Hamlet, Prince of
Denmark Summary
Hamlet Summary
provides a quick review of the play's plot including every important action
in the play. Hamlet Summary is divided by the five acts of the play and is an
ideal introduction before reading the original text.
Act I.
Shakespeare's longest play and the play
responsible for the immortal lines "To be or not to be: that is the
question:" and the advise "to thine own self be true," begins
in Denmark with the news that King Hamlet of Denmark has recently died.
Denmark is now in a state of high alert and
preparing for possible war with Young Fortinbras of Norway. A ghost
resembling the late King Hamlet is spotted on a platform before Elsinore
Castle in Denmark. King Claudius, who now rules Denmark, has taken King Hamlet's
wife, Queen Gertrude as his new wife and Queen of Denmark.
King Claudius fearing Young Fortinbras of
Norway may invade, has sent ambassadors to Norway to urge the King of Norway
to restrain Young Fortinbras. Young Hamlet distrusts King Claudius. The King
and Queen do not understand why Hamlet still mourns his father's death over
two months ago. In his first soliloquy, Hamlet explains that he does not like
his mother marrying the next King of Denmark so quickly within a month of his
father's death...
Laertes, the son of Lord Chamberlain
Polonius, gives his sister Ophelia some brotherly advice. He warns Ophelia
not to fall in love with Young Hamlet; she will only be hurt. Polonius tells
his daughter Ophelia not to return Hamlet's affections for her since he fears
Hamlet is only using her...
Hamlet meets the Ghost of his father, King
Hamlet and follows it to learn more...
Hamlet learns from King Hamlet's Ghost that
he was poisoned by King Claudius, the current ruler of Denmark. The Ghost
tells Hamlet to avenge his death but not to punish Queen Gertrude for
remarrying; it is not Hamlet's place and her conscience and heaven will judge
her... Hamlet swears Horatio and Marcellus to silence over Hamlet meeting the
Ghost.
Act II.
Polonius tells Reynaldo to spy on his son
Laertes in Paris. Polonius learns from his daughter Ophelia that a badly
dressed Hamlet met her, studied her face and promptly left. Polonius believes
that Hamlet's odd behavior is because Ophelia has rejected him. Polonius
decides to tell King Claudius the reason for Hamlet's recently odd behavior.
King Claudius instructs courtiers
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find out what is causing Hamlet's strange
"transformation," or change of character. Queen Gertrude reveals
that only King Hamlet's death and her recent remarriage could be upsetting
Hamlet.
We learn more of Young Fortinbras'
movements and Polonius has his own theory about Hamlet's transformation; it
is caused by Hamlet's love for his daughter Ophelia. Hamlet makes his famous
speech about the greatness of man. Hamlet plans to use a play to test if King
Claudius really did kill his father as King Hamlet's Ghost told him...
Act III.
The King's spies, Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern report to King Claudius on Hamlet's behavior. Hamlet is eager
for King Claudius and Queen Gertrude to watch a play tonight which Hamlet has
added lines to.
King Claudius and Polonius listen in on
Hamlet's and Ophelia's private conversation. Hamlet suspects Ophelia is
spying on him and is increasingly hostile to her before leaving.
King Claudius decides to send Hamlet to
England, fearing danger in Hamlet since he no longer believes Hamlet is
merely lovesick. The King agrees to Polonius' plan to eavesdrop on Hamlet's
conversation with his mother after the play to hopefully learn more from
Hamlet. The play Hamlet had added lines to is performed. The mime preceding
the play which mimics the Ghost's description of King Hamlet's death goes
unnoticed.
The main play called "The Murder of
Gonzago" is performed, causing King Claudius to react in a way which
convinces Hamlet that his uncle did indeed poison his father King Hamlet as
the Ghost previously had told him... Hamlet pretends not to know that the
play has offended King Claudius. Hamlet agrees to speak with his mother in
private...
King Claudius admits his growing fear of
Hamlet and decides to send him overseas to England with Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern in order to protect himself. Alone, King Claudius reveals in
soliloquy his own knowledge of the crime he has committed (poisoning King
Hamlet) and realizes that he cannot escape divine justice...
Queen Gertrude attempts to scold her son
but Hamlet instead scolds his mother for her actions. Queen Gertrude cries
out in fear, and Polonius echoes it and is stabbed through the arras
(subdivision of a room created by a hanging tapestry) where he was listening
in. Hamlet continues scolding his mother but the Ghost reappears, telling
Hamlet to be gentle with the Queen. For her part, Queen Gertrude agrees to
stop living with King Claudius, beginning her redemption....
Act IV.
King Claudius speaks with his wife, Queen
Gertrude. He learns of Polonius' murder which shocks him; it could easily
have been him. Queen Gertrude lies for her son, saying that Hamlet is as mad
as a tempestuous sea. King Claudius, now scared of Hamlet, decides to have
Hamlet sent away to England immediately... He also sends courtiers and spies
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to speak with Hamlet to find out where Hamlet
has hidden Polonius' body so they can take it to the chapel.
Hamlet refuses to tell Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern where Polonius' dead body is hidden. He calls Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern lapdogs revealing his true awareness that they are not his
friends. Hamlet agrees to see King Claudius.
Hamlet continues to refuse to tell
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where Polonius' body is. Hamlet is brought
before the King. The two exchange words, clearly circling each other, each
aware that the other is a threat. Hamlet tells King Claudius where Polonius body
is. King Claudius ominously tells Hamlet to leave for England supposedly for
Hamlet's own safety. With Hamlet gone, King Claudius reveals his plans for
Hamlet to be killed in England, freeing King Claudius from further worry from
this threat...
Young Fortinbras marches his army across
Denmark to fight the Polish. Hamlet laments that he does not have in him the
strength of Young Fortinbras, who will lead an army into pointless fighting,
if only to maintain honor. Hamlet asks himself how he cannot fight for honor
when his father has been killed and his mother made a whore in his eyes by
becoming King Claudius' wife.
The death of Polonius leaves its mark on
Ophelia who becomes mad from the grief of losing her father. Laertes storms
King Claudius' castle, demanding to see his father and wanting justice when
he learns that his father, Polonius has been killed. King Claudius remains
calm, telling Laertes that he too mourned his father's loss...
Horatio is greeted by sailors who have news
from Hamlet. Horatio follows the sailors to learn more... King Claudius
explains to Laertes that Hamlet killed his father, Polonius. Deciding they
have a common enemy, they plot Hamlet's death at a fencing match to be
arranged between Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes learns of his sister Ophelia's
death by drowning...
Act V.
Hamlet and Horatio speak with a cheerful
Clown or gravedigger. Hamlet famously realizes that man's accomplishments are
transitory (fleeting) and holding the skull of Yorick, a childhood jester he
remembered, creates a famous scene about man's insignificance and inability
to control his fate following death.
At Ophelia's burial, the Priest reveals a
widely held belief that Ophelia committed suicide, angering Laertes. Hamlet
fights Laertes over Ophelia's grave, angered by Laertes exaggerated emphasis
of his sorrow and because he believes he loved Ophelia much more than her
brother.
Hamlet explains to Horatio how he avoided
the death planned for him in England and had courtiers' Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern put to death instead. Hamlet reveals his desire to kill King
Claudius.
Summoned by Osric to fence against Laertes,
Hamlet arrives at a hall in the castle and fights Laertes. Queen Gertrude
drinks a poisoned cup meant for Hamlet, dying but not before telling all that
she has been poisoned.
Hamlet wins the first two rounds against
Laertes but is stabbed and poisoned fatally in the third round. Exchanging
swords whilst fighting, Hamlet wounds and poisons Laertes who explains that
his sword is poison tipped.
Now dying, Hamlet stabs King Claudius with
this same sword, killing him.
Hamlet, dying, tells Horatio to tell his
story and not to commit suicide. Hamlet recommends Young Fortinbras as the
next King of Denmark. Young Fortinbras arrives, cleaning up the massacre. Horatio
promises to tell all the story we have just witnessed, ending the play.
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