Key Points of Shakespeare's Hamlet

Oct 17, 2024

Hamlet Summary and Key Points

Main Characters

  • Hamlet: Prince of Denmark, protagonist
  • Claudius: Hamlet's uncle, current King of Denmark
  • Gertrude: Hamlet’s mother, Queen of Denmark
  • Ophelia: Hamlet’s girlfriend
  • Polonius: Ophelia’s father
  • Laertes: Ophelia’s brother
  • Ghost: The spirit of Hamlet’s deceased father
  • Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Hamlet’s school friends
  • Horatio: Hamlet's friend
  • Fortinbras: Prince of Norway

Plot Overview

Act 1

  • Setting: Denmark
  • Inciting Incident: A ghost resembling the deceased King appears to soldiers, who decide to inform Hamlet.
  • Conflict Introduction: Claudius becomes King and marries Gertrude. Hamlet is disgusted by this.

Act 2

  • Subplot: Ophelia is advised by Polonius and Laertes to avoid Hamlet, suspecting his intentions are not genuine.
  • Ghost's Revelation: The ghost reveals to Hamlet that Claudius murdered him, prompting Hamlet to vow revenge.

Act 3

  • Feigned Madness: Hamlet begins acting insane.
  • The Play: Hamlet uses a play to gauge Claudius's guilt. Claudius’s reaction confirms his guilt.
  • Confrontation: Hamlet confronts Gertrude, accidentally kills Polonius.

Act 4

  • Consequences: Claudius sends Hamlet to England with a death warrant.
  • Ophelia’s Madness: After Polonius's death, Ophelia goes mad and drowns.
  • Laertes’s Return: Laertes returns, seeking revenge for his father’s death.

Act 5

  • Graveyard Scene: Hamlet learns of Ophelia’s death.
  • Plot Against Hamlet: Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet.
  • Duel: A fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes is arranged.

Climax and Conclusion

  • The Duel: Laertes wounds Hamlet with a poisoned sword; Gertrude drinks poisoned wine.
  • Deaths: Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and Hamlet die.
  • Resolution: Fortinbras arrives and takes control of Denmark.

Themes and Motifs

  • Revenge and Justice: Central theme as Hamlet seeks to avenge his father's murder.
  • Madness: Explored through Hamlet’s feigned insanity and Ophelia’s real madness.
  • Corruption and Power: Claudius’s usurpation and the moral decay of the Danish court.

Additional Resources

  • For more in-depth analysis, see "Hamlet SparkNote" on sparknotes.com.
  • For a modern English translation, visit "No Fear Hamlet" on sparknotes.com.

This summary captures the key points and themes of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Use it as a reference to understand character motivations and plot progression.