Hamlet

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragedy that delves into themes of treachery, revenge, moral corruption, and the nature of existence and of death. The play is set in Denmark and follows the story of Prince Hamlet.

The play opens with the ghost of King Hamlet appearing to guards at Elsinore Castle. The ghost reveals to his son, Prince Hamlet, that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who has now taken the throne and married Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. The ghost urges Hamlet to avenge his death.

Hamlet feigns madness to investigate and plots to kill Claudius. His erratic behavior confuses and alarms those around him, including his girlfriend Ophelia, daughter of Polonius, the lord chamberlain. Polonius believes Hamlet’s madness is due to his love for Ophelia. Hamlet often reveals his torment in eloquent soliloquies.

Hamlet stages a play, “The Mousetrap,” enacting his father’s murder to provoke an expression of guilt from Claudius. Claudius’s reaction confirms his guilt to Hamlet, who decides to kill him. However, Hamlet hesitates and misses his chance, killing Polonius instead by mistake when he hides behind a curtain.

Ophelia, stricken by her father’s death and Hamlet’s behavior, descends into madness and drowns. Her brother Laertes returns to Denmark to avenge Polonius’s death. Hamlet returns from exile in England and confronts actual death in a graveyard and Ophelia’s funeral. Laertes conspires with Claudius to kill Hamlet in a rigged duel. They plan to poison the tip of Laertes’s sword and prepare a poisoned drink for Hamlet.

During the duel, both Hamlet and Laertes are wounded by the poisoned sword. Queen Gertrude accidentally drinks the poisoned wine and dies. In his dying moments, Laertes reveals Claudius’s plot. Enraged, Hamlet finally kills Claudius.

Hamlet, dying from the poison, names Fortinbras of Norway as his successor. The play ends with Fortinbras arriving to take control of Denmark and ordering a military funeral for Hamlet.