The presentation of Hamlet’s Denmark is seen for the first time in the opening scene of Hamlet where the two guards enter and the first thing that is said is “who is there?” This immediately sets the mood for the entire work and to some extent what kind of state Denmark is in on high alert, also the darkness and mystery of who is there sets a sinister tone for the work and it also sets an ominous mood for Denmark. It also suggests that Hamlet’s opening scene takes place in the dead of night, as they are unable to identify with each other and are therefore on the brink of who exactly the other person might be.
Also when Bernardo says “long live the king” he shows that he is loyal to the current king of Denmark and in doing so he shows that he is on the side of the other guard. This, while establishing that both guards are on the same side, also shows that there could be an enemy and thus the audience may conclude that Denmark is currently in a state of war. Throughout all of Scene 1 of Act 1 there is stichomythia where both Bernardo and Francisco have alternating lines and there are also blank verses that break when Francisco says “Bernardo?” to which Bernardo responds in the same form of divided blank verses “He”. By using this dramatic technique, it suggests that the lines are pronounced quite quickly one after the other, which suggests that there is some kind of tension between the two guards, which is quite strange since they are only changing shifts and again this suggests the possibility that at that time there is some form of military instability in Denmark that leaves everyone nervous.
In Act 1, scene 1, when Marcelo and the two sentries see the ghost for the first time and see that the ghost looks exactly like the village of the late king “in the same figure as the king who is dead”. Despite this, they see it as a bad omen that perhaps men should have an army in Denmark in response to the recruitment of an army by Fortinbras. Although Fortinbras’ army is supposed to be used against Poland, they fear that it may attack Denmark to exact revenge for their father’s death and reclaim the land their father lost to King Hamlet. This is also supported when they see the ghost in full armor as the old king used to wear “such was the same armor he was wearing”. This again shows the risks Denmark imposes and how it is on the brink of war and the fact that the armor of the old village king is being discussed suggests that the old king was a war king who was a hero to the people and, hence Denmark. is moving from a traditional war site to a more politically and diplomatically Denmark which can be seen when the new King Claudius sends a messenger to the King of Norway instead of facing the army that is preparing to ensure that the army does not attack Denmark but it just happens and goes to Poland.
In act one, scene 4, again, the ghost is seen as an omen about Denmark’s fate when Hamlet tells the ghost: “Be a spirit of health or a cursed goblin,” so this is where Hamlet asks him. to the ghost if it is an omen of good health possibly to Denmark or is it a leprechaun. He then continues by saying “Bring with you melodies from heaven or blasts from hell”, this causes contrast and again an ominous mystery as to whether the ghost here will bring gentle breezes or violent gusts of plague.
Also in scene 1, act 4, Marcelo says “something is rotten in the state of Denmark”, this could refer to a number of things, such as the new king Claudius marrying his brother’s wife and becoming king , or the ghost is also hinted at and that being a harbinger of bad news. Horacio responds to this “heaven will direct him.” This can be seen as Horatio saying that everything that is currently wrong in Denmark in the end, the sky will direct everything too well and that the heavens will make everything right.
In conclusion, the presentation of Denmark in Hamlet is very well done, as it shows how influential people in Denmark affect the country as a whole.
