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The play opens during an evening watch at the castle of Elsinore. Three men, Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo are talking, when King Hamlet's ghost appears. The late King's ghost had already appeared infront of these men during the past two nights. The ghost will not talk to Horatio, the lone individual to try, and he figures it is best to inform Hamlet of his father's ghost. Horatio finds Hamlet and explains him that he had seen his father, as a ghost, and Hamlet agrees to keep watch on the fourth night.
When night falls on the next eve, Hamlet joins Horatio and Marcellus to wait for the ghost. Once the ghost appears it gestures for Hamlet and he follows. Once alone the ghost enlightens Hamlet by telling him that it was not a serpents deadly bite which killed him but a poison. A poison which was given to him by his own brother, Claudius, who has now married Hamlets mother, King Hamlet's widow. Upon this news Hamlet became enraged with his uncle. He undergoes a transformation from his normal intelligent, civilized self, into an uncontrolled person determined to avenge his father through the murder of his uncle.
Later on, Ophelia tells her father in a fright that Hamlet approached her, his face white as if he had been to hell. Polonius believes that this madness is due to the fact that Ophelia does not love Hamlet as he loves her. Polonius tells the King of this madness and both King Claudius and Queen Gertrude agree that Hamlet has gone insane primarily over the death of his father. A following evening, a group of actors/musicians(players) arrive at the castle, this being of much interest to Hamlet. He asks the performers to perform the play: The Murder of Gonzago, with a few changes by Hamlet. Since this play is similar to the situation with King Claudius and Hamlets father, Hamlet believs that he will be able to determine whether the ghost was truthful by the reaction of his uncle. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were not able to figure out why Hamlet went mad so the King decides to experiment and see how Hamlet acts around Ophelia. While Hamlet is alone, he delivers his most famous "To be or not to be" speech. Here he considers suicide, but he concluds not to because the afterlife may be even more dreadful. Ophelia appears to Hamlet, in an attempt to return the gifts that he once gave her. Hamlet replies in anger and states that he never loved her. Ophelia is left in sadness, believing that Hamlet has truly gone insane. The King is not as certain as Ophelia of Hamlets proclaimed insanity and he decides to send him to England for he could be a threat towards him. 
The night of the play arrives and Horatio agrees to keep a watchful eye upon the King for his reaction. During the scene where poison is poured down the victims ear (as like Claudius had done to his brother)the King is greatly disturbed. He ends the play, calling for the lights to be turned on and he leaves with great urgency. Hamlet now knows that the King is guilty. Hamlet goes to talk with his mother, who is scared that he has come to murder her. As she cries for help, Polonius (hiding behind the tapestry) speaks and is killed by Hamlet, who thinks that Polonius is the king. Hamlet tries to get the Queen to admit to her wrongs, but she doesnt understand him. King Claudius decides that Hamlet must be killed while in England because of his possible threat. Hamlet learns of his situation and escapes by rewriting the Kings letter, substituting his name with the names of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Learning that Hamlet did not arrive in England, Claudius brings Laertes into the death plot towards Hamlet. Laertes, enraged over the death of his father, is persuaded to kill Hamlet with a poisoned sword during a supposive civilized gentlemens duel.
"I loved Ophelia, more than forty brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum, what wilt you do for her?"(Act 5, Scene 1) Disorderly over her fathers death, Ophelia quickly becomes insane, talking to herself or singing alone. She later drowns herself. At her funeral, grieving Laertes jumps into the grave, followed by an unnoticed Hamlet. They fight and Hamlet later apologizes for his behavior. When Laertes challenges him to a duel, Hamlet accepts.
At the duel, Laertres coats his sword with a poisin. After the first half where Hamlet emerges victorious, the King uses his backup plan. He poisons a cup of wine and extends a congratulations drink to Hamlet. Hamlet refuses the wine, waiting until the fight has been completed. Celebrating her sons achievements thus far the queen tries to persuade Hamlet to have a celebration drink, unaware of the poisin that her own husband had mixed into it. When Hamlet denies she takes a drink in his place. Before the King can stop her, she dies. It is at this moment during the duel when Laertres is able to strick, and cut Hamlet with the poisined sword while he is distracted. Hamlet is able to remove the sword from Laertres grips and attacks back, cutting him in the process. Laertes tells the people that both he and Hamlet are injured by the poisonous weapon and that "the Kings to blame." Before Hamlet dies, he lunges at the King with the sword and in and extended fit of rage forces him to drink the poisin potion which killed his mother. So the king dies and the play comes to an end, with Horatios last farewell to his dear friend Hamlet.
Horatio: "Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to they rest" |
