
Making night hideous; and we fools of nature
So horridly to shake our disposition
With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?
The word "cerements" means grave. The word "sepulchre" also refers to a tomb. Hamlet wants to know why the ghost has come out of its grave.

Say, why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?
The word "wherefore" means "why." As in, "Wherefore ask wherefore?"

(Ghost beckons HAMLET.)

HORATIO
Instead of answering, the ghost merely “beckons” to him, indicating that young Hamlet should follow. The ghost will not speak. But, why? Is it a mute? Or, even worse, is it a mime? Horrors.

It beckons you to go away with it,
As if it some impartment did desire
To you alone.

Or, as Horatio suggests, does the ghost have some desire to talk to Hamlet “alone”?

MARCELLUS
Look, with what courteous action
It waves you to a more removed ground:
But do not go with it.

HORATIO
No, by no means.

HAMLET
It will not speak; then I will follow it.

HORATIO
Do not, my lord.

HAMLET
Why, what should be the fear?
I do not set my life in a pin 's fee;
And for my soul, what can it do to that,
Being a thing immortal as itself?

Despite the "courteous" manner displayed by the ghost, Marcellus tries to warn Hamlet that he should not follow it.

(Ghost again beckons HAMLET.)

It waves me forth again: I'll follow it.

HORATIO

When the ghost beckons at Hamlet a second time, Hamlet says he will follow it.

What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,
Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff
That beetles o'er his base into the sea,
And there assume some other horrible form,
Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason
And draw you into madness? think of it:
The very place puts toys of desperation,
Without more motive, into every brain
That looks so many fathoms to the sea
And hears it roar beneath.

Horatio even tells Hamlet that the ghost might “tempt you” with something which might “draw you into madness.” Hamlet is not worried though. After all, he is a Prince.

(Ghost again beckons HAMLET.)

HAMLET
It waves me still.
Go on; I'll follow thee.

MARCELLUS
You shall not go, my lord.

HAMLET

The ghost beckons a third time (there is that #%&$ number again), and finally young Hamlet begins to follow it.

Hold off your hands.

HORATIO
Be ruled; you shall not go.

HAMLET
My fate cries out,
And makes each petty artery in this body
As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.

Marcellus and Horatio both try to keep Hamlet from following the ghost. Obviously, they fear for his safety.

Still am I call'd. Unhand me, gentlemen.
By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me!
I say, away! Go on; I'll follow thee.

(Exeunt Ghost and HAMLET.)

HORATIO

The two are actually physically holding onto Hamlet, and he finally has to threaten them with death, in order to break free. “By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him who (stops) me!” (line 85).

He waxes desperate with imagination.

MARCELLUS
Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him.

HORATIO
Have after. To what issue will this come?

MARCELLUS

After Hamlet leaves, Marcellus and Horatio are left alone.

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

HORATIO
Heaven will direct it.

MARCELLUS

Marcellus tells Horatio that “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Marcellus thinks that something is wrong. This is a famous line, kiddies. It does not refer to the fishing industry.

Nay, let's follow him.

(Exeunt.)

Marcellus and Horatio decide to follow Hamlet. With that, the scene comes to an end.

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Shakespeare for Scholars:	Shakespeare for Everyone Else:
*The platform.* (Enter HAMLET, HORATIO, and MARCELLUS.) HAMLET The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold. HORATIO It is a nipping and an eager air. HAMLET What hour now? HORATIO	It is that same night, at about midnight, outside the castle. Hamlet has met with his friend Horatio and Marcellus (one of the guards), and they are hoping for a repeat performance from the ghost.
I think it lacks of twelve. HAMLET No, it is struck. HORATIO Indeed? I heard it not; then it draws near the season Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.	They argue over what time it is. Hamlet forgot to wind his Timex, and he knows that any respectable ghost will wait until 12 midnight to make an appearance.
(A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot off, within.) What does this mean , my lord? HAMLET	When they hear the noise of trumpets followed by gunshots, they realize that King Claudius is having quite a party inside the castle.
The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse , Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels; And, as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down, The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. HORATIO Is it a custom? HAMLET Ay, marry, is't: But to my mind, though I am native here	They recognize these sounds as a traditional "toast," where people drink, and then fire off a gun. Apparently, King Claudius is known to fire off an Uzzi or two when he gets really rip-roaring drunk.
And to the manner born, it is a custom More honour'd in the breach than the observance. This heavy-headed revel east and west Makes us traduced and tax'd of other nations:	Hamlet is bitter, as he thinks that this “custom” is becoming too much of a “custom” (lines 39-40). Apparently this is not the first time Claudius has thrown a party. Hamlet believes this ritual has given the entire country the reputation of being a bunch of drunken idiots. After all, if the king is an alcoholic, drunken sot who does nothing but sit around and party, then people might think this is true of others in Denmark, as well.
They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase Soil our addition; and indeed it takes From our achievements, though perform'd at height, The pith and marrow of our attribute. So, oft it chances in particular men, That for some vicious mole of nature in them, As, in their birth--wherein they are not guilty, Since nature cannot choose his origin-- By the o'ergrowth of some complexion , Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason, Or by some habit that too much o'er-leavens The form of plausive manners, that these men, Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect, Being nature's livery , or fortune's star,-- Their virtues else--be they as pure as grace, As infinite as man may undergo-- Shall in the general censure take corruption From that particular fault: the dram of eale Doth all the noble substance of a doubt To his own scandal. HORATIO	The word "clepe" means "call." Hamlet says that people from other countries already call us "drunkards." He is worried that Denmark's reputation is ruined. Drunks? Idiots who shoot off guns for no reason? Already, others refer to them as "Bubbas" behind their backs.
Look, my lord, it comes! (Enter Ghost.) HAMLET Angels and ministers of grace defend us!	Horatio interrupts Hamlet's speech. He sees a familiar face approaching. It is the ghost, back for an encore performance.
(Speaking to the ghost.) Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn 'd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou comest in such a questionable shape	Young Hamlet tries to speak to the ghost.
That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father, royal Dane: O, answer me! Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell	Young Hamlet calls the ghost by name. "Yoo-hoo!" he says. "Old Hamlet." "Daddy." "Great Dane." "Here, doggie..."
Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre , Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd, Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws, To cast thee up again. What may this mean , That thou, dead corse, again in complete steel Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon, Making night hideous; and we fools of nature So horridly to shake our disposition With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?	The word "cerements" means grave. The word "sepulchre" also refers to a tomb. Hamlet wants to know why the ghost has come out of its grave.
Say, why is this? Wherefore? What should we do?	The word "wherefore" means "why." As in, "Wherefore ask wherefore?"
(Ghost beckons HAMLET.) HORATIO	Instead of answering, the ghost merely “beckons” to him, indicating that young Hamlet should follow. The ghost will not speak. But, why? Is it a mute? Or, even worse, is it a mime? Horrors.
It beckons you to go away with it, As if it some impartment did desire To you alone.	Or, as Horatio suggests, does the ghost have some desire to talk to Hamlet “alone”?
MARCELLUS Look, with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground: But do not go with it. HORATIO No, by no means. HAMLET It will not speak; then I will follow it. HORATIO Do not, my lord. HAMLET Why, what should be the fear? I do not set my life in a pin 's fee; And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself?	Despite the "courteous" manner displayed by the ghost, Marcellus tries to warn Hamlet that he should not follow it.
(Ghost again beckons HAMLET.) It waves me forth again: I'll follow it. HORATIO	When the ghost beckons at Hamlet a second time, Hamlet says he will follow it.
What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord, Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff That beetles o'er his base into the sea, And there assume some other horrible form, Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason And draw you into madness? think of it: The very place puts toys of desperation, Without more motive, into every brain That looks so many fathoms to the sea And hears it roar beneath.	Horatio even tells Hamlet that the ghost might “tempt you” with something which might “draw you into madness.” Hamlet is not worried though. After all, he is a Prince.
(Ghost again beckons HAMLET.) HAMLET It waves me still. Go on; I'll follow thee. MARCELLUS You shall not go, my lord. HAMLET	The ghost beckons a third time (there is that #%&$ number again), and finally young Hamlet begins to follow it.
Hold off your hands. HORATIO Be ruled; you shall not go. HAMLET My fate cries out, And makes each petty artery in this body As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.	Marcellus and Horatio both try to keep Hamlet from following the ghost. Obviously, they fear for his safety.
Still am I call'd. Unhand me, gentlemen. By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me! I say, away! Go on; I'll follow thee. (Exeunt Ghost and HAMLET.) HORATIO	The two are actually physically holding onto Hamlet, and he finally has to threaten them with death, in order to break free. “By heaven, I’ll make a ghost of him who (stops) me!” (line 85).
He waxes desperate with imagination. MARCELLUS Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him. HORATIO Have after. To what issue will this come? MARCELLUS	After Hamlet leaves, Marcellus and Horatio are left alone.
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. HORATIO Heaven will direct it. MARCELLUS	Marcellus tells Horatio that “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Marcellus thinks that something is wrong. This is a famous line, kiddies. It does not refer to the fishing industry.
Nay, let's follow him. (Exeunt.)	Marcellus and Horatio decide to follow Hamlet. With that, the scene comes to an end.