The question of "who's there" will recur in the play, in a different way, especially for Hamlet, as his behavior changes, so that one may wonder if he's the same person.  That will also occur with Ophelia.

The question of "who's there" will recur in the play, in a different way, especially for Hamlet, as his behavior changes, so that one may wonder if he's the same person.  That will also occur with Ophelia.

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Return: [[#001]]

=====01-002=====

=====01-002=====

Bernardo thinks of that phrase, ''long live the king!'' because he yelled it recently during the celebration of the new King's coronation, the same as everybody else was yelling it.  The line is ironic, since, as we'll see in the course of the play, the King isn't going to live much longer.

Bernardo thinks of that phrase, ''long live the king!'' because he yelled it recently during the celebration of the new King's coronation, the same as everybody else was yelling it.  The line is ironic, since, as we'll see in the course of the play, the King isn't going to live much longer.

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Return: [[#003]] - or - [[Scene 1 Extended Notes#003|Extended Note]]

=====01-004=====

=====01-004=====

''now'' - already.  An ironic use of ''now'' to refer to the past; ''now struck twelve'' = already past twelve.

''now'' - already.  An ironic use of ''now'' to refer to the past; ''now struck twelve'' = already past twelve.

''get thee to bed'' - Bernardo doesn't explain why he was so especially careful.  He dismisses that subject, and simply says Francisco should go to bed.  He doesn't tell Francisco that he was so careful partly because of a ghost.  This is part of what informs us that Francisco doesn't know about the Ghost.

''get thee to bed'' - Bernardo doesn't explain why he was so especially careful.  He dismisses that subject, and simply says Francisco should go to bed.  Bernardo doesn't tell Francisco that one reason he was so careful was because of a ghost.  This is part of what informs us that Francisco doesn't know about the Ghost.

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Return: [[#007]]

One keeps in mind the Ghost is in armor, and the men are aware of the possibility of a military attack on Denmark.  Agricultural cliches appear in historical descriptions of lopsided battles, along the lines of "our army went through the enemy like a scythe through a wheat field," or more simply, "we mowed them down."  Horatio can be understood as meaning he feels "defeated" by the Ghost in that "agricultural" way, like he is a weed run over by a harrow.

One keeps in mind the Ghost is in armor, and the men are aware of the possibility of a military attack on Denmark.  Agricultural cliches appear in historical descriptions of lopsided battles, along the lines of "our army went through the enemy like a scythe through a wheat field," or more simply, "we mowed them down."  Horatio can be understood as meaning he feels "defeated" by the Ghost in that "agricultural" way, like he is a weed run over by a harrow.