Hamlet
(William Shakespeare)

Short Synopsis

Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is visited by his late father's Ghost who tells him he was murdered. The murderer, Hamlet's Uncle Claudius, who is now the King of Denmark and married to his mother, Gertrude, had poisoned Hamlet's father while he slept. Hamlet is ordered to take revenge for his murder, but his indecision, madness and his Uncle's political plots keep Hamlet from acting on his impulse for vengeance until it threatens the entire royal family and leads to a bloody end.

Detailed Synopsis

At Elsinore Castle in Denmark two sentinel Guards, Barnardo and Francisco, are frightened. Barnardo tells Francisco to go to bed as it is almost midnight. He swaps with Horatio and Marcellus. The three men talk about the Ghost two of them have seen walking the halls for a few nights. Horatio is there to verify what they have seen is real. The Ghost appears to them. The men ask Horatio if he thinks the Ghost looks like the dead King of Denmark. He does. Horatio asks the Ghost questions, but it does not answer and leaves. The men believe this is a bad omen for the state of their country and for the future. Marcellus asks why everyone seems to be on edge and if it is because the young Fortinbras has come to challenge the King of Denmark for the territory the dead King Hamlet took from him. The Ghost re-enters but once again says nothing to Horatio. It seems like it might speak, but the rooster crows to signal the coming dawn and startles it. They decide to find the younger Hamlet to tell him what they've seen.

Claudius, Gertrude, Hamlet, Polonius, Polonius' son, Laertes, and daughter, Ophelia, and many Lords are gathered in the throne room. Claudius is sad that his brother is dead, but feels the best way to mourn is to carry on with life. He is happy that he has married Gertrude, his late brother's wife. Claudius calls Voltemand and Cornelius, two ambassadors, and tells them to take a letter to Fortinbras' Uncle, the King of Norway, to request he interfere with Fortinbras' plans to attack Denmark. They leave to take the letters to Norway.

Laertes asks for Claudius' permission to go back to France. He has Polonius' permission as well, but only because he has asked so many times. Laertes is allowed to go.

Hamlet is sorry he has so little family to show him kindness now, especially after his mother's marriage to his Uncle. Claudius wants to know why Hamlet is so depressed. Hamlet assures him he is happy. Gertrude echoes Claudius' worries for Hamlet. Hamlet admits he is upset about his father's death, but that doesn't seem to have stopped his own mother from remarrying so quickly. Claudius complements him on his grief, but points out that everyone has lost a father at some point. Hamlet agrees to stay at Elsinore Castle and not go back to school. Claudius thinks this is evidence of Hamlet's love for him. Everyone but Hamlet leaves the room.

Hamlet wishes there were no laws against suicide. He can't believe that his father has only been dead for two months, and his mother is remarried already. King Hamlet was so good to Gertrude, but scarcely a month had gone by before she agreed to marry his brother. Hamlet doesn't think he can talk about it with anyone though. He should keep quiet.

Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo enter and tell Hamlet about the Ghost of his father. Hamlet doubts that they could see the Ghost's face if it was armoured from head to toe, but Horatio assures him it was the late King. Hamlet will stand guard with them that night to see if the Ghost comes back. He makes the other men promise not to tell anyone else what they have seen.

Laertes and Ophelia talk about Hamlet's flirtatious behaviour. Laertes doesn't think Hamlet loves Ophelia, and she is to be careful with herself. Hamlet might love her now, but he is young and part of the royal family. His decisions are not his own to make. Polonius enters. He gives Laertes some advice: he is to be careful, make the best judgements, spend all he can on clothes but not on rich or gaudy ones, and not to lend money to anyone as this can lead to loss of friendship. Laertes says goodbye and then leaves. Polonius adds to Laertes' advice about Hamlet to Ophelia. He orders her to spend less time with him and make herself harder to get to. Ophelia thinks he has made true vows to her, but Polonius disagrees. Ophelia will do as her father tells her.

On the gun terrace of Elsinore Castle, Horatio, Hamlet and Marcellus wait for the Ghost to appear. It does. Hamlet asks the Ghost to reveal why he has returned and what they can do to help him. The Ghost waves to Hamlet. He wants Hamlet to follow him. The other men don't want him to go, but Hamlet thinks this is fate. He leaves with the Ghost. Marcellus and Horatio decide to follow in case the Ghost makes Hamlet do something awful.

Hamlet and the Ghost talk. The Ghost reveals how he was murdered—Uncle Claudius poured poison into his ear while he slept. Hamlet must take revenge for his murder, but he must not hurt Gertrude. He must leave Gertrude to God's wrath. The morning approaches and the Ghost has to leave. Hamlet vows to take revenge in his father's name.

Marcellus and Horatio enter and ask Hamlet if he is alright. Hamlet can't tell them everything, but makes them vow not to say anything about what they have seen. They can't even hint that they know what's wrong with Hamlet.

Polonius and his servant, Reynaldo, discuss Laertes. Polonius wants Reynaldo to go to France and find out who Laertes spends time with and what he does while he is there. Reynaldo is not to rely solely on gossip, however. He is also to go and see Laertes for himself. Reynaldo leaves. Ophelia enters, frightened by Hamlet's behaviour. He came into her room with his clothes half on and stared at her for a long time. Polonius thinks Hamlet has gone mad with love for her, and they need to tell the King. He wishes he had better judgement than to force Ophelia to refuse him, as Hamlet was obviously not just flirting with her.

Claudius, Gertrude, and servants enter the court room with two of Hamlet's old friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. They have been called to Elsinore to help Hamlet out of his depression and find out why he is so upset. Gertrude thanks them for their help, and sends them off with a servant to find Hamlet.

Polonius announces the arrival of Ambassadors from Norway and that he may know the reason for Hamlet's madness. The Ambassadors announce that the King of Norway has ordered Fortinbras to stop what he was doing. He immediately called off his army, and was rewarded with another army to lead into Poland. The King of Norway has asked for Claudius' permission for the army to march across Denmark and assures them of Denmark's safety. Claudius likes this news.

Polonius reveals that Ophelia was given a love letter from Hamlet, and has been courted by him. Polonius, doing his fatherly duty, warned Ophelia against Hamlet, and she refused him and sent his letters back. Claudius wonders if this is the reason Hamlet is depressed. Polonius suggests that they should “accidentally” have Hamlet and Ophelia meet to see how Hamlet reacts.

Hamlet enters, reading a book. Polonius tells Gertrude and Claudius to go away so he can talk to Hamlet alone. Hamlet claims not to recognize Polonius, who he calls a fishmonger. If Polonius has a daughter, he should not let her walk around by herself just in case she becomes pregnant. Polonius takes this mention of his daughter as a sign that Hamlet is still in love with her. He leaves Hamlet so he can go and arrange a meeting between him and Ophelia.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern arrive. After exchanging lewd jokes about their fortunes, Hamlet presses them to tell him why they are there and if Claudius has summoned them. He reminds them of their love and friendship for one another. Guildenstern admits they were sent for. Hamlet knows that they are here to try and cheer him up. Rosencrantz reveals that a company of actors are on their way to entertain Hamlet. They debate about the state of the local theatre: Hamlet is amazed to hear that child actors are the current fashion in theatre, but then Denmark as a whole is in such a bad shape that it is hardly surprising.

Trumpets sound and Polonius enters. Hamlet, in a series of asides to Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, teases Polonius for the way he talks and acts. Polonius announces the arrival of the actors. Hamlet welcomes them all and marvels at how some of them have grown beards. The First Player asks Hamlet what he would like to hear. Hamlet and the Player recite a part from a play detailing Priam's murder. Hamlet stops him after a while—he will hear the rest later. Hamlet orders Polonius to see to the actors' needs as a bad reputation will hurt the royal family. They should be treated well. Just before they leave, Hamlet asks the First Player if he could learn a new speech for the play tomorrow. Hamlet will write it. The First Player will do so, and then follows the actors and Polonius out.

Hamlet sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern out. Hamlet wonders how monstrous it could be for an actor to be able to conjure tears over something pretend while he still can't take revenge for his father's murder. He wonders if the Ghost was a devil trying to tempt him and decides he needs more evidence before he takes his revenge. He will watch for Claudius' reaction to the play closely to see if he appears guilty for the King's murder.

Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern gather. Claudius doesn't understand why Hamlet is so upset and mad. Neither Rosencrantz or Guildenstern have been able to get Hamlet to admit what is wrong with him. They have invited a group of actors to put on a play. Hamlet has specifically requested the King and Queen attend the play. Claudius is happy for this and sends the two friends to Hamlet to get him more excited about the play.

Claudius tells Gertrude she needs to leave too as he and Polonius have arranged for Hamlet and Ophelia to bump into one another by “accident”. Claudius and Polonius will hide and watch Hamlet's reaction to see if it is his love for Ophelia that has sent him into madness. Gertrude hopes the plan works and then leaves. Polonius orders Ophelia to read from a prayer book so that she looks lonely. They hear Hamlet coming and hide from view.

Hamlet wonders if it would be better to be alive or dead, and if putting up with all the suffering you experience while alive is worth it. He wonders if death is just like going to sleep for a long time. He sees Ophelia and asks her to remember him while she prays. Ophelia has things to hand back to him now that Hamlet has rejected her. Hamlet used to love her, and then changes his mind and insists he never loved her. He orders her to get herself to a convent so she will not give birth to anymore sinners. It might have been best if Hamlet had never been born at all either, as he is only filled with the need for vengeance. Hamlet wonders where Polonius is. Hamlet tells her to get herself to a convent. If she marries, even if she keeps her reputation as an innocent, she will still end up with a bad reputation in the end. Hamlet leaves her. Ophelia is sad that Hamlet has changed so much. She used to admire him. Claudius doesn't think Hamlet was ever in love with Ophelia. Claudius doesn't even think Hamlet sounds that mad and suspects he might be up to something. He will send Hamlet to England to get them to repay their debts to Denmark. Polonius still believes that Hamlet is mad because of unrequited love and requests Gertrude talk to him while Polonius listens in. Claudius agrees.

Hamlet and the actors enter. He tells them to perform the speech he has just taught them. The actors leave to get ready. Polonius, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz enter. Hamlet asks them if the King and Queen are attending. They are. Hamlet tells Polonius and the others to go help the actors prepare. Horatio enters. Hamlet begs him to watch for Claudius' reactions to the play to see if the Ghost was right or if he was a devil trying to tempt Hamlet. Horatio will do this.

Trumpets play and the audience, including Claudius and Gertrude, enter. Claudius asks him how he is, and Hamlet deflects, answering the question with nonsense. Hamlet and Polonius talk about a role Polonius once performed—that of Julius Caesar who was killed by Brutus. Hamlet sits beside Ophelia as it is an attractive place to sit. They talk about his happier mood. Hamlet shouldn't see why he wouldn't be happy, with his father dead and his mother remarried so soon. He has not forgotten his father but will shed his mourning clothes soon enough.

The play begins. The Player-King tells the Player-Queen that she will have to remarry soon as he thinks he will die. The Player-Queen would never remarry as it would be as if she had killed her own husband. If she does end up remarrying, she hopes the Earth will refuse her food. The Player-King asks her to leave so he can sleep. She does.

Hamlet asks if Gertrude is enjoying the play. Gertrude thinks the Player-Queen is over-acting. Claudius asks if anything offensive is in the play. Hamlet tells them to not care too much: after all, they have nothing to be guilty about. Lucianus, the Player-King's nephew, appears on stage. He pours poison into the Player-King's ears. Hamlet tells the audience that the nephew will win the Player-Queen's heart soon. Claudius stands up and orders for light. He needs to get away. Everyone leaves except for Hamlet and Horatio.

They discuss that the Ghost was right all along. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter: they are worried about Hamlet. Hamlet teases them—they are trying to play him like they might play an instrument. They tell him Gertrude wants to see him. Polonius also enters and asks Hamlet to go see his mother. He knows that they are trying to trick him, but he will go. They leave Hamlet alone for a moment. Hamlet will not harm Gertrude, but that won't stop him from attacking her with words.

Claudius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talk about Hamlet. Claudius doesn't like the way he is acting. He will send the two men with Hamlet to England. They will take care of him. They leave Claudius alone. Polonius enters to report that Hamlet will visit Gertrude soon. While they do, Polonius will hide behind the tapestry in her bedroom so he can listen in. He will report to Claudius what has been said after the meeting. Polonius leaves.

Claudius is guilty for the crimes he has committed, but at times doesn't feel his guilt. He tries to pray for forgiveness, but finds he can't put the emotion he needs to into the prayers. At the same time, Hamlet enters and sees Claudius alone and unprotected. He considers taking his revenge then and there, but Claudius would go straight to Heaven as he has prayed for forgiveness. He should kill Claudius while he is committing a sin, so he faces the same fate as his late father. Hamlet leaves.

Polonius tells Gertrude what she should and shouldn't say to Hamlet when he comes: she needs to let him know his behaviour has upset the King. She will do as she is asked. Polonius hides behind the tapestry. Hamlet enters—he knows exactly why Gertrude has called for him. She tells him he has insulted his father, but Hamlet throws the insults back at her: she has done the same. He wishes Gertrude were not his mother. She worries he might kill her and cries out for help, but Hamlet only wants to show her what she has truly become. Polonius echoes her cries for help. Hamlet stabs his sword through the tapestry, hoping that Claudius is behind it. He kills Polonius. Gertrude doesn't know what she has done to be talked to this way. Hamlet is amazed she doesn't: her marriage is a sin. Even the Heavens are angry at her. Hamlet wonders why she married a villain after loving such a kind and gentlemanly man as his father. The Ghost enters, and Hamlet asks it what it wants. Gertrude can't see it and is upset that Hamlet is crazy enough to be talking to the thin air. The Ghost leaves. Gertrude calls him mad. Hamlet isn't mad—he can repeat every word he just said. Hamlet orders her to live a virtuous life and not to sleep with his Uncle again. He also begs her not to let Claudius persuade her Hamlet is mad when he is not. He reminds her that he is to go to England with the two friends he trusts least, wishes Gertrude a good night and drags Polonius off.

Claudius, Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern talk. Gertrude ask Hamlet's two friends to leave so she can talk in private with her husband. Gertrude tells him about Polonius' murder. He will ship Hamlet off to England under the cover of night, and he will have to try and explain the murder to the public as an accident. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern re-enter. Claudius orders them to help find Polonius' body and bring it to the chapel.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ask Hamlet where the body is. Hamlet answers in nonsense. He calls them fools. Hamlet orders them to take him to the King right away.

Claudius enters with servants. He tells them he has sent more men to find Polonius' body. He can't lock Hamlet up because the public adore him, even if he has murdered someone. Rosencrantz enters—they can't find out where the body is, but they have brought Hamlet to him. Claudius orders Hamlet to be brought in. Claudius asks where Polonius' body is. Hamlet tells him he is being eaten by worms, and then reveals there will be a smell in the upstairs main hall in around a month. Claudius sends servants to check there. Claudius tells Hamlet that he must send him away to England for his own protection. Hamlet says goodbye and leaves.

Claudius tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to follow Hamlet and make sure he gets on the ship. Everyone but Claudius leaves. He admits he hopes that the King of England does as he has been asked and executes Hamlet as soon as he arrives in England.

At the Danish border, Fortinbras and a Captain enter with an army. Fortinbras tells the Captain to send the King his greetings and ask for permission to cross Denmark. Everyone except the Captain leaves. Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter. Hamlet asks the Captain where the army is going to. He reveals they are off to Poland to fight for a small bit of territory no one actually wants. Hamlet thinks this is the main problem with war: small arguments can lead to larger ones until many people die. The Captain leaves. Rosencrantz asks Hamlet to come with him. He will in a moment. Everyone leaves Hamlet alone. Hamlet wonders what kind of man he is: he wants to take his revenge, but is still too afraid to do so, and in the meantime an entire army marches to fight for something they don't honestly care for. If he cannot pull himself together to take his revenge, his thoughts are for nothing.

At Elsinore Castle, Horatio, Gertrude and a Gentleman enter. Gertrude refuses to talk to Ophelia. The Gentleman reports that Ophelia truly needs to talk to Gertrude. She beats her chest, won't stop talking about her dead father and is constantly upset. Horatio thinks it would be a good idea to talk to her if she is that upset. Gertrude allows her to enter. She feels extremely guilty. Ophelia enters and sings about a dead love in a grave. Claudius enters. He asks Ophelia how she is. Ophelia sings about a virgin sleeping with a man who then refuses to marry her. Ophelia misses her father. She will talk to her brother. She wishes them a goodnight, and then leaves. Claudius orders Horatio to keep an eye on her.

Claudius sees Ophelia's madness as just one more terrible thing that has happened. He is worried Laertes will blame Claudius for Polonius' death. A noise off stage startles Gertrude. A Messenger arrives to tell them Laertes is leading a rebellion into the castle against Claudius. They shout for Laertes to be King.

Laertes enters. He tells his followers to wait outside while he talks to Claudius. He demands for his father's body. Claudius tells him Polonius is dead. Gertrude adds that he was not murdered by Claudius. Laertes wants revenge—he doesn't care what happens to him. Claudius will prove that he is innocent.

Ophelia enters. Laertes is upset to see her so mad and wonders how it was possible. She hands out flowers: fennel and columbines to Gertrude for adultery and rue for repentance to Claudius. She sings once more and then leaves.

Laertes and Claudius share in their grief. He sends for his wisest friends to be gathered so that they can both be listened to. The wise men will decide who is correct about Polonius' murder. If Claudius is wrong and guilty he will give up everything as payment, but if he is innocent, then Laertes must be patient while Claudius organizes for revenge to be taken. Laertes agrees.

Horatio is given letters by a Sailor from Hamlet. It tells him to get the Sailors to the King as there are more letters to deliver. He reports he was attacked by pirates when they were at sea. Hamlet asks Horatio to come and meet him quickly as he has news about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Claudius and Laertes talk. Now that Claudius has been proven innocent of Polonius' murder, he will soon reveal what he has planned for Hamlet. A Messenger arrives with letters from Hamlet for Claudius and Gertrude. Claudius reads the letters out-loud, which reveal Hamlet is on his way back to Elsinore to confront Claudius. Laertes is pleased he will be able to get his revenge. Claudius has plans for Hamlet's death, and no one—not even Gertrude—will know it was a murder. Laertes wants to take part, which Claudius thinks is a good idea as his good qualities don't arouse envy in the general public like Hamlet's do. They will be far more forgiving if the murder is found out. Laertes wonders what those good qualities are. Claudius reveals Hamlet was extremely envious of Laertes' fencing skills and the compliments he had been given, and talked of nothing but having a match with him for long time. They will have a fencing match and the tip of one sword will be dipped in poison and sharpened. No medicine can save someone infected with this poison. They will also pour poison into a cup of wine to give to Hamlet as a back-up plan.

Gertrude enters and announces that Ophelia has drowned in a brook. She fell in accidentally and didn't know where she was. Her water logged clothes dragged her down to the bottom. Laertes leaves. They follow him to try and calm him down.

Two Gravediggers talk about Ophelia's death as they dig a grave. They don't believe for one minute that Ophelia didn't kill herself, but they guess that a rich girl would be given religious rites even if she did kill herself. Hamlet and Horatio enter. Hamlet asks him whose grave he is digging, but the Gravedigger answers in nonsense. The Gravedigger knocks skulls around while he sings and digs. He shows Hamlet a skull that has been there for twenty-three years—the skull of Yorick, the King's jester. Hamlet knew Yorick. He wonders where the man's jokes are now.

Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes, a Priest and a coffin enter. Hamlet tells Horatio to be quiet while they find out who they are burying. Laertes asks the Priest which rites he will give Ophelia—he can only give her so many religious rites as he suspects that the girl killed herself. If it wasn't for the King's interference, Ophelia would have been buried far outside the church graveyard. It would be insulting to the other bodies to have more rites performed. Hamlet is shocked to hear that Ophelia has died.

Gertrude scatters flowers across the grave. She is sad that Ophelia and Hamlet never married. Laertes jumps into the grave and demands they bury him with her. Hamlet jumps into the grave, too, and fights with Laertes. Claudius orders them to be pulled apart. No love could have matched Hamlet's. He doesn't know why Laertes treats him this way as he has always loved Laertes. They all leave.

Hamlet and Horatio enter. Hamlet tells him that he read letters from Claudius on the ship asking the King of England to execute Hamlet on the spot. He rewrote the letters, used his father's old signet ring to form a seal and replaced the old letters with the new. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are now headed for their deaths at the hands of the King of England. Hamlet thinks they deserved it. Hamlet is upset at the bad-blood between him and Laertes, but is resolved to kill Claudius as soon as he gets the chance.

Osric, a courtier, enters. Hamlet doesn't like this man and teases him. Osric tells them that Claudius has placed a large bet on Hamlet winning the fencing match. Osric complements Laertes' fencing abilities, and Hamlet agrees with him. He sends Osric to tell the King he will fight right away. A Lord announces that Gertrude wants to talk to Hamlet before he begins.

Horatio thinks Hamlet will lose the bet, but Hamlet has been practising. Hamlet doubts the match a little, but he will put his life in fate's hands. What will happen, will happen.

Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes and Osric enter with servants carrying trumpets, drums, swords, a table and some wine. Hamlet and Laertes shake hands. Hamlet apologizes for what he has done, but points out that it was his madness that killed Polonius, not Hamlet himself. Laertes understands, but he can't forgive him so easily. Hamlet assures Laertes he will win. They pick their swords. Claudius announces that if Hamlet makes the first or second hit on Laertes that Claudius will place a pearl into a cup of wine, which is then Hamlet's to drink.

Trumpets play the fencing match begins. Hamlet makes the first hit. Osric calls it in Hamlet's favour. Claudius places the pearl into the cup and tries to hand it to Hamlet, but he will not drink it just yet. They continue fencing. Hamlet hits Laertes again. Claudius thinks Hamlet might win the game, but Gertrude thinks he is out of breath. She tries to hand him the goblet, and then tries to drink it herself. Claudius tries to stop her, but it is too late. Nothing can stop her from dying now. Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poison tipped sword. In a scuffle, they end up with each others' swords and Hamlet wounds Laertes. Claudius orders them to be separated and Gertrude collapses. Laertes is upset that he has been caught by his own trap. Gertrude realizes she has been poisoned by the wine and then dies.

Hamlet orders the door locked as he wants to know who planned this. Laertes reveals that they are both going to die, as well. They have half an hour to live, and the King is to blame. Hamlet wounds Claudius and then forces him to drink from the poisoned goblet to follow Gertrude to death. Claudius dies.

Laertes thinks Claudius got what he deserved. He begs for Hamlet's forgiveness and then dies. Hamlet gives him this forgiveness and wishes that he could tell everyone what genuinely happened. He asks Horatio to tell everyone, but Horatio doesn't want to live. He tries to drink the rest of the poisoned wine, but Hamlet stops him. If he truly loved Hamlet, he would not drink the wine and would fix Hamlet's reputation for him. He will tell the truth about the events.

Military marching can be heard from off stage, and Hamlet wonders where these noises are coming from. Osric reports that young Fortinbras is returning after his victory in Poland. Hamlet hopes that Fortinbras will end up on the Danish throne. Hamlet dies. Horatio wishes him a long sleep.

Fortinbras enters and is amazed at what he sees. Horatio asks him to erect a stage for the bodies to be placed on, and for everyone to be told the truth. An Ambassador announces that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. Fortinbras has some claim to the Danish throne and will carry it out. He orders Hamlet's body to be carried out like a soldier onto the stage and thinks he would have made a fine King. The rest of the bodies are carried out and cannons fire.