For two nights, the Ghost of King Hamlet has haunted the soldiers guarding Elsinore castle. On the third night, Horatio joins the watch; when the Ghost appears, however, it does not speak. Horatio surmises that the spirit represents abad omen of Denmark's future. The next day, Claudius addresses the assembled aristocrats at court; he thanks them for helping him to succeed to the throne of Denmark and for permitting his hasty marriage to Gertrude. The king then directs two ambassadors to travel to Norway and resolve the conflict with Fortinbras, who threatens Denmark with war. Claudius next turns his attention to Hamlet, whom he and Gertrude chide for expressing excessive melancholy over his father's death. Once alone, Hamlet describes the depth of his grief and his disgust at Gertrude's marriage to Claudius so.....
