The scene is set outside a castle, where there is a change in shift taking place. The play starts with a question “Who’s there” as Barnardo and Francisco see a ghost of the dead king. This puts the two sentinels on edge and are eager to switch with the other two sentinels Horatio and Marcellus. Francisco leaves and Barnardo stays to explain to the two guards about the ghost they saw, but Horatio doesn’t believe him “Horatio say ’tis but our fantasy” and “Tush, Tush ’twill not appear”. Barnardo tries to convince him that this ghost exists but he doesn’t have to in the end as the ghost appears before his eyes. They try to get Horatio to talk to the ghost but the ghost dissapears, the ghost seems to be of the old king. They think that this is a sign that of impending war and increasing militarisation of Denmark.