Hamlet follows Prince Hamlet of Denmark as he grapples with grief, revenge, and existential uncertainty. The play begins with the ghost of King Hamlet appearing to guards at Elsinore Castle. The ghost reveals that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who now rules as king and is married to Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. Prince Hamlet vows to avenge his father.

To confirm Claudius's guilt, Hamlet feigns madness and stages a play reenacting the murder. Claudius reacts guiltily, convincing Hamlet of his treachery. However, Hamlet delays killing Claudius, questioning morality and the afterlife. He confronts Gertrude, accidentally killing Polonius, the king's advisor, who is hiding behind a curtain. Polonius's death drives his daughter, Ophelia, mad; she later drowns, possibly by suicide.

Claudius plots to kill Hamlet, manipulating Laertes, Polonius's son, into challenging him to a rigged duel. During the duel, Laertes wounds Hamlet with a poisoned blade but is also struck. Queen Gertrude drinks poison intended for Hamlet and dies. In the chaos, Hamlet kills Claudius before succumbing to the poison himself. The play ends with nearly everyone dead, and Fortinbras of Norway arriving to take control of Denmark.

Themes of betrayal, mortality, and revenge permeate this iconic tragedy.

Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark and the play's protagonist. He is deeply philosophical, tormented by grief over his father’s death, and driven by a desire to avenge his murder.

King Claudius: Hamlet's uncle and the antagonist. Claudius ascends to the throne after murdering King Hamlet and marries Queen Gertrude.

Queen Gertrude: Hamlet’s mother and the widow of King Hamlet. She marries Claudius soon after her husband’s death, which troubles Hamlet.

The Ghost: The spirit of King Hamlet, who reveals his murder to his son and sets Hamlet on his quest for revenge.

Polonius: The Lord Chamberlain and advisor to Claudius. Polonius is verbose and meddlesome, ultimately killed by Hamlet.

Ophelia: Polonius’s daughter and Hamlet’s love interest. She descends into madness after her father’s death and drowns in what is implied to be a suicide.

Laertes: Polonius’s son and Ophelia’s brother. He seeks vengeance against Hamlet for Polonius's and Ophelia’s deaths.

Horatio: Hamlet’s loyal friend and confidant, who survives to tell Hamlet’s story.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Childhood friends of Hamlet, summoned by Claudius to spy on him. They are manipulated and ultimately killed.

Fortinbras: The Prince of Norway, whose subplot mirrors Hamlet’s. He is poised to take over Denmark at the play’s end.

Osric: A foppish courtier who officiates the duel between Hamlet and Laertes.

Marcellus and Bernardo: Soldiers who first see the ghost of King Hamlet and alert Horatio and Hamlet.

Francisco: A soldier on guard duty at Elsinore Castle.

Gravediggers (Clowns): Two laborers who dig Ophelia’s grave and provide comic relief while discussing mortality.

Reynaldo: Polonius’s servant, sent to spy on Laertes in Paris.

"To be, or not to be: that is the question,"

Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 1

Hamlet reflects on the nature of existence and the fear of the unknown in death.

 

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark,"

Marcellus, Act 1, Scene 4

Marcellus comments on the corruption and moral decay within Denmark's royal court.

 

"The lady doth protest too much, methinks,"

Queen Gertrude, Act 3, Scene 2

Gertrude remarks on the overacting of a character in the play, hinting at her own guilt or obliviousness.

 

"There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so,"

Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2

Hamlet muses on how perception shapes our understanding of morality and reality.

 

"Though this be madness, yet there is method in't,"

Polonius, Act 2, Scene 2

Polonius comments on Hamlet's seemingly nonsensical behavior, suspecting a deeper intent.

 

"Brevity is the soul of wit,"

Polonius, Act 2, Scene 2

Polonius ironically praises conciseness while being overly verbose himself.

 

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio,"

Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1

Hamlet reflects on mortality while holding the skull of a court jester he once knew.

 

"Frailty, thy name is woman!"

Hamlet, Act 1, Scene 2

Hamlet criticizes his mother’s quick remarriage, generalizing his frustration to all women.

 

"The rest is silence,"

Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 2

Hamlet's final words, expressing resignation as he faces death.

 

"Neither a borrower nor a lender be,"

Polonius, Act 1, Scene 3

Polonius gives practical advice to Laertes about managing finances and relationships.

 

Act 1:
The ghost of King Hamlet appears to soldiers at Elsinore Castle. Prince Hamlet is deeply troubled by his father’s death and his mother Gertrude’s quick marriage to Claudius, the new king. The ghost reveals to Hamlet that Claudius murdered him and demands revenge. Hamlet swears to avenge his father but decides to feign madness as part of his plan.

Act 2:
Polonius believes Hamlet’s strange behavior is due to his love for Ophelia and reports this to Claudius. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s childhood friends, are summoned to spy on him. Hamlet becomes suspicious of them and laments his own inaction. Players (actors) arrive at Elsinore, and Hamlet devises a plan to confirm Claudius’s guilt by having them perform a play mirroring King Hamlet’s murder.

Act 3:
The "play within a play" exposes Claudius's guilt when he reacts strongly to the staged murder. Hamlet confronts his mother in her chamber, accidentally kills Polonius (thinking he is Claudius), and is scolded by the ghost for delaying his revenge. Claudius begins to plot Hamlet's death.

Act 4:
Hamlet is sent to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, carrying a sealed order for his execution. He escapes, forging a new order that ensures their deaths instead. Ophelia, devastated by her father’s death, goes mad and eventually drowns. Laertes returns, furious over his father’s and sister’s deaths, and conspires with Claudius to kill Hamlet in a rigged duel.

Act 5:
Hamlet returns to Denmark and reflects on mortality in the graveyard scene, encountering Yorick’s skull. The duel between Hamlet and Laertes is arranged. During the duel, Claudius’s plot unravels: Gertrude drinks poisoned wine meant for Hamlet, Laertes wounds Hamlet with a poisoned blade, and both Laertes and Claudius are killed. Hamlet dies, entrusting Horatio to tell his story. Fortinbras arrives to claim the Danish throne.