Hamlet

G E N R E Tragedy, revenge tragedy

P R O T AG O N I S T Hamlet
M AJ O R C O N F L I C T Hamlet feels a responsibility to avenge his fathers murder by his

uncle Claudius, but Claudius is now the king and thus well protected. Moreover, Hamlet
struggles with his doubts about whether he can trust the ghost and whether killing Claudius
is the appropriate thing to do.
R I S I N G AC T I O N The ghost appears to Hamlet and tells Hamlet to revenge his murder;

Hamlet feigns madness to his intentions; Hamlet stages the mousetrap play; Hamlet passes
up the opportunity to kill Claudius while he is praying.
C L I M AX When Hamlet stabs Polonius through the arras in Act III, scene iv, he commits

himself to overtly violent action and brings himself into unavoidable conflict with the king.
Another possible climax comes at the end of Act IV, scene iv, when Hamlet resolves to
commit himself fully to violent revenge.
F AL L I N G AC T I O N Hamlet is sent to England to be killed; Hamlet returns to Denmark

and confronts Laertes at Ophelias funeral; the fencing match; the deaths of the royal family
S E T T I N G ( T I M E ) the late medieval period, though the plays chronological setting is

notoriously imprecise
S E T T I N G S ( P L AC E ) Denmark
F O R E S H AD O W I N G The ghost, which is taken to foreshadow an ominous future for

Denmark
T O N E Dark, ironic, melancholy, passionate, contemplative, desperate, violent
T H E M E S The impossibility of certainty; the complexity of action; the mystery of death; the

nation as a diseased body

M O T I F S Incest and incestuous desire; ears and hearing; death and suicide; darkness and

the supernatural; misogyny

S Y M B O L S the ghost (the spiritual consequences of death); Yoricks skull (the physical

consequences of death)

Act 1 Scene 1
On the guards platform at Elsinore, Horatio waits with Bernardo and Marcellus to
question a ghost that has twice before appeared. The Ghost, in the form of the late King
Hamlet of Denmark appears but will not speak. Horatio decides to tell his fellow student,
Prince Hamlet, about the Ghosts appearance.
Analysis
The supernatural appearance of the ghost on a chilling, misty night outside Elsinore
Castle indicates immediately that something is wrong in Denmark.
His death has upset the balance of nature.
The appearance of the ghost also gives physical form to the fearful anxiety that
surrounds the transfer of power after the kings death, seeming to imply that the future
of Denmark is a dark and frightening one.
Horatio in particular sees the ghost as an ill omen boding violence and turmoil in
Denmarks future, comparing it to the supernatural omens that supposedly presaged
the assassination of Julius Caesar in ancient Rome (and which Shakespeare had recently
represented in Julius Caesar).
Shakespeare establishes that Horatio is a good-humored man who is also educated,
intelligent, and skeptical of supernatural events.
Before he sees the ghost, he insists, Tush, tush, twill not appear (I.i.29). Even after
seeing it, he is reluctant to give full credence to stories of magic and mysticism.
When Marcellus says that he has heard that the crowing of the cock has the power to
dispel evil powers, so that [n]o fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, Horatio
replies, So have I heard, and do in part believe it, emphasizing the in part (I.i.144
146).
Shakespeare uses Horatio to represent the audiences perspective throughout this
scene. By overcoming Horatios skeptical resistance, the ghost gains the audiences
suspension of disbelief as well.
Act 1 Scene 2

In an audience chamber in Elsinore, Claudius the new king of Denmark, holds court.
After thanking his courtiers for their recent support, he dispatches ambassadors to Norway
to halt a threatened to return to France but denies Hamlets request to return to the
university in Wittenberg. Hamlet, mourning for his fathers death, is left alone to vent his
despair at what he regards as his mothers all too hasty marriage to his uncle, Claudius. The
audience learns that the marriage took place within a month of the former kings death.
Horatio, Bernardo and Marcellus arrive and tell Hamlet about the ghost. Hamlet makes
plans to join them that night.
Analysis
Despite Claudiuss efforts, the merriment of the court seems superficial. This is largely
because the idea of balance Claudius pledges to follow is unnatural. How is it possible to

balance sorrow for a brothers death with happiness for having married a dead
brothers wife?
Claudiuss speech is full of contradictory words, ideas, and phrases, beginning with
Though yet of Hamlet our late brothers death / The memory be green, which
combines the idea of death and decay with the idea of greenery, growth, and renewal
(I.ii.12). He also speaks of [o]ur sometime sister, now our queen, defeated joy, an
auspicious and a dropping eye, mirth in funeral, and dirge in marriage (I.ii.812).
These ideas sit uneasily with one another, and Shakespeare uses this speech to give his
audience an uncomfortable first impression of Claudius.
The negative impression is furthered when Claudius affects a fatherly role toward the
bereaved Hamlet, advising him to stop grieving for his dead father and adapt to a new
life in Denmark. Hamlet obviously does not want Claudiuss advice.
This scene hints at the corruption and weakness of the king and his court. The scene also
furthers the idea that Denmark is somehow unsound as a nation, as Claudius declares that
Fortinbras makes his battle plans [h]olding a weak supposal of our worth, / Or thinking by
our late dear brothers death / Our state to be disjoint and out of frame (I.ii.1 8 2 0 ).
[s]omething is rotten in the state of Denmark (I.iv.67). We also see that his mothers hasty
remarriage has shattered his opinion of womanhood (Frailty, thy name is woman, he cries
out famously in this scene [I.ii.146]),
His soliloquy about suicide (O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, / Thaw and resolve
itself into a dew! [I.ii.129130]) ushers in what will be a central idea in the play.
The world is painful to live in, but, within the Christian framework of the play, if one
commits suicide to end that pain, one damns oneself to eternal suffering in hell.
In this scene Hamlet mainly focuses on the appalling conditions of life, railing against
Claudiuss court as an unweeded garden, / That grows to seed; things rank and gross in
nature / Possess it merely (I.ii.135137).
Act 1 Scene 3
In Polonius chambers, Laertes says bye to Ophelia and tells her not to trust Hamlets
promises of love. Polonius joins them, sends Laertes off, and then echoes Laertes warning
to Ophelia, finally ordering her not to see Hamlet again.
Act 1 Scene 4
While Claudius drinks, Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus are visited by the Ghost. It signals to
Hamlet. Hamlets friends try to stop his following the Ghost, but Hamlet will not be stopped.
Act 1 Scene 5
The Ghost tells Hamlet a tale of horror. Saying that he is the spirit Hamlets father, he
determined that Hamlet avenge King Hamlets murder at the hands of Claudius. Hamlet,
horrified, vows to remember and swears his friends to secrecy about what they have
seen.

Act 2 Scene 1
Polonius sends his servant Reynolds to Paris to question Laertess acquaintances. Ophelia
enters deeply disturbed about a visit she as just had from an apparently mad Hamlet.
Polonius decides that Hamlet has been mad insane by Ophelias refusing to see him.
Polonius rushes off to tell the King.
Act 2 Scene 2
Claudius and Gertrude set Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two boyhood friends of Hamlet to
spy on him. When Hamlet enters, he is confronted first by Polonius and the by
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, whom he quickly indentifies as Claudius spies. As
they talk, a company of touring actors enters. Hamlet persuades on of them to
deliver a speech, and recognises, to his shame that he has shown less intensity in
avenging his fathers murder than the actor has done in his performance. Hamlet
hopes that when the players stage the murder of Gonzago for the court, he can
determine whether Claudius is guilty or not.
Act 3 Scene 1
After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern report their failure to find the cause of Hamlets
madness, Polonius places Ophelia where he and Claudius may secretly observe a
meeting between her and Hamlet. Hamlet is at first courteous to Ophelia, but
suddenly he turns on her: he denies ever having loved her, tells her she should go to
a nunnery. After Hamlet exits, Claudius decides that Hamlets erratic behaviour is
not caused by love and announces a plan to send Hamlet on an embassy to England.
Polonius persuades Claudius to take no action until Gertrude talks with Hamlet after
the play, which is scheduled for that evening.
Act 3 Scene 2
Hamlet gives direction to the actors and asks Horatio to help him observe Claudius
reaction to the play. When the courts arrive, Hamlet makes bawdy and bitter
comment to Ophelia. The travelling actors perform, in dumb show and then with
dialogue, a story that includes many elements of Claudiuss alleged stops the play
and rushes out. Hamlet is exuberant that the Ghosts word ahs bee proved true.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern return to tell Hamlet that Claudius is furious and that
Gertrude wishes to see Hamlet at once in her sitting room. Hamlet promises himself
that he will not harm her, though he will speak daggers.
Act 3 Scene 3
Claudius order Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to take Hamlet to England. Polonius tells
Claudius of his plans to spy on Hamlets conversation with Gertrude. Left alone,
Claudius reveals his remorse for killing his brother, and he tries to pray. Hamlet
walks up to him kneeling and draws his sword, but stops to think that if he kills
Claudius now, he will go to heaven. Hamlet decides to kill Claudius when the king is
committing a sin so that Claudius will go to hell instead. After Hamlet leaves,
Claudius rises, saying that he has been unable to pray.

Act 3 Scene 4
In Gertrudes room, Polonius hides behind a tapestry. Hamlets entrance so alarms
Gertrude that she cries out for help. Polonius echoes her cry and Hamlet, think
Polonius to be Claudius, stabs him to death. Hamlet then verbally attacks his mother
for marrying Claudius. In the middle of Hamlets rant, the Ghost returns to remind
Hamlet that his real purpose is to avenge his fathers death. Gertrude cant she the
ghost and pities Hamlets apparent madness. After the Ghost exits, Hamlet urges
Gertrude to abandon Claudius bed. He then tells her about Claudius plan to send
him to England and reveals his suspicions that the journey is a plot against him,
which he decides to counter violently. He exits dragging Polonius dead body
Act 4 Scene 1
Gertrude reports Polonius death to Claudius, who send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to
find Hamlet and the body.
Act 4 Scene 2
Hamlet refuses to tell Rosencrantz and Guildenstern where the body is.
Act 4 Scene 3
Hamlet is brought before Claudius who tell him that he has to leave for England
immediately. When he is alone Claudius reveals that he is sending Hamlet to his
death.
Act 4 Scene 4
Fortinbras and his army cross Hamlets path on their way to Poland. Hamlet finds in
Fortinbrass vigorous activity a model for himself in avenging his fathers murder;
Hamlet resolves upon bloody action.
Act 4 Scene 5
Reports reach Gertrude that Ophelia is mad. Ophelia enters singing about death and
betrayal. After Ophelia has gone, Claudius agonises over her madness and over the
stir created by the return of an angry Laertes. When Laertes breaks in on Claudius
and Gertrude, Claudius asserts his innocence with regard to Poloniuss death. The
reappearance of the mad Ophelia is devastating to Laertes.
Act 4 Scene 6
Horatio is given a letter from Hamlet telling of the princes boarding of a pirate ship and his
subsequent return to Denmark
Act 4 Scene 7
Claudius gets a letter from Hamlet announcing the princes return. Claudius enlists
Laertess willing help in devising another plot against Hamlets life. Laertes agrees to
kill Hamlet with a poisoned rapier in a fencing match. If he fails, Claudius will give
Hamlet a poisoned cup of wine. Gertrude interrupts their plotting to announce that
Ophelia has drowned.
Act 5 Scene 1

Hamlet, returne from his journey comes, upon a gravedigger singing as he digs. Hamlet
tries to find out who the grave is for and reflects on the skulls that are being dug up.
A funeral procession approaches. Hamlet soon realises that the corps is Ophelias.
When Laertes in his grief leaps into her grave and curses Hamlet as the cause of
Ophelias death, Hamlet comes forward. He and Laertes struggle, with Hamlet
protesting his own love and grief for Ophelia.
Act 5 Scene 2
In the hall of the castle, Hamlet tells Horatio how he discovered the kings plot against him
and how he turned the tables on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Orsic enters to as,
on Claudius behalf, that Hamlet fence with Laertes. Hamlet agrees to the contest,
despite his misgivings.
Hamlet is winning the match when Gertrude drinks form the poisoned cup that Claudius
has prepared for Hamlet. Laertess then wounds Hamlet with the poisoned rapier. In
the scuffle that follows, Hamlet forces an exchange of rapiers, and Hamlet wound
Laertes. As Gertrude dies, Laertes, himself dying, discloses his and Claudius plot
against Hamlet. Hamlet kills Claudius. Before Hamlet dies, he asks Horatio to tell the
full story that has led to these deaths and gives Fortinbras his support for the
kingship. After Hamlets death, Fortinbras arrives, claims the crown, and orders a
military funeral for Hamlet.