Hamlet Summary

Main Characters

• Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, son of the late King Hamlet.
• Claudius: Hamlet's uncle, now King of Denmark.
• Gertrude: Hamlet's mother, now married to Claudius.
• Ophelia: Hamlet's girlfriend.
• Polonius: Ophelia's father.
• Laertes: Ophelia's brother.
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Friends of Hamlet from school.
• Horatio: Hamlet’s loyal friend.
• Fortinbras: Prince of Norway.

Plot Overview

Story Setup

• King Hamlet has died before the events of the play.
• Claudius has taken over as King and married Gertrude.
• A ghost resembling King Hamlet appears to soldiers; they decide to inform Hamlet.

Hamlet's Grief and Anger

• Claudius urges Hamlet to stop mourning.
• Hamlet is upset over Gertrude's marriage to Claudius.
• Ophelia is convinced by Polonius and Laertes that Hamlet doesn’t truly love her.

The Ghost's Revelation

• The ghost reveals to Hamlet that Claudius murdered him.
• Hamlet vows revenge and decides to act insane as a strategic ploy.

Ophelia's Report

• Ophelia reports Hamlet appeared to her disheveled and insane.
• Polonius believes Hamlet’s madness is due to Ophelia's rejection.

Claudius’ Plan

• Claudius and Gertrude enlist Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find the cause of Hamlet's behavior.
• Hamlet plans to use a play to gauge Claudius' guilt.

The Play Within the Play

• Actors perform a play mimicking King Hamlet’s murder.
• Claudius’ reaction confirms his guilt to Hamlet.

Hamlet's Hesitation

• Hamlet approaches Claudius but refrains from killing him, fearing Claudius would go to heaven if killed during prayer.

Confrontation with Gertrude

• Hamlet confronts Gertrude about her actions.
• Polonius, hiding, is killed by Hamlet.

Ophelia's Madness and Death

• Ophelia goes mad and eventually drowns.

Laertes’ Return

• Laertes returns, blaming Claudius for Polonius’ death and Ophelia’s madness.

The Final Plan

• Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet in a fencing match.
• Laertes poisons his sword, Claudius poisons a wine cup.

The Duel and Tragic Ending

• Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine and dies.
• Hamlet and Laertes both are wounded by the poisoned sword.
• Laertes reveals Claudius’ plot before dying.
• Hamlet kills Claudius.
• Hamlet dies after urging Horatio to tell the truth.

Conclusion

• Fortinbras arrives to find the Danish royal family dead and claims the throne.

Resources

• For further analysis, see the Hamlet SparkNote on sparknotes.com.
• For modern English translation, see No Fear Hamlet on sparknotes.com.