Hamlet - Plot

Hamlet Plot - Act 1

Act 1 Scene 1 The setting is Elsinore, the seat of the Danish royal court. On the battlements, the soldiers - Barnardo and Francisco - are talking. Horatio and Marcellus enter. They question the guards as to whether the 'apparition' has reappeared. They have brought Horatio, a courtier, to see the ghost for himself. The ghost appears. The spirit, they see, is the image of the recently deceased King of Denmark. The ghost vanishes and they discuss what they have seen. The spirit was wearing his battle armour. They wonder if this is an omen. Young Fortinbras of Norway has just declared war on the Danes to avenge the death of his father. Perhaps the spirit is a warning about the impending battle. The ghost reappears once more and again vanishes at the sound of a cockerel, because morning approaches. Horatio decides he must inform Prince Hamlet, the son of the former King.

Ac1 1 Scene 2 In the castle, the new King Claudius enters with his new wife, Gertrude, former bride of the previous King Hamlet. Also present are Prince Hamlet, Claudius' adviser, Polonius along with his son Laertes. There are also two ambassadors to Norway. Claudius  explains to the court why he has chosen to marry his dead brother's widow. He says that young Fortinbras may mistake their mourning for weakness, so has moved quickly to stabilise the throne. Claudius dispatches the ambassadors to Norway in order to try and avoid the impending attack.  Laertes asks permission to return to school in France. Polonius and his King agree.  Claudius and Gertrude then turn to Hamlet and point out his sullen behaviour. Hamlet, for his part, is disgusted by the cheerful demeanor of the new King and his Queen. When Gertrude lambasts him for his excessive grief, he reciprocates by chiding her for her lack of respectful mourning.   Claudius  reminds Hamlet that he is next in line to the throne and should, therefore, not return to his school in Germany. (Ironically, Hamlet should now be King, and was surprised to find Claudius on the throne following his father's death.) Gertrude also asks Hamlet to stay. Reluctantly, the Prince agrees. The King and his Queen exit. Hamlet's first soliloquy begins-  Hamlet wonders aloud why he cannot commit suicide, though he wishes to. He feels this way because he is grieved, not only by his father's death, but also what he sees as the incestuous actions of his mother. Though his feelings torment him, he cannot complain to the court. He considers suicide as an escape from his thoughts, but his religion does not permit such an action.  Horatio and the other men enter. Hamlet jokes with his friend, Horatio, that his uncle saved money on the King's funeral so that he could splurge on the wedding banquet. Horatio tells Hamlet they have seen the ghost of his father on the battlements of the castle. Hamlet wants to see this for himself. 

Act 1 Scene 3 In Polonius' rooms, Laertes talks to his sister, Ophelia. He wants her to reject the romantic advances of Prince Hamlet. He harshly explains that Ophelia will never mean much to the Prince. As a member of the royal family, Hamlet will be expected to marry for an alliance, Ophelia will never be his wife and should, he explains, save her virginity. Ophelia accuses her brother of a similar promiscuity, and largely ignores his advice.  Polonius enters. He tells Laertes how he should conduct himself while back in Paris. Polonius then turns his attention to Ophelia and echoes Laertes' advice - that she should avoid Hamlet, because she will never be more than a plaything. Ophelia promises to obey her father's wishes.   

Act 1 Scene 4 Horatio and Marcellus meet Hamlet on the walls of the castle. The men are talking and a trumpet is heard in the background. Claudius is hosting another party. Hamlet rebukes the behaviour of the King. Drunkenness, he claims, is not be to admired and reinforces a Danish stereotype. Suddenly the ghost appears. Hamlet immediately sees that the spirit is that of his father. Old Hamlet beckons his son to follow him. Though Hamlet's friends caution against going alone, Hamlet follows the ghost.

Act 1 Scene 5 Hamlet and the spirit are alone on the wall. The ghost tells Hamlet to listen because he must return to purgatory shortly. Before he gives details, the ghost demands that Hamlet agrees to avenge the murder of the old King. Horrified, Hamlet agrees. The King tells of how Claudius seduced Gertrude and then, one night while old Hamlet was dozing, poured poison - a leperous distilment - in his ear to murder him. This poison robbed the King, not only of his life, but also of the chance to confess before his death, forcing him to walk the Earth as a spirit and endure the prison of Purgatory.  The ghost repeats his request for vengence, but asks that Gertrude be left alone - Heaven will judge his unfaithful wife. The ghost departs and Marcellus and Horatio reenter. Hamlet instructs them to keep the ghost a secret. The Prince will, he tells Horatio, feign madness in order to spy on Claudius and Gertrude. He tells nothing more of the conversation he has just had with his father.  

Hamlet Act 2

Act 2 Scene 1 The scene opens with Polonius and his servant Reynaldo, who he instructing to go to Paris to spy on his son, Laertes. He wants to check whether his son has developed a good or bad reputation while living abroad.  Ophelia enters, shaken. She tells her father that she has just seen Hamlet, his clothes torn, covered in dirt, pale, trembling  - a piteous mess.  Polonius attributes Hamlet's condition to his own success - that Ophelia has rejected the Prince and this has caused his terrible state. He goes to inform Claudius.

Act 2 Scene 2 Claudius and Gertrude are with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. These are two of Hamlet's school friends from Germany whom the King has summoned. He wants them to spy on the Prince and report back to him. Gertrude promises to pay them handsomely, and says it is for the Prince's well-being. The 'friends' agree.  Polonius enters. He claims to know the cause of Hamlet's malaise: Ophelia. Before he can explain, the ambassadors from Norway have returned and must be questioned. Polonius exits and Gertrude dismisses Polonius' theory. She knows her son pines for his father and is against her marriage to Claudius.  Polonius returns with the ambassadors, Voltemand and Cornelius. They bring news from Norway that Denmark is safe, for now. Young Fortinbras has been restrained by his aged uncle. In return, Fortinbras wants safe passage on his way through Denmark to battle the Poles. Polonius uses this opportunity to offer his own thoughts on life & duty. He touches on the subject of the Prince, who he says is mad. Gertrude, who dislikes the adviser, dismisses him.   Before he goes, he produces a rambling letter from Hamlet to Ophelia. He claims this is proof of the Prince's love-sickness and tells, once again, of how he told his daughter to refuse the advances of the prince, which has, he believes, sent him over the edge. Polonius suggests they hide behind a tapestry when the Prince and Ophelia enter to prove him right.  Claudius agrees.  Before that can happen, Polonius wants to speak to Hamlet alone. During this meeting, Hamlet still feigns insanity. His words have Polonius believe he is indeed lovesick, though their double meaning suggests that Hamlet is actually making fun of the limited adviser. Polonius leaves. Enter Rosencrantz and Guildernstern. The Prince wonder why his friends are in Denmark, which he describes as a prison. Eventually, the two confess that they are to spy on the Prince. Hamlet is distraught by the news.  Some actors arrive. They perform a scene to cheers from those present. Afterward, Hamlet speaks with the actors alone. He tells them he wants them to perform a piece called The Murder of Gonzago. He adds that he wants to include a few extra lines to the play. The actors agree.  Alone, Hamlet explains his plan. He has been thinking. Maybe the ghost is really a demon trying to make the Prince commit an unjust murder. Recreating the poisoning  of Old Hamlet, within the play, should draw a response from Claudius, if he is guilty. 'The play's the thing to catch the conscience of the king'.  

Hamlet Act 3

Act 3 Scene 1  The King and Queen question their spies about Hamlet's madness. They say they cannot be sure of his motivations, but that he looking forward to the performance of The Murder of Gonzago due to be staged that evening. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave. Claudius then orders Gertrude to leave so that he and Polonius can spy on the Prince. On her way out, Gertrude speaks to Ophelia, telling her she hopes that she and Hamlet can save their relationship. Polonius orders Ophelia to read, so that it looks like she is alone.  Hamlet enters. Thinking he is alone he wonders aloud about the nature of existence in his 'to be or not to be' soliloquy.  He notices Ophelia. Thinking she is praying, he asks her to pray for him. She tells him she wishes to return his gifts. He denies having given her anything. She explains that the gifts were words of love. Again, he denies the gifts and tells her he has never loved her. She is upset. He tells her that all men are not to be trusted and calls on her to 'get thee to a nunnery.'  He then demands to know the location of her father. She lies and claims he is home. He is enraged. He curses Ophelia and says that all women are deceitful. He leaves.  Claudius and Polonius reveal themselves. Claudius believes Hamlet not to be lovesick. He promises to send the Prince to England. Again, Polonius wishes to spy on Hamlet to get to the bottom of his behaviour. He wants to hide in Gertrude's chambers that evening and wishes the Queen to question the Prince about his malaise. Claudius agrees.

Act 3 scene 2 With the actors now, Hamlet is coaching them on their upcoming performance. Polonius enters announcing the King and Queen.  When everyone is present, Hamlet turns to Horatio, telling him of his plan to show Claudius' guilt through the play. Horatio agrees to watch the King. If there is no reaction, Hamlet will forget about his promise to the ghost.  Hamlet talks with the King and his adviser. Polonius talks about his own acting days, once playing Julius Caesar - murdered by the stabbing of Brutus.  They sit to watch the play. Hamlet chooses to watch from the floor at Ophelia's feet. She confuses the gesture. The actors begin and mime a drama where a King is murdered and the Queen marries the usurper. They then perform the same play, longer and with speech. When Hamlet asks Gertrude for her opinion, she chides the performance of the stage Queen - the lady doth protest too much.' When Claudius asks about the play, Hamlet says it is called 'The Mousetrap'. Ophelia flirts with Hamlet and does not realise she is being mocked by him. In the play, the actors recreate the Hamlet's addition, where the usurper pours poison in the ear of the king. At this, Claudius demands a stop to the drama, feeling too unwell to continue watching. This is the evidence that Hamlet needed.  He know believes the ghost. Hamlet is then ordered to the Queen's chambers. He feigns more madness for the benefit of those present, then leaves. On the way, he steels himself for the task ahead. He will chastise his mother, but not harm her. He will kill Claudius.     

Act 3 Scene 3 Claudius summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. The play has rattled him and he fears the Prince. He orders the 'friends' to bring Hamlet to England. They agree and leave. Polonius enters to tell the King that he will now hide in Gertrude's chambers to eavesdrop on the Prince. he leaves. Alone, Claudius prays. He admits to killing his brother. He realises that his unwillingness to give up the prizes won by this murder will doom him eternally. He asks God to soften his heart, so that he can ask for forgiveness.  Hamlet passes and sees his uncle alone. He knows that this would be a perfect time to exact his revenge. However, he reasons that Claudius is confessing and would therefore not suffer like his father. He would go to Heaven if murdered now. He must wait.  

Act 3 Scene 4 Polonius is in Gertrude's room. He hides behind the arras. He tells Gertrude to be blunt with her son.  Hamlet enters and Gertrude tells him he has insulted his 'father', Claudius. He counters the she has insulted his father, Old Hamlet. They argue heatedly and Gertrude calls out for help. Seeing sudden movement behind the arras, Hamlet takes out his sword and stabs the intruder. He is disappointed o find it is Polonius instead of the King. Hamlet then turns back to his mother and paints a portrait of the man she has swapped his father for. She accuses her of lustfulness and recalls a magnificent vision Old Hamlet, saying that Claudius is nothing more than an infection on the old King's ear. She begs her son to stop.  Old Hamlet's ghost reappears to the Prince. Only he can see the spirit. Hamlet initially thinks that the ghost has returned to demand his vengance, but the spirit is trying to protect Gertrude.  The Queen thinks Hamlet is speaking with himself and is convinced of his madness. He tells her he is not. He wants her to confess her sins and not sleep with Claudius again.  He tells her that the King has ordered him to England and that he doesn't trust Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He says goodnight to his mother and leaves dragging the corpse of Polonius with him.     

Hamlet Act 4

Act 4 Scene 1 Claudius arrives upstairs. He asks Gertrude what has happened and she answers that she has seen a 'horror'. She tells the King that he son is utterly mad and describes how he slay Polonius. Claudius realises that it might have been him. He tells himself he should not have tolerated the Prince's wayward behaviour from the beginning.  He schemes on what to say about the crime. He will banish the Prince and somehow find a way to reveal Polonius' death without the incriminating context that points to himself. 

Act 4 Scene 2 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern track down the Prince and ask him about Polonius' whereabouts. Hamlet answers in riddles and dismisses the two as beneath his need to answer honestly. 

Act 4 Scene 3 At court, Claudius explains that he can't imprison Hamlet for the death of Polonius, because the people like him too much. To avoid a riot, he will, instead, send the Prince into exile.  Guards enter with Hamlet, and the King demands to know the location of Polonius' body. Hamlet answers with more riddles, talking on the nature of death as a great equaliser. He refuses to give up the information saying that the foul stench should reveal the presence of the body within weeks.  Claudius orders his men to take Hamlet to a waiting boat where he will be brought to England. Once alone, Claudius reveals his true plan. The King of England owes him a favour. He wants that favour to be the death of his nephew.

Act 4 Scene 4 On the road, Hamlet sees the armies of Fortinbras heading to Poland. A captain informs the Prince that the two armies are ready to wage war for a piece of land that is worthless. Hamlet wonders again about his procrastination - how these armies are willing to die for an empty piece of earth, while he, with good reason, cannot bring himself to kill his target.

Act 4 Scene 5 A courtier reports to Gertrude that Ophelia has become seriously unwell. At first Gertrude ignores the news, but then agrees to see her. Ophelia enters in a depraved mental state. She rambles and sings and generally acts unhinged. Seeing her, Claudius believes she has been driven mad by the death of her father. He worries about the events of Elsinore lately. Laertes has arrived from Paris and will want retribution for his father.  Laertes bursts in, demanding his father's body. However, he is disarmed when he sees his sister, who is giving out flowers and singing a demented tune. Laertes is worried for her. Claudius privately tells him he will have satisfaction for his father's death. 

Act 4 Scene 6 Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet. It tells of how pirates attacked their ship en route to England. They captured the Prince, but are treating him well, having returned him to Denmark. Hamlet asks Horatio to come to see him. He has news. 

Act 4 Scene 7 Claudius and Laertes tealk. Claudius admits that Hamlet was trying to kill the King when he took Polonius' life. Laertes wonders why Hamlet was not properly punished, though Claudius assures him that he will be.  The two men contrive a plan. Claudius will call for a fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes. Though it will look like sport, Laertes' blade will be sharp. Moreover, Laertes plans to poison the tip of his blade. To be certain, Claudius will also poison Hamlet's wine. The Prince will be sure to die.  Gertrude enters and delivers the unhappy news that Ophelia has drowned. Laertes is distraught. 

Hamlet Act 5

Act 5 Scene 1 Scene opens in a graveyard, where two gravediggers talk about the job they are doing, which happens to be Ophelia's resting place. The two argue about Ophelia's destination. One says she drowned herself and therefore does not deserve a Christian burial. The second disagrees and points to her nobility, saying that her rank merits a proper burial. These gravediggers are the comic relief of the play. Enter Horatio and Hamlet. They talk. The gravedigger tells Hamlet he has been digging graves since the birth of the mad Prince Hamlet, not recognising his Lord. During this time, Hamlet examines the bones around the site. He finds one and asks who it once belonged to. Yorick, the old royal jester, is the answer. 'I knew him Horatio. A fellow of infinite jest', Hamlet famously tells his companion.    The King, Queen and a funeral party approach. Hamlet does not realise it is Ophelia's funeral. Laertes and the priest argue about the lack of full Christian burial rites, while Hamlet secretly listens. When Gertrude throws flowers onto the grave, Hamlet suddenly realises. He reveals himself. He and Laertes argue over who loved Ophelia more and they have to be separated. This is the perfect excuse for Claudius to promote the fencing contest.  

Act 5 Scene 2 Later, Hamlet tells Horatio about the trip to England. Before the pirates attacked, Hamlet found himself restless, and so went to the cabin of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. There he discovered letters from Claudius to the King of England. They ask for England to imprison and behead the Prince of Denmark. Hamlet shows Horatio the letter. Thinking quickly, Hamlet forges fake letters, calling for England to kill the treacherous 'friends' instead. The messengers will bring the letters calling for their own deaths. Hamlet adds this to Claudius' list of crimes and resolves to kill the King before he learns what has happened in England.  Another courtier, Osric, enters. He tells the Prince that he has been challenged to a duel with Laertes. Hamlet accepts. Horatio thinks the duel is a trap, but Hamlet resigns himself to the outcome regardless. The duel begins. Hamlet strikes two early hits with his blunted blade. While this is happening, Claudius poisons the Prince's wine. Gertrude wipes her son's brow and offers him a drink. He refuses, but Gertrude goes to take a sip from the poisoned chalice. Claudius attampts to stop her, but fails.  Laertes moves to strike Hamlet with the poison-tipped sword. While he succeeds, in the confusion, Hamlet and he swap swords. Then Laertes is hit with the poison tip.  The Queen falls. The King tries to claim it is from witnessing the violence of the duel, but the Queen calls out that she has been poisoned.  Furious, Hamlet calls for the doors to be locked. Laertes confesses to the plot and tells Hamlet that he now carries the poisoned blade.  In a fury, Hamlet stabs the King with the poison blade, then forces Claudius to drink the tainted wine. He turns to the ding Laertes. The two men forgive each other, that they may both enter Heaven. Laertes dies. Horatio goes to his Prince. With his last breathes, he asks Horatio to tell his story. Osric reports the arrival of Young Fortinbras. Hamlet wishes the Danish crown to pass to the Norwegian Prince.  Just before he dies, Hamlet says the words 'The rest is silence'. Fortinbras enters with the English ambassadors. They survey the ghastly seen. Horatio explains the events and Fortinbras calls for Hamlet to be given a state funeral.