Hamlet : Summary

Summary

ACT – ONE

The Appearance of King Hamlet’s Ghost at Elsinore Castle: At Elsinore Castle in Denmark, sentinels Barnardo and Francisco are keeping watch through the night. Francisco is about to finish his shift when Marcellus, another guard, arrives along with Horatio. Horatio is a close friend of young Prince Hamlet. As Francisco departs, Marcellus and Barnardo eagerly talk about the ghost they’ve seen twice during their night duties. This ghost closely resembles the late King Hamlet, the father of Prince Hamlet. Horatio, however, is skeptical of their claims. While the sentinels try to convince Horatio that the ghost is real and not a figment of their imagination, the ghost suddenly appears before them. Encouraged by the others, Horatio tells the ghost to speak. The ghost remains silent and vanishes. Disturbed by the encounter, Horatio suggests that the ghost’s presence may foreshadow something ominous for Denmark. He notes that the ghost is wearing the same armor King Hamlet wore when he fought Fortinbras of Norway. Horatio shares the story of how King Hamlet had once fought old Fortinbras over a small piece of land, killed him, and reclaimed the territory. Fortinbras’s son now aims to regain the territory. Horatio advises that they must inform Prince Hamlet of these strange occurrences.

The Current King Claudius Holds Court and Hamlet’s Sorrow: The next day, King Claudius holds court and thanks the people of Denmark for their support after his brother King Hamlet’s death and Claudius’s subsequent marriage to Queen Gertrude. Claudius then shifts his focus to young Fortinbras of Norway, informing the court about his aggressive intentions and military actions. Claudius reveals that he has sent a letter to Fortinbras’s uncle, the current but ailing king of Norway, alerting him to Fortinbras’s plans. Afterward, Claudius turns his attention to Laertes, the son of his counselor Polonius. Laertes asks for permission to return to France where he studies.

Claudius and Gertrude then speak to Hamlet, criticizing him for his prolonged mourning of his father. Claudius urges Hamlet to stop displaying his grief so openly, calling it a sign of weakness. He suggests that Hamlet consider staying in Denmark rather than returning to study in Wittenberg. Hamlet reluctantly agrees to stay.

Left alone, Hamlet expresses his deep sorrow, lamenting that if it weren’t against God’s law, he would consider suicide. He is not only mourning his father’s death but also tormented by his mother’s swift remarriage to Claudius. Hamlet’s brooding is interrupted by the arrival of Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo, who tell him about the ghost they’ve seen. Shocked and intrigued, Hamlet bombards them with questions and decides to join them on their night watch.

Advice to Ophelia about Hamlet: Meanwhile, as Laertes prepares to depart for France, he has a conversation with his sister Ophelia. He warns her to be cautious in her relationship with Hamlet. He reminds her that Hamlet, as a prince, cannot freely choose whom to marry. Ophelia promises to heed her brother’s advice. Polonius (the father of Ophelia and Laertes) enters and, after Laertes departs, echoes Laertes’s warnings to Ophelia. Despite Ophelia’s claims that Hamlet’s love is genuine, Polonius dismisses her feelings and forbids her from seeing Hamlet again.

Hamlet’s Meeting with the Ghost: Later, Hamlet and Horatio join Marcellus on his night watch. As midnight approaches, they hear sounds of festivity from the castle. Hamlet remarks that such behavior has spoiled Denmark’s reputation. He continues to reflect on how a person’s flaws can overshadow their virtues, just as Denmark’s wild celebrations obscure its positive qualities.

Suddenly, the ghost reappears, and Hamlet is stunned to see that it resembles his father. He tells the ghost to speak and explain why it has returned. The ghost signals Hamlet to follow him, which Hamlet eagerly does, despite Horatio and Marcellus warning him against it.

The ghost leads Hamlet to a secluded part of the castle walls and reveals a shocking truth: King Hamlet was not killed by a snake bite as the citizens of Denmark believe. King Hamlet was murdered by his own brother, Claudius, who poured poison into his ears while he slept. The ghost demands Hamlet avenge his death but instructs him not to harm his mother, Gertrude. As the sun begins to rise, the ghost disappears. Hamlet, overwhelmed by grief and fury, wrestles with his emotions in a soliloquy, swearing to carry out the ghost’s command.

Just then, Horatio and Marcellus catch up to him, but Hamlet speaks to them in riddles and cryptic phrases. He makes them swear on his sword to keep silent about what they have witnessed, emphasizing that they must stay loyal no matter how strangely he behaves in the future.

ACT – TWO

Hamlet’s Madness: Polonius, meanwhile, sends his servant Reynaldo to France to secretly inquire about Laertes’s behavior. Ophelia then enters, distressed, and informs Polonius that Hamlet came to her in a state of confusion and madness. Polonius believes Hamlet’s madness is caused by his love for Ophelia, which she has been avoiding as per Polonius’s instructions. Polonius decides to inform King Claudius and Queen Gertrude of Hamlet’s condition.

Claudius and Gertrude want to understand Hamlet’s strange behavior. They enlist Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s childhood friends, to spend time with him and observe his actions. Meanwhile, ambassadors return from Norway with good news: Fortinbras has been ordered by his uncle, the king of Norway, to cease his plans of aggression against Denmark. Fortinbras has agreed to shift his attention to Poland instead.

Polonius informs Claudius and Gertrude that Hamlet’s madness is due to his love for Ophelia. To confirm this theory, they stage a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia while secretly observing from a distance. Later, Hamlet meets Polonius in the hall and speaks to him in a bewildering manner. It leads Polonius to believe Hamlet’s madness is due to Ophelia’s indifference to Hamlet’s love.

Arrival of a Group of Players (Actors) and Hamlet’s Plan: Hamlet is soon approached by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Although they try to hide the true reason for their visit, Hamlet quickly realizes they have been sent to spy on him. They inform him that a group of actors has arrived at Elsinore, which excites Hamlet. Hamlet greets the actors and arranges for them to perform “The Murder of Gonzago” in the court the next night. However, Hamlet wants to write some additional lines to be performed.

Left alone, Hamlet berates himself for his inaction regarding the ghost’s command and decides that he will use the play “The Murder of Gonzago” to observe Claudius’s reaction and test his guilt. The next day, Claudius and Gertrude question Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about their conversation with Hamlet. They have little to report, other than Hamlet’s excitement about the arrival of the actors and his plans for a play that evening. Claudius sends them back to Hamlet to keep an eye on him.

ACT – THRE

Hamlet’s Meeting with Ophelia and Suspicious Claudius: Claudius and Polonius proceed with their plan to spy on Hamlet and Ophelia. They instruct Ophelia to walk into the hall, appearing to read a book, while they hide nearby to observe Hamlet’s reaction.

When Hamlet appears, he is lost in his thoughts and speaks a soliloquy about life, death, and contemplating suicide. However, upon seeing Ophelia, he approaches her. Ophelia tries to return some gifts that Hamlet had given her, but he denies having ever given them. He goes further by declaring that he never loved her, which deeply confuses and hurts Ophelia. Their conversation grows more heated, with Hamlet lashing out in anger, telling Ophelia to go to a nunnery. Hamlet storms off, leaving Ophelia heartbroken.

Claudius and Polonius emerge from hiding, shocked by what they have witnessed. Polonius remains convinced that Hamlet’s madness is due to his love for Ophelia. Claudius, however, believes Hamlet’s erratic behavior signals something more dangerous—something that could threaten his rule. Claudius decides Hamlet must be sent to England for his own safety and the safety of the kingdom. Polonius agrees but suggests one final plan: after the play, Gertrude should speak to Hamlet privately while Polonius listens in from behind a curtain. Claudius agrees to the plan.

The Mousetrap/Hamlet’s Plan to Catch the King’s Conscience: That evening, Hamlet prepares the actors for their performance, which will be presented before Claudius, Gertrude, and the entire court. As the actors leave to get ready, Hamlet is joined by Horatio, to whom he confides his plan to use the play to observe Claudius’s reaction. Hamlet believes that if Claudius reacts guiltily during a scene that mirrors the circumstances of King Hamlet’s murder, it will confirm the ghost’s accusation. As the play begins, the court gathers to watch. The scene that Hamlet altered unfolds, reenacting the murder of a king by poison poured into his ear—just as the ghost described. The performance disturbs Claudius to the point that he abruptly rises from his seat and leaves the hall, ending the play. Hamlet and Horatio exchange looks, convinced that Claudius’s reaction is a sign of his guilt.

After the play, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Hamlet that his mother wishes to speak with him. They try to persuade Hamlet to visit her immediately, but he grows irritated with their interference and dismisses them. Alone once again, Hamlet steels his resolve to confront his mother and fulfill his promise to the ghost.

Hamlet’s Indecision: To Kill Claudius or Not: Meanwhile, Claudius meets with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, telling them that Hamlet is too dangerous and must be sent away to England immediately. The pair agree to escort Hamlet to England. Polonius then informs Claudius that Hamlet is on his way to speak with Gertrude, and Polonius hurries off to hide behind a tapestry in Gertrude’s room, eager to overhear their conversation.

Left alone, Claudius begins to reflect on his guilt. In a soliloquy, he reveals his remorse over King Hamlet’s murder but admits that he is unwilling to give up the rewards of his crime—his crown and Gertrude. He kneels to pray to God for forgiveness, but as he does, Hamlet enters the room, contemplating whether to kill Claudius. Hamlet decides against it, reasoning that if Claudius dies while praying, he may go to heaven. Hamlet resolves to wait for a more damning moment to exact his revenge and leaves.

Hamlet’s Meeting with Gertrude and Killing Polonius: Hamlet proceeds to Gertrude’s chambers. There, he confronts her about her marriage to Claudius. Hamlet grows increasingly angry as he accuses her of betraying his father. Terrified, Gertrude calls for help, and Polonius, hiding behind the tapestry, cries out in response. Thinking it might be Claudius, Hamlet draws his sword and stabs through the tapestry, killing Polonius. When Hamlet realizes he has killed Polonius, he shows little remorse. He scolds his mother for her marriage to Claudius and accuses her of being involved in the murder of King Hamlet. Gertrude, shaken by Hamlet’s harsh words, insists that she was unaware of any plot.

As the tension mounts, the ghost reappears, reminding Hamlet of his mission to avenge his father’s murder and warning him not to lose sight of his task. However, Gertrude cannot see or hear the ghost, and she grows convinced that Hamlet has truly gone mad. Hamlet tries to explain his vision but ultimately shifts his focus back to his mission. Before leaving, Hamlet warns his mother about Claudius and tells her he knows Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are spying on him. He leaves, dragging Polonius’s body with him.

ACT-FOUR

Plan to Send Hamlet to England and Execute Him: Gertrude tells Claudius about her encounter with Hamlet and reveals that Hamlet has killed Polonius. Claudius, now more determined than ever, orders Hamlet to be sent to England immediately. He calls upon Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and bring Polonius’s body to the chapel.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern find Hamlet. Hamlet refuses to reveal where he has hidden Polonius’s body. After a confusing back-and-forth, Hamlet finally agrees to see Claudius. When questioned by Claudius, Hamlet continues to speak in riddles before eventually disclosing the location of Polonius’s corpse. Claudius seizes the opportunity to tell Hamlet that he must leave for England immediately for his own safety. Hamlet agrees and departs. Claudius reveals his true plan: he has sent orders with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern for Hamlet to be executed upon his arrival in England.

On their way to board the ship, Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern encounter Fortinbras’s army as it marches through Denmark on its way to Poland. Hamlet speaks with one of Fortinbras’s captains, learning that they are fighting over a small, insignificant piece of land. Alone, Hamlet reflects on Fortinbras’s determination to fight for honor, comparing it to his own hesitance to take action. This fuels Hamlet’s resolve once more to carry out the revenge the ghost has asked of him.

Ophelia’s Losing Sanity, Laertes’s Return to Denmark, and Hamlet’s Return: Back at Elsinore, Ophelia’s mental state has deteriorated after learning of her father’s death. She visits Gertrude, singing incoherently and handing out flowers. Claudius arrives and is equally disturbed by Ophelia’s behavior. As they discuss the situation, Laertes, who has returned from France, storms into the castle, leading an angry mob. He demands answers from Claudius and Gertrude about his father’s death.

Claudius calms Laertes by explaining Polonius’s death and promising that Laertes will have justice. Just then, Ophelia reappears, still acting irrationally, which only deepens Laertes’s grief and anger. Claudius seizes the moment to manipulate Laertes, convincing him to align with Claudius in seeking revenge against Hamlet.

Meanwhile, Horatio receives letters from Hamlet, delivered by sailors. In the letters, Hamlet explains that on his way to England, pirates attacked their ship, and Hamlet was taken prisoner. The pirates, however, treated Hamlet kindly, and he managed to send letters to both Horatio and Claudius. Hamlet asks Horatio to meet him and help him deliver these letters.

Claudius and Laertes Plan to Kill Hamlet: Claudius and Laertes continue to plot their revenge. When a letter from Hamlet arrives, informing Claudius that Hamlet has returned to Denmark and wants a meeting, they seize the opportunity to devise a plan. Laertes agrees to a fencing match with Hamlet but secretly plans to use a poisoned sword. As a backup, Claudius offers Hamlet a poisoned drink. At that moment, Gertrude enters with tragic news: Ophelia has drowned.

ACT- FIVE

Gravediggers’ Scene: In the final act, the scene shifts to a graveyard where two gravediggers prepare a grave for Ophelia. As they work, they engage in lighthearted banter, discussing death and the nature of the grave they are digging. One of them exits briefly, leaving the other to continue working. Hamlet and Horatio arrive at the graveyard and observe the gravedigger at work. Hamlet strikes up a conversation with him and learns that the grave is for someone recently deceased. The gravedigger reveals that he has been digging graves since the day King Hamlet defeated old Fortinbras, which was also the day Hamlet was born. As they talk, the gravedigger hands Hamlet a skull, which Hamlet discovers belonged to Yorick, the court jester whom he knew and loved as a child. Hamlet reflects on the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life, deeply moved by the sight of Yorick’s skull.

Ophelia’s Funeral: A funeral procession soon approaches, led by Claudius, Gertrude, and Laertes, followed by a coffin. Hamlet and Horatio watch from a distance as they realize the funeral is for Ophelia. Overcome with grief, Laertes leaps into the grave, declaring that he wants to be buried with his sister. Hamlet, in a moment of intense emotion, reveals himself and jumps into the grave as well, claiming that he loves Ophelia more than anyone. The two men begin to fight, but they are pulled apart by those in attendance, and Hamlet leaves the scene. Claudius calms Laertes, telling him that the time for his revenge is near.

Back at Elsinore Castle, Hamlet tells Horatio about the events that occurred during his journey to England. He explains that he discovered a letter carried by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that ordered his execution upon arrival in England. In response, Hamlet rewrote the letter, instructing the English king to execute Rosencrantz and Guildenstern instead. Hamlet expresses no remorse for their fate, viewing them as pawns of Claudius.

Fencing Match/Duel: Osric, a courtier, arrives with a message from Claudius. He tells Hamlet that the king has arranged a fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes, and Claudius has placed a bet on Hamlet’s success. Hamlet, though suspicious, agrees to participate in the duel.

The day of the duel arrives, and the court gathers to watch. Hamlet and Laertes exchange formal pleasantries, and Hamlet apologizes to Laertes for any wrongs he may have done, attributing his actions to his madness. Laertes accepts the apology but remains determined to carry out his plan. The duel begins, and Hamlet strikes Laertes in the first round. Claudius, in a display of false encouragement, offers Hamlet the drink from the poisonous cup of wine, but he declines. In the next round, Hamlet strikes Laertes again. Gertrude, in a celebratory gesture, drinks from the poisoned cup before Claudius can stop her.

Laertes, now desperate, wounds Hamlet with the poisoned sword. During the scuffle, the swords are exchanged, and Hamlet unwittingly wounds Laertes with the poisoned blade. As the duel continues, Gertrude suddenly collapses, succumbing to the poison. In her final moments, she declares that she has been poisoned. Laertes, realizing that both he and Hamlet have been mortally wounded by the poisoned sword, confesses the entire plot. He reveals that Claudius is responsible for the poison and the treachery. Hamlet enraged, stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink from the poisoned cup. Claudius dies quickly, and Laertes, with his dying breath, forgives Hamlet, and the two reconcile. As Hamlet feels his own death approaching, he bids farewell to his mother and asks Horatio to live on and tell his story to the world. Horatio, in deep sorrow, attempts to drink the remaining poisoned wine, but Hamlet stops him, imploring him to survive and bear witness to the tragic events.

At that moment, the sound of drums and trumpets signals the arrival of Fortinbras, who has returned from his campaign in Poland. Fortinbras and the English ambassadors enter, shocked at the sight of the carnage in the hall. Horatio explains what has happened, and Fortinbras expresses his admiration for Hamlet, declaring that Hamlet would have made a great king. Fortinbras orders that Hamlet be given a soldier’s funeral. The play ends with the fall of the Danish royal family and the rise of Fortinbras as the new ruler.