Why are the soldiers uneasy in Hamlet Act 1 Scene 1?

Answer 1

Fortinbras son of Fortinbras has sharked up some soldiers in the skirts of Norway to invade Denmark with a view to taking back certain lands which Hamlet father of Hamlet had taken from him. Claudius the King of Denmark is on to him, however, and gets Fortinbras's uncle the king of Norway to stop the invasion. In the meantime, Denmark is ready for the invading army should it arrive.

Answer 2

Denmark is threatened by Young Fortinbras, who is trying to get back some lands lost to King Hamlet in the previous reign. Claudius speculates that Fortinbras has a "weak supposal of our worth", meaning that he doesn't think much of Claudius. However, Claudius proves more than a match for him, not only by making military preparations, but by sending ambassadors to Fortinbras's uncle, the king of Norway and getting him to put a stop to this ridiculous invasion. The diplomatic solution proves highly effective.

Answer 3

A couple of reasons:

1. The army is on alert because Fortinbras with his army "sharked up in the skirts of Norway" is lurking about thinking he'll recapture the lands taken from his father by Hamlet Senior. With war imminent, sentries are likely to get jumpy.

2. There's a ghost lurking about. Bernardo has seen it twice already. That's why, even though it's the sentry's duty to call out "Who goes there?" to anyone moving about, it is Bernardo, the replacement who says, "Who's there?" to the sentry Francisco. Bernardo is even more than usually jumpy.

Answer 4

Denmark is worried about an attack from Norway led by Fortinbras.

Answer 5

the soldiers are uneasy because it is extremely windy and misty and Hamlet has just seen a ghost of his father.

Answer 6

Denmark is threatened by Young Fortinbras of Norway. He wants to take revenge on his father, who was killed by Old Hamlet.

Answer 7

Claudius was aware that Fortinbras was raising an army to attack the Danes. Accordingly, the Danes are preparing a defence.