Act 1 Scene 4 Questions

8) In scene 4, what is Hamlet talking about in lines 13-38?

Hamlet says that he doesn’t like the custom of the King drinking and setting off cannons. It makes Denmark look like a bunch of drunks which at the same time makes them look weak.

9) Why doesn’t Horatio want Hamlet to follow the ghost?

Because some times ghosts can be evil spirits and they can either confuse a man into committing suicide or cause him to go mad. And there is no real way of knowing whether or not it is really old King Hamlet’s ghost or an evil spirit.

10) What is Hamlet’s command to the three guards?

He tells them that he is going to go talk to the ghost alone and that they have to let him go. He basically says his life isn’t really worth anything to him, it isn’t worth a “pin’s fee,” so he doesn’t have anything to loose by talking to the ghost.