Scene 1: Bernardo and Francisco are doing guard duty at the castle. They run into Horatio and Marcellus. Horatio doesn't believe that there is a ghost. They all sit and wait while Bernardo tells about the sighting from the night before. At the same time as the night before, the ghost who looks like the dead king of Denmark reappears. They order it to speak but seem to offend it. Horatio thinks that seeing the ghost king in battle armor is a bad sign for the country. Marcellus wants to know why it seems that the castle is preparing for war and Horatio explains that Fortinbra's son, Fortinbra, wants back the land his father lost. The men discuss omens that seem to predict war. The ghost comes back and is about to speak, but the rooster crows and it disappears. Marcellus and Horatio go to tell Hamlet what has happened.
Scene 2: Claudius, the King of Denmark, says that he mourns the elder Hamlet's death, but has married his ex sister in law and now worries about the matter at hand; Fortinbra's threats. Claudius has written to the King of Norway, who is also Fortinbra's Uncle to get him to get control of young Fortinbra. He has Cornelius and Voltemand deliver the letter. Laertes decides to go back to France with the permission of his father, Polonius. Hamlet's grief about his fathers death makes him want to leave the country, but his mother convinces him to stay. Hamlet is not happy with the decision though, and disapproves of his mother's marriage to his Uncle so soon after his father's death. While Hamlet is moping Horatio comes and delivers the news about the ghost of his father. They describe exactly what happened to them to Hamlet. Hamlet then asks about the ghosts facial expression. He wants to know whether it was frowning or not and what exactly the face looked like. When convinced it looked like his father, Hamlet decides to watch tonight with the other guards. He makes them promise to keep anything they see a secret.
Scene 3: Laertes is departing and tells his sister that she should be careful with Hamlet; he is just flirting with her and it will fade away. He says that he may love her now, but his commitments to his country may overpower his love for her. While Laertes is still at the dock his father comes back. He gets double blessing from his father and also a list of life lessons that he should remember. Polonius then asks his daughter Ophelia what Laertes meant with his warning about Hamlet. Polonius then preaches to Ophelia about how Hamlet is a player and his love is that of a teenage boy. He also says that she needs to spend less time with him, because people may start calling her easy.
Scene 4: Horatio and Hamlet discuss the ruckus the King is making with all of his drinking as they wait for the ghost to appear. The ghost appears and Hamlet begs it to tell him why he is dressed in battle armor and back from the grave. The ghost motions for Hamlet to follow it. The others tell Hamlet not to go, because they ghost may draw him to his death. Hamlet decides to go anyway and tells them that anyone who tries to stop him will be killed. Hamlet goes and against his orders, Marcellus and Horatio follow.
Scene 5: The ghost tells Hamlet to listen very carefully to him. He can not tell him the secrets of the after life, but he does tell him to get revenge on his murder. The ghost informs Hamlet that the "snake" that bit him in the orchard was really his uncle. The ghost is disappointed that his wife fell to lust and left him so soon. He tells the story of how the uncle poured poison into his ear as he slept, and that's what killed him. He tells Hamlet to seek revenge how he sees fit. Morning then comes so the ghost has to leave. Horatio and Marcellus find Hamlet. Hamlet refuses to tell them what was discussed, because that is between him and the ghost. Hamlet and the ghost make the boys swear by the sword to never tell what they have seen tonight.
The first act includes a lot of things that would fit under the psychological criticism. First, the men see the ghost. When anyone sees a ghost they are temporarily stunned and have the need to bring order and sense to what they saw. They immediately try to figure out why the ghost is there to help them cope with the fact that they just saw a ghost. Hamlet has many psychological problems after the death of his father. He is depressed and angry at his mother and uncle. He despises his uncle for stealing his mother away so soon after the funeral. He is bent on getting revenge on his uncle, because it is an outlet for his hatred. When Hamlet sees the ghost, it becomes an excuse for him to get revenge. The ghost may not have been telling the truth, but it is what Hamlet wanted to hear, so he listened. The ghost gave Hamlet a reason to go kill his uncle, so Hamlet accepted the ghosts words even though he has little information on him.
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