Hamlet's friends are reluctant to let him follow the ghost due to the Elizabethan belief in the supernatural and fear of ghosts. They worry that the ghost, resembling King Hamlet, might harm him by luring him to a dangerous place, causing him to drown, fall, or become mad. Horatio specifically cautions Hamlet about the ghost's potential to assume a terrifying form that could lead to his madness or death.

In Act 1, Scene 4, Hamlet expresses strong disapproval of the King's drinking and carousing, viewing it as inappropriate and damaging to Denmark's reputation. He compares the custom to a "dram of evil," suggesting it tarnishes virtues and highlights poor character. Hamlet believes the celebration should be more honored in its breach than observance, especially given the recent death of his father. This attitude foreshadows his later discoveries about Claudius's true nature.

In Act 1, Scene 4 of Hamlet, foreshadowing appears when Hamlet encounters the ghost of his father, hinting at his future actions against Claudius and the tragic events to follow. The scene also foreshadows Hamlet's madness and the ghost's influence over him. The mood is tense and apprehensive, highlighted by Hamlet's remark about the biting air and the mysterious, unsettling appearance of the ghost, suggesting corruption in Denmark.

In Act 1, Scene 4 of Hamlet, metaphors illustrate human flaws and existential themes. First, "vicious moles" are compared to servant livery or astrological signs, suggesting defects are inherent or fated. Second, Hamlet likens these flaws to moles tunneling under lawns, undermining reason's defenses. Lastly, Hamlet refers to his father's bones as "canonized," implying holiness, and compares his life to a "pin's fee," highlighting its insignificance.

Hamlet disapproves of the trumpet sounds custom associated with drunken revelry in Denmark. He is disgusted by the practice, especially because it highlights the moral decay he perceives under Claudius's rule. Hamlet believes this custom tarnishes Denmark's reputation, making them known as drunkards. He tells Horatio that it is a custom "more honor'd in the breach than the observance," indicating that it would be more honorable to break the tradition than to continue it.

In Act 1, Scene 4 of Hamlet, the phrase "I do not set my life in a pin's fee" means Hamlet does not value his life highly. He is numb from his father's death and his mother's perceived betrayal, making him fearless about following the ghost. He also believes his immortal soul cannot be harmed by the ghost.

Horatio and Marcellus are against Hamlet following the ghost because they fear it might be a demon or an evil spirit trying to deceive him. Given the Protestant context of the time, ghosts were often seen as malevolent entities. They worry that the ghost might lure Hamlet to his death or drive him to madness, reflecting a broader theme of uncertainty and distrust regarding the ghost's true nature in the play.