Overview
This summary covers the main events and characters of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," highlighting the central plot, themes of revenge, and the tragic outcomes for the Danish royal family.
The Ghost and Hamlet's Mission
- The ghost of King Hamlet appears at Elsinore Castle, witnessed by guards and Horatio.
- The ghost reveals to Prince Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who became king and married Queen Gertrude.
- The ghost commands Hamlet to seek revenge on Claudius.
Hamlet's Inner Conflict and Feigned Madness
- Hamlet becomes obsessed with avenging his father but delays action due to his contemplative nature.
- Claudius and Gertrude notice Hamlet's strange behavior and recruit Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on him.
- Polonius suggests Hamlet’s madness is due to love for Ophelia, but Hamlet denies affection and urges Ophelia to become a nun.
The Play-Within-a-Play
- Hamlet has a troupe of actors perform a scene mirroring his father's suspected murder to observe Claudius's reaction.
- Claudius's guilty response convinces Hamlet and Horatio of his guilt.
- Hamlet spares Claudius during prayer, fearing sending his soul to heaven.
Escalation and Exile
- Hamlet kills Polonius, mistaking him for Claudius, and is sent to England by Claudius with orders for his execution.
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern accompany Hamlet, unknowingly carrying Claudius's death order for Hamlet.
Tragedy in Denmark
- Ophelia, grieved by her father's death, goes mad and drowns.
- Laertes returns seeking vengeance for Polonius’s and Ophelia’s deaths.
- Claudius plots with Laertes to kill Hamlet using a poisoned sword during a fencing match and a backup poisoned drink.
The Final Act and Aftermath
- Hamlet refuses the poisoned drink, but Gertrude drinks it and dies.
- Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poisoned sword but is wounded himself; he exposes Claudius's plot before dying.
- Hamlet kills Claudius, then dies from his own wounds.
- Fortinbras of Norway arrives, finds the royal family dead, and claims the throne.
- Horatio tells Hamlet’s story, and Hamlet is honored as a fallen soldier.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Revenge Tragedy — a genre focused on protagonists seeking vengeance for a moral or family wrong.
- Elsinore — the Danish castle where the play is set.
- The Ghost — the spirit of Hamlet’s father, motivating the plot.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the major characters and their motivations.
- Study the themes of madness, revenge, and political intrigue.
- Prepare to analyze the significance of the play-within-a-play and the tragic ending.