1. Claudius's Proclamation: Claudius's speech upon ascending to the throne conveys his desire to move on from the recent death of King Hamlet and his plans for the kingdom. Although he presents a façade of unity and respect for his late brother, his words hint at his ambitious nature and potential guilt in Hamlet's father's death.
2. Hamlet's Soliloquy: Hamlet's first significant soliloquy reveals his profound grief over his father's death and his disillusionment with his mother's hasty remarriage to Claudius. He expresses a sense of existential despair, questioning the value of life and contemplating suicide.
3. Hamlet's Encounter with the Ghost: In a crucial moment, Hamlet encounters the ghost of his father. The ghost reveals the truth about his murder, which Claudius committed, and implores Hamlet to avenge him. This supernatural event sets the main conflict of the play in motion and presents Hamlet with a moral dilemma.
4. Claudius's Aside: Claudius's private thoughts as he observes Hamlet demonstrate his uneasiness and suspicion of Hamlet's behavior. He suspects Hamlet's potential knowledge of the regicide and feels threatened by his presence.
5. Hamlet's Soliloquy after the Ghost's Departure: After the ghost vanishes, Hamlet reflects on the revelation and grapples with the burden of his impending task. He vows to enact revenge but expresses concern about his own suitability for such a task and the potential consequences.
6. Hamlet's Conversation with Horatio and Marcellus: Hamlet shares the encounter with the ghost with his trusted friends, Horatio and Marcellus. He extracts an oath of secrecy from them and enlists their support in feigning madness to deceive those around him.
These speeches in Act 1, Scene 2 contribute to the establishment of the play's central themes of duty, revenge, betrayal, and the nature of truth. They provide insights into the characters' inner thoughts and motivations, setting the stage for the subsequent developments and conflicts in the play.