Hamlet: Plot Summary

Full Book Summary

Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, tells the story of a young prince, Hamlet, who returns home to Denmark to attend his father’s funeral. He soon learns that his uncle, Claudius, has married his mother and become the new king. Hamlet is deeply disturbed by this and begins to suspect foul play in his father’s death. His suspicions are confirmed when he meets the ghost of his father, who tells him that he was murdered by Claudius.

Hamlet becomes obsessed with avenging his father’s death and devises a plan to expose his uncle’s guilt. He decides to act insane in order to throw off suspicion and gain access to information that will help him in his revenge. As part of his plan, Hamlet puts on a play that mirrors the circumstances of his father’s murder. Claudius reacts strongly to the play, which convinces Hamlet that he is guilty.

Throughout the play, Hamlet’s relationships with those around him are strained. He is disillusioned with his mother for marrying Claudius, and he becomes estranged from his girlfriend, Ophelia, whom he had once loved deeply. His closest friend, Horatio, remains loyal to him, but even that relationship is tested as Hamlet’s obsession with revenge deepens.

In the play’s climactic scene, Hamlet confronts Claudius with evidence of his guilt. He hesitates to kill him, however, when he sees him praying, believing that if he kills him while he is in a state of grace, his soul will go to heaven. In the end, Hamlet does kill Claudius, but he is mortally wounded in the process.

The play concludes with the deaths of several key characters, including Hamlet himself. Fortinbras, the prince of Norway, arrives in Denmark to find a kingdom in disarray. Horatio tells him the story of Hamlet’s tragic downfall, and Fortinbras orders that Hamlet be given a soldier’s funeral.

Plot Summary by Chapters

Hamlet Act 1: Summary

Act 1, Scene 1: The play opens with two watchmen, Marcellus and Barnardo, speaking about a ghost they have seen on the ramparts of the castle. Horatio, a scholar and a friend of Prince Hamlet, joins them and also sees the ghost. The ghost disappears without speaking, leaving them puzzled.

Act 1, Scene 2: The scene shifts to the court of King Claudius, where he addresses the courtiers and announces his marriage to Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude. Prince Hamlet is present, still grieving the death of his father. Claudius urges Hamlet to stop mourning and advises him to think of him as a father. After the court leaves, Hamlet laments his father’s death and his mother’s remarriage.

Act 1, Scene 3: Laertes, a nobleman and son of Polonius, is about to leave for France. He advises his sister Ophelia to be cautious of her relationship with Hamlet. Polonius enters and gives his son some advice before he leaves. He then speaks to Ophelia and forbids her from seeing Hamlet, suspecting that Hamlet’s love for her may be insincere.

Act 1, Scene 4: On the castle ramparts, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus wait for the ghost to appear again. When the ghost appears, Hamlet follows it, leaving his friends behind. Horatio and Marcellus decide to follow him to make sure he is safe.

Act 1, Scene 5: In another part of the castle, the ghost tells Hamlet that he is the spirit of his father, who was murdered by Claudius. The ghost urges Hamlet to seek revenge and to spare his mother from punishment. The scene ends with Hamlet swearing to avenge his father’s death.

Hamlet Act 1: analysis

Act 1 of Hamlet sets up the main conflicts of the play, introduces the characters and establishes the mood and tone of the play. The opening scene establishes the theme of death, foreshadowing the play’s tragic events. The appearance of the Ghost in the second scene sets off Hamlet’s quest for revenge and introduces the theme of corruption, as the Ghost reveals that he was murdered by his own brother.

In the subsequent scenes, we see Hamlet’s growing sense of anger and frustration, as he struggles with his desire for revenge and his reluctance to act. We also see the conflicting advice he receives from his friends and family members, as they urge him to either take revenge or move on. The character of Polonius is introduced as a comical figure, but also as a manipulative and scheming politician who serves as a foil to Hamlet’s introspective and philosophical nature.

Hamlet Act 2: Summary

Act 2, Scene 1: Polonius sends his servant, Reynaldo, to spy on his son Laertes in Paris. Ophelia enters and tells Polonius that Hamlet has been acting strangely, which Polonius attributes to his love for Ophelia. Polonius and Claudius plan to secretly watch a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia.

Act 2, Scene 2: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet’s childhood friends, arrive at Elsinore. Polonius brings them to Claudius, who asks them to spy on Hamlet and figure out why he has been acting strangely. A troupe of actors also arrives, and Hamlet begins to plot a plan to use them to expose his uncle’s guilt.

Act 2, Scene 3: Polonius gives Reynaldo instructions on how to spy on Laertes in Paris, telling him to insinuate false accusations about Laertes to his acquaintances. Polonius then reads a love letter from Hamlet to Ophelia, which he has intercepted, and concludes that Hamlet is truly lovesick.

Act 2, Scene 4: Hamlet teases Polonius and speaks in riddles to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who fail to understand his true feelings. The players arrive, and Hamlet delivers a famous speech about the power of theater to hold a mirror up to reality.

Act 2, Scene 5: The players perform a play for the court, which Hamlet has modified to include a scene that mirrors his father’s murder. Claudius becomes visibly uncomfortable and storms out of the room, convincing Hamlet of his guilt.

Act 2, Scene 6: Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet telling him that he will stage a performance the next night that will reveal the truth about his father’s death. Hamlet also reveals that he has escaped a plot to have him killed in England and is now on his way back to Denmark.

Act 2, Scene 7: Claudius speaks with a group of courtiers, revealing his fear of Hamlet and his suspicion that he knows of his guilt. He also learns that Hamlet has returned to Denmark and is on his way to the castle.

Hamlet Act 2: analysis

Overall, Act 2 of Hamlet serves to further develop the play’s major themes and conflicts. In Act 2, Scene 1 of Hamlet, where Polonius hires Reynaldo to spy on Laertes highlights, the theme of deception and manipulation, as Polonius seeks to gather information on his son’s behavior. The scene where Hamlet puts on a play that mirrors his father’s murder underscores the theme of revenge and the lengths to which Hamlet is willing to go to avenge his father’s death. The scene where Hamlet confronts his mother Gertrude in her chamber addresses the theme of familial relationships and the complications that arise when trust is broken.

Hamlet Act 3: Summary

Act 3, Scene 1: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern attempt to learn the cause of Hamlet’s melancholy. Polonius reports to King Claudius and Queen Gertrude that he believes Hamlet is lovesick for Ophelia. They agree to test this theory by setting up a meeting between Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet enters, delivering his famous soliloquy, “To be or not to be.” He then sees Ophelia and behaves erratically, telling her to go to a nunnery and suggesting that all women are deceitful.

Act 3, Scene 2: Hamlet arranges for a group of actors to perform a play, “The Murder of Gonzago,” which reenacts the killing of a king by his brother. Hamlet plans to watch Claudius’s reaction to see if he is guilty of killing Hamlet’s father. Polonius informs Gertrude and Claudius of the play and advises Gertrude to speak with Hamlet.

Act 3, Scene 3: Claudius attempts to pray for forgiveness for his sins but is unable to do so sincerely. Hamlet enters, intending to kill Claudius, but hesitates when he sees him praying. Hamlet decides to wait for a more opportune moment to kill Claudius.

Act 3, Scene 4: Gertrude summons Hamlet to her chamber to scold him for his behavior. Hamlet accuses her of being involved in his father’s murder and of being unfaithful to his father. He then hears a noise and stabs Polonius, thinking he is Claudius.

Act 3, Scene 5: Hamlet confronts his mother and accuses her of being complicit in his father’s murder. The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to remind Hamlet of his mission to avenge his death. Gertrude is unable to see the ghost and believes Hamlet to be mad.

Act 3, Scene 6: Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet explaining that he has escaped from the ship taking him to England and is now back in Denmark. The letter also reveals that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will be executed instead of Hamlet.

Act 3, Scene 7: Claudius orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s execution and informs Laertes that he will help him avenge his father’s death. They plan to poison Hamlet during a fencing match.

Hamlet Act 3: analysis

Overall, Act 3 of Hamlet is a turning point in the play, as Hamlet’s actions become more erratic and the tension between him and Claudius reaches a climax. The scene where Hamlet delivers his famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy highlights his inner turmoil and indecision. The subsequent scene with Ophelia, where he speaks harshly to her and accuses her of being dishonest, further underscores his mental state. The scene where Hamlet confronts his mother and accidentally kills Polonius is a key moment in the play, as it marks a decisive shift in the plot and sets up the final act’s events. The confrontation between Hamlet and his mother also reveals the complex nature of their relationship and the Oedipal undertones of the play. The final scene, where Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England and Polonius’s death is discovered, raises the stakes for the remaining acts and sets up the final confrontation between Hamlet and Claudius. Overall, Act 3 serves to deepen the play’s themes of madness, revenge, and the corrupting nature of power.

Hamlet Act 4: Summary

Act 4, Scene 1: Gertrude informs Claudius of Polonius’s death, and Hamlet’s erratic behavior. Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England, with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern as his escorts.

Act 4, Scene 2: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to figure out the reason for Hamlet’s madness, but he outwits them. Hamlet is brought to Claudius, who orders him to depart for England immediately.

Act 4, Scene 3: Hamlet reveals to Horatio that he has discovered a plot by Claudius to have him executed in England. Hamlet devises a plan to switch the execution order with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s, and escape back to Denmark.

Act 4, Scene 4: Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, and his army march through Denmark en route to Poland. Hamlet meets Fortinbras and his army, and is struck by their bravery and determination.

Act 4, Scene 5: Ophelia enters the scene, singing and acting strangely. Laertes returns from France and is furious with the news of his father’s death. He blames Claudius for the murder, and decides to take revenge.

Act 4, Scene 6: Horatio receives a letter from Hamlet, explaining his escape from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and his return to Denmark.

Act 4, Scene 7: Claudius and Laertes discuss the situation, and Claudius convinces Laertes to take revenge on Hamlet during a fencing match. They plan to use a poisoned sword, and also poison a cup of wine as a backup plan.

Act 4, Scene 8: Hamlet meets with Horatio and explains that he has switched the orders for execution. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern will be executed instead of him. Hamlet also reveals that he knows about the plot to kill him during the fencing match.

Hamlet Act 4: analysis

Overall, Act 4 is a pivotal act in the play, as it sets up the final act’s events. In Act 4, Scene 4 where Hamlet meets Fortinbras and his army emphasizes the theme of honor and duty, as Hamlet is impressed by Fortinbras’s willingness to fight for his cause. The scene with Ophelia’s madness highlights the play’s themes of grief and loss. The scene between Claudius and Laertes shows the extent to which Claudius is willing to go to maintain his power, and the lengths to which Laertes will go to avenge his father’s death. Finally, the scenes where Hamlet outwits Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and switches the execution orders demonstrate Hamlet’s intelligence and resourcefulness, as well as his determination to take revenge on Claudius.

Hamlet Act 5: Summary

Act 5, Scene 1: Hamlet, Horatio, and a gravedigger engage in a humorous conversation while digging Ophelia’s grave. Hamlet finds the skull of Yorick, a jester he knew as a child, and reflects on the inevitability of death. Ophelia’s funeral procession arrives, and Laertes jumps into the grave in grief. Hamlet and Laertes argue and are separated. Hamlet reveals to Horatio that he has switched the orders for his and Laertes’ swords, making Laertes’ sword poisoned.

Act 5, Scene 2: Hamlet and Laertes face off in a fencing match, but Laertes manages to wound Hamlet with the poisoned sword. The queen drinks from a poisoned cup meant for Hamlet and dies. Laertes confesses to Hamlet that Claudius is responsible for their plan. Hamlet kills Claudius, fulfilling his revenge, and dies from the poison in his wound. Fortinbras, the prince of Norway, arrives and takes control of the kingdom.

Hamlet Act 5: analysis

Overall, Act 5 brings the play to its tragic conclusion, as the conflicts that have been building throughout the play are finally resolved through death. The scene in the graveyard highlights the inevitability of death, and the contrast between the humorous conversation and the somber occasion of Ophelia’s funeral emphasizes the fleeting nature of life. The confrontation between Hamlet and Laertes in the fencing match is the culmination of their rivalry, and the revelation of Claudius’ guilt brings a satisfying conclusion to the play’s central conflict. The arrival of Fortinbras symbolizes the restoration of order to the kingdom, but it also highlights the futility of Hamlet’s quest for revenge and his tragic end.