In light of our discussion on creating conflict within scenes, this resource I found today might be helpful for others who are trying to create those two points tension.
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Pet peeve: Any article that claims to give writing advice and says Hamlet knows the truth about his father’s murder for a long time is suspect, since he finds out the truth about the murder in Act V, Scene 2, line 321, and stabs the King on line 323.
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I thought he heard from his father’s ghost that his uncle killed him while he slept, pouring poison in his ear. Act 1 Scene V.
Ghost
…Now, Hamlet, hear:
'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,
A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark
Is by a forged process of my death
Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth,
The serpent that did sting thy father’s life
Now wears his crown.HAMLET
O my prophetic soul! My uncle!
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Seems that way, but no.
“Be thou a spirit of health, or a goblin damned… Thou comest in such a questionable shape that I will speak to thee.” [1.4.39-45]
It comes “in the same figure, like the King that’s dead.” [1.1.52?]
They don’t know or trust that it’s really the ghost of the King.
If Hamlet did, then what is the play about?
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