The Effectiveness Of The Opening To Hamlet Essay example -- essays res

hamlet is launched extremely well because there is no long drawn prohibited introduction to the plot. The story begins almost immediately with a brief yet concise 5- pellet Act entailing the state of affairs within the Court of Denmark. individually scene contributes to the overall exposition significantly and Act 1 effectively captures the interest of the interview, introduces the key characters, establishes the conflicts and creates and maintains the dominant atmosphere of the play.In Act 1 Scene 1, the audience is instantly shocked into interest by the exchange of short, sharp speeches between the very nervous sentries of the castle. What follows is the audiences discovery of the frequenting appearance of a shade and the sentries plans to have Horatio, a scholar, attempt to communicate with it. The setting for this scene is atop a castle, resting upon cliffs high above the ocean. It is midnight, creating a more sinister atmosphere, apt for by-line story and the medieval tim e period to which it is set. When the ghost finally appears to Horatio and the others, the audience discovers through their inferences that the ghost has a strong likeness to the late power settlement of Denmark. The conversation that follows gives the audience a brief understanding of the current situation in Denmark, involving the details of preparations for war and revelations of conflict with Fortinbras of Norway. Scene 1 therefore serves as part of a good exposition in that it Captures the interest of the audience with the short stabs of nervous speech between the sentries, It introduces the characters of the Ghost, the sentries (Marcellus, Barnardo, Francesco) and Horatio, It establishes the situation with Fortinbras and the appearances of the mysterious Ghost as points of interest and future conflict, And it contributes through mood and setting to the dominant atmosphere of tragedy within the play.Scene 2 jumps to within the castle, where the court mourning for King Hamlet has seemingly just finished and the newly appointed King Claudius is apparently making his first address to his nobility. During this gallant speech, the audience becomes informed that Claudius has get married Hamlets mother, Gertrude, rather hastily after King Hamlets death attention is then drawn to Hamlet, still in dark mourning for his father. He drifts into a soliloquy where he contemplates the act of suicide rat... ...escribes how the murder was performed and implies a plan for revenge to Hamlet involving the feigning of insanity.This scene serves as part of a good exposition in that it deeply captures the attention of the audience with the stunning revelations of Claudius deceit and betrayal of his own blood. The conformation that the ghost is Hamlets father is what first grabs the audiences attention. The expos that follows ensures their captivation within the plot. The scene establishes the impending conflict that will occur between Hamlet and Claudius ulterior on in t he play, due to the light that the ghost has just thrown upon Claudius integrity. The scene contributes to the dominant tragic atmosphere in that there is the realisation that beholding as Hamlet is now on a quest for revenge, there is only one way in which it can end death, which is tragic in itself, but made out to be more so in the play.Act 1 effectively captures the interest of the audience, introduces the key characters, establishes the conflicts and creates and maintains the dominant atmosphere of the play. Each of the 5 scenes contribute significantly to the overall exposition which launches the play extremely well.