Volume 33. Tragedy. Prince Hamlet has returned from the University of Wittenberg to the Danish royal court: His father has died unexpectedly, and his brother Claudius, the new king, has soon married Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. Hamlet is deeply affected and disgusted by these events and refuses to participate in the celebratory mood. Hamlet's friend Horatio believes he has seen the ghost of the dead king on the castle walls at night, and indeed, the ghost of Hamlet's father appears to him and confirms what he has already suspected: His father was betrayed and murdered by Claudius. The ghost instructs Hamlet to avenge the murder, sparing his mother. Hamlet now pretends to adopt a strange demeanor. He speaks, seemingly incoherently, in ambiguous sentences that convey both provocation and disgust for the world. Claudius watches him suspiciously.