Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 3 SUMMARY

It's time for Act 1 / Scene 3! Hooray. This scene is short and sweet. It focuses mainly on Ophelia, Laertes, and their father. We are introduced to Ophelia, and we get to see how she interacts with her brother and father.

3 Sentence Summary: Laertes is leaving for France. He says goodbye to Ophelia and tells her not to trust Hamlet's promises of love. Polonius enters, sends L'art on his way, and quickly tells Lady O the same warnings as her brother, going so far as to forbid her to see Hamlet again.

"Ay, Springes to Catch Woodcocks" (Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 3, Polonius Speech #2)

Polonius also lectures Ophelia. After she reveals that Hamlet has been very affectionate to her, Polo Shirt warns her in the same way as L'art--that Hamlet's affections are not to be trusted.

"Don't talk to him, okay?"

"Yet Here, Laertes?" (Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 3, Polonius Speech #1)

Polo Shirt has arrived. Polonius is Laertes and Ophelia's father, and a close adviser to the king. He enters the scene as any doting father does: lecturing Laertes.

"Think It No More" (Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 3, Laertes Speech)

It's L'art time, everyone. He makes his first appearance (longer than three lines) in Act 1 / Scene 3. Laertes gives a long speech at the beginning of Scene 3, warning his sister, Ophelia, away from Hamlet.

Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 2 SUMMARY (Part 2)

PART 2. Yep, that's right. We aren't done with Act 1 / Scene 2 yet. Just to recap:

6 Sentence Summary: Claudius, the new king of Denmark, thanks his subjects for their support, updates them about foreign affairs with Norway, and announces his marriage to Queen Gertrude. Laertes, the son of one of Claudius' advisers, gets permission to return to France. Gertrude and Claudius speak with Hamlet (he's finally here!) and they ask him to cease his continuous mourning of his father's death. After everyone leaves, Hamlet laments his mother's marriage and the speed at which it occurred. Horatio and the guards arrive and tell Hamlet of their sightings of the dead king's ghost. Hamlet decides he will watch for the ghost with them that night and try to speak to it.

If you'd like to read Part 1 of the summary, click here.

Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 2 SUMMARY (Part 1)

It's summary time! I know you're all excited. So, let's get on with Act 1 / Scene 2, AKA the arrival of Hamlet.

6 Sentence Summary: Claudius, the new king of Denmark, thanks his subjects for their support, updates them about foreign affairs with Norway, and announces his marriage to Queen Gertrude. Laertes, the son of one of Claudius' advisers, gets permission to return to France. Gertrude and Claudius speak with Hamlet (he's finally here!) and they ask him to cease his continuous mourning of his father's death. After everyone leaves, Hamlet laments his mother's marriage and the speed at which it occurred. Horatio and the guards arrive and tell Hamlet of their sightings of the dead king's ghost. Hamlet decides he will watch for the ghost with them that night and try to speak to it.

"Frailty, Thy Name is Woman" (Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 2, Hamlet Monologue #1)

Hamlet gives several long and very important monologues in the span of the play (about 4 to 5, I believe). The first of these appears in Act 1 / Scene 2. Besides the "to be or not to be" monologue, this one is probably my favorite. It's witty, angry, and overall a very important moment for us to view Hamlet's inner thoughts.

"You know I don't like being the third wheel, Mother."

"Our Chiefest Courtier, Cousin, and Our Son" (Hamlet - Act 1 / Scene 2, Claudius Speech #2)

Claudius' second speech of Act 1 / Scene 2 is crucial. This speech occurs right before Hamlet's first monologue of the play, and it is also amid the first conversation that Hamlet and Claudius have in the span of the show.