Here's a breakdown:
* Setting: The play begins with the guards, Francisco and Bernardo, on watch at Elsinore Castle. The time is shortly after midnight, and the weather is cold and blustery.
* Atmosphere: The scene is filled with a sense of foreboding and mystery. The guards have been seeing a ghost, and they are apprehensive about what it might mean.
* Importance: The first scene sets the stage for the rest of the play, introducing the themes of death, betrayal, and revenge. It also establishes the eerie and supernatural atmosphere that pervades the entire play.