Overview
This summary covers the major events of Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," focusing on Prince Hamlet’s quest for revenge, the resulting tragedy, and the collapse of Denmark’s royal family.
The Ghost’s Revelation and Hamlet’s Mission
- A ghost resembling the late King Hamlet appears at Elsinore Castle.
- Hamlet learns from the ghost that Claudius, his uncle, murdered King Hamlet and married Queen Gertrude.
- The ghost orders Hamlet to avenge his death by killing Claudius.
Hamlet’s Struggle and Feigned Madness
- Hamlet is deeply affected by the ghost’s command and delays taking action.
- He pretends to be mad, causing concern for Claudius and Gertrude.
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet's friends, are sent to spy on him.
- Polonius suggests Hamlet is mad from rejected love for Ophelia, his daughter.
The Play Within the Play and Claudius’s Reaction
- Hamlet arranges for actors to perform a scene mimicking King Hamlet’s murder.
- Claudius’s disturbed reaction to the play confirms his guilt to Hamlet and Horatio.
- Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius while he is praying, fearing he would send him to heaven.
Polonius’s Death and Hamlet’s Exile
- Hamlet kills Polonius, mistaking him for Claudius while confronting Gertrude.
- Claudius sends Hamlet to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, planning Hamlet’s execution.
- Hamlet escapes after pirates attack the ship and returns to Denmark.
Ophelia’s Death and Laertes’s Revenge
- Ophelia, devastated by her father’s death, goes mad and drowns.
- Laertes blames Hamlet for his family’s ruin and conspires with Claudius to kill him.
The Final Duel and Multiple Deaths
- Claudius and Laertes plot to poison Hamlet during a fencing match.
- Gertrude accidentally drinks the poisoned wine and dies.
- Laertes wounds Hamlet with a poisoned blade but is also wounded by it.
- Laertes exposes Claudius’s plot before dying; Hamlet kills Claudius and then succumbs to the poison.
Fortinbras’s Takeover and Resolution
- Prince Fortinbras of Norway arrives to find the Danish royal family dead.
- Horatio recounts Hamlet’s story, and Fortinbras assumes control of Denmark.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Elsinore — The Danish royal castle where the play is set.
- Ghost — Spirit of King Hamlet, demanding revenge.
- Claudius — Hamlet’s uncle and the new king, murderer of King Hamlet.
- Gertrude — Hamlet’s mother and Queen of Denmark.
- Polonius — Lord Chamberlain, father to Ophelia and Laertes.
- Ophelia — Daughter of Polonius, driven mad by grief.
- Laertes — Son of Polonius, seeks revenge for his family.
- Horatio — Hamlet’s loyal friend and confidant.
- Fortinbras — Norwegian prince who claims Denmark at the end.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review character motivations and the sequence of major events.
- Study key themes such as revenge, madness, and political corruption.
- Prepare examples of how Hamlet’s hesitation shapes the play’s outcome.