Shakespeare's opening of 'Hamlet' is one that arouses numerous questions as

the audience is confronted with nervous guards, a sceptical scholar and a

suspicious ghost. The first scene is crucial as it begins to unveil themes, a sense
of atmosphere, triumphs, lies and deceit that foreshadow the later scenes of
'Hamlet'.
In the first act, an air of mistrust and uncertainty is immediately established
through a series of apprehensive interruptions, which take the form of a series of
demands for identification: Stand and unfold yourself and Stand, ho! Who is
there? This, along with the castle walls, eerie midnight darkness, and "bitter
cold" all create a sense of fear and insecurity with the soldier on duty, Francisco,
confessing I am sick at heart. This sickness cannot be attributed simply to the
coldness of the winter night and misery of the castle walls, as heart suggests a
more long-term and fundamental problem. Rather the sick heart gives
imaginative expression to the decay in the state of Denmark. Banardos
dismissive reply of Franciscos somewhat vulnerable confession Have you had a
quiet guard, suggests it is a mutual emotion. This is significant as the play does
not open with the introduction of the eponymous protagonist but with the hint of
the atmosphere of evil ino which he will come. That Hamlet is or will quickly
become a tragedy is indicated from the very first moments.
Moreover, the changing of the guard allows for the creation of increased tension,
as control shifts from one guard to another, and security is momentarily
compromised; the play begins on a tenuous note of vulnerability that is filled
with symbolism as the changing of the guard mirrors the instability within the
political atmosphere of Denmark the transition from one king to another and
the arrival of out valiant Hamlet whose rightful place on the throne has been
usurped.
Additionally, the soldiers who have seen the ghost are convinced of its reality,
though they have no explanation for it. Horatio, is initially a sceptic (tush, tush,
'twill not appear is almost his first line), but as soon as he sees the ghost he
knows that it is more than soldiers' fantasy. He knows enough wisdom to
recognize that it is an omen of evil: It "bodes some strange eruption in our state"
just as the appearance of the dead in the streets of Rome indicated the death of
Julius Caesar. The roman comparison and apocalyptic imagery such as doomday
with eclipse graves stood tenantless and stars with trains of fire allude to
signs of trouble ahead. The appearance of the ghost is interpreted by the
characters as attempting to bear warnings, even though he does not speak, as
Elizabethan theories were that ghosts returning to fulfil some deed left
unperformed in life and to make predictions about the future. The stage direction
it spreads his arms demonstrates the ambiguity of the ghost in the minds of the
characters as it makes no attempt to communicate back. It could be a spirit,
either good or evil, masquerading in the guise of Hamlet. The fact that Horatio
does not treat the supernatural visitor with polite respect but rather challenges it
rather harshly speaks to this ambiguity.
Furthermore, the mixed views that the characters present on the ghost of both
terror through the anti-climax of the tricolon crescendo; tis heretis heretis
gone which demonstrates the power of the ghost in anticipating their actions, as
well as amazement through the use of anaphora; speak to me speak of it stay

and speak, which highlight the characters urgencies to communicate with it

also create an atmosphere in the opening scene which brews anxiety and
dramatic tension from the beginning. Although modern audiences would regard
the ghost as unrealistic and an Elizabethan stage convention, the Elizabethan
audience would view the appearance with more concern as it was instilled with
religiosity. This would elevate the disturbed surrounding created in the plays start
for the Elizabethan audience as the similarities with religion would further justify
and intensify their belief that ghosts were real presences in the world.
Dawn is traditionally a symbol of hope and renewal, of light replacing darkness,
and Marcellus' mention the bird of dawn singeth all night long reinforces the
idea that there is hope for Denmark. The disappearance of the ghost at dawn
when the cock crew emphasizes the idea that the ghost is dark and malevolent,
driven out by brightness. The light of dawn at the end of a dark and frightening
night also gives hope that things will get better in the state of Denmark after a
dark and frightening period of history.