Hamlet · Chapter
Scene IV explained
On the cold platform of Elsinore, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus await the ghost.
What happens
On the cold platform of Elsinore, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus await the ghost. Hamlet reflects on the king's heavy drinking and its effect on Denmark's reputation. The Ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to follow. Despite warnings from Horatio and Marcellus, Hamlet insists on following the Ghost, driven by fate and a desire for answers.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance vs. Reality
The Ghost appears in a 'questionable shape,' blurring the line between a spirit of health or a goblin damned.
Madness and Melancholy
Horatio fears the Ghost might 'deprive your sovereignty of reason and draw you into madness.'
Fate and Free Will
Hamlet declares 'My fate cries out' as he chooses to follow the Ghost, asserting his destiny.
Characters to notice
- Hamlet
Determined to follow the Ghost despite warnings, reflecting on the king's revelry and the corruption of reputation.
- Horatio
Warns Hamlet about the potential dangers of following the Ghost, fearing it may lead to madness or harm.
- Marcellus
Urges caution and follows Hamlet, remarking that 'something is rotten in the state of Denmark.'
- Ghost
Appears on the platform and beckons Hamlet to a private conversation.
Key passages
“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.”
The king is partying tonight, drinking heavily and dancing wildly, with trumpets and drums celebrating each toast.
Hamlet criticizes Claudius's revelry as excessive and damaging to Denmark's reputation.
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
There is corruption and decay in the kingdom of Denmark.
Marcellus's famous line suggests that the ghostly appearance is a symptom of deeper political and moral corruption.