dont read this or critique it i have to put it on here

[Zeb Jackson]

i have to put this on modified or im screwed so mods please dont delete this until i tell you to...

Act 1

It starts out on the castle walls were Marcellus and Barnardo think they have seen a ghost of Hamlets father. Horatio then decides to come watch the apparition and ask it a question or two, but the ghost doesn’t answer his questions and he leaves. The ghost reappears later when the three of them are discussing how the old king Hamlet conquered Fortinbras of Norway, and took his land. Horatio tries to ask it another question and then a cock crows and the ghost leaves once again. The three then decide that they will tell Hamlet of the ghost because they believe that the ghost might talk to Hamlet because it looks like his dead father.
Next it goes to the inside of the castle were Claudius is having a party. The party is supposed to be to remember the old king Hamlet, but the real reason for the party is because Claudius is happy because he now is the king and he’s married to the queen. Laertes then asks permission to go to France; Polonius give his consent to Laertes so Claudius grants their request. Later it goes to a place were Hamlet is more or less pouting in his room, and then Claudius and Gertrude go into his room to figure out what is wrong. Claudius thinks it is because the death of his father, but what’s really bugging Hamlet is the fact that his fathers brother in law is now his mother’s husband. From here Hamlet asks if he could go back to school in Wittenberg, and Claudius and Gertrude ask his not to, and he eventually agrees. Then Horatio Marcellus and Barnardo enter and tell Hamlet about the ghost that they have seen.
Next in the beginning of the next scene Laertes is saying goodbye to his sister Ophelia. Laertes warns Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet, because he will eventually become king and wouldn’t be able to have a serious relationship with her. This conversation soon ends, when Ophelia tells Laertes to “practice what he preaches”, and to not worry about her. Polonius then enters and has a discussion with Laertes about how to behave and conduct himself while in France. He tells him how he shouldn’t borrow or lend money, and he shouldn’t get into any arguments because it could make him look stupid, but if he does get into an argument, he should make himself look good. Then before Laertes actually leaves Polonius tells him one last word of advise, and that is if you do the right things for the right reasons you can’t do wrong to anyone else. After Laertes leaves Polonius starts to have a discussion with Ophelia about her relationship with Hamlet, Polonius goes along the same path Laertes did, by telling Ophelia to more or less stay away from Hamlet. Ophelia then tells Polonius that she will obey her father’s request, then they all exit.
The story now moves on to the castle walls again were Horatio was trying to talk to the ghost, this time though they have Hamlet with them. During this there is a party going on in the castle and Hamlet tells Horatio that it’s customary for cannons to be shot off when in honor of the kings health. Soon after this discussion the Ghost appears and Hamlet tries to speak to it. Then the ghost beckons Hamlet to follow him. As Hamlet tries to follow the ghost Marcellus and Horatio try to stop him from continuing on. He follows the ghost out to the castle walls and the ghost tells him about how his uncle killed his dad. The ghost asks Hamlet to revenge his death. Then the ghost leaves. Marcellus and Horatio then enter, and Hamlet has then have sworn that they will not tell them what has happened this night.

Character sketches

Claudius: Brother of the late King Hamlet. He murdered his brother in order to gain his throne. He has also married his sister-in-law. Claudius becomes quite disturbed by Hamlet’s madness and when it becomes apparent that he knows of his crime, Claudius plots repeatedly to have him killed.
Fortinbras: Prince of Norway. His father was conquered by King Hamlet and initially seeks revenge. Ambassadors sent by Claudius are able pacify him. Upon his death, Prince Hamlet names Fortinbras heir to the throne of Denmark.
Francisco, Marcellus, and Barnardo: Danish soldiers entrusted with the watch who first spot the ghost.
Gertrude: Mother of Prince Hamlet, widow of King Hamlet. She is now married to the brother of her late husband who has assumed the throne.
Ghost: The late King Hamlet, doomed to walk the earth by night. He appears to his son to ask that his murder be avenged.
Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, son of Queen Gertrude and the late King Hamlet. He is believed to be mad following the death of his father. He is greatly disturbed by the hasty marriage of his mother to his uncle especially since he considers the relationship to be incestuous. The ghost of his dead father tells him that he was murdered by his brother Claudius and asks him to avenge his death.
Horatio: Friend and confidant of Hamlet. Hamlet shares with Horatio all of his experiences and in the situation involving his father. Horatio is left alive at the end to tell of the events leading to the death of Hamlet, Laertes, Claudius, and Gertrude.
Laertes: Son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. He is sent to France but returns seeking vengeance after the murder of his father. Following the suicide of his sister Ophelia, he challenges Hamlet to a duel. He has agreed to treat his sword with poison so as to ensure the death of the Prince. He is poisoned by his own sword and confesses Claudius' plan to Hamlet as he is dying.
Osric: A courtier.
Ophelia: Daughter of Polonius and love interest of Hamlet. When Hamlet rejects her and eventually kills her father, Ophelia goes mad. She drowns herself in this state. Her death is used by Claudius to enlist the help of her brother in the murder of Hamlet.
Players: People who perform the play for the kingdom
Polonius: Father of Laertes and Ophelia. Advisor to King Claudius. He believes that Hamlet’s madness is caused by his love for Ophelia which he has ordered her not to requite. He is accidentally murdered by Hamlet who has mistaken the eavesdropper concealed by a curtain to be Claudius.
Priest: In charge of Ophelia’s funeral
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Childhood friends of Hamlet. They are recruited by Claudius to first discover the cause of Hamlet’s madness. Eventually, their orders are changed to escort Hamlet to England where he is to be killed. They are killed instead when Hamlet discovers the death order and changes it to apply to them.
Reynaldo: Servant to Polonius.
Voltemand and Cornelius: Courtiers and Ambassadors who prevent an invasion by Fortinbras.