ACT 1

Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet, ruler of Denmark, is dead. His mother, Queen Gertrude, has just married his uncle, Claudius (King Hamlet’s brother), very quickly after King Hamlet’s funeral. Claudius takes the throne and has to deal with the threat of an incoming invasion from Norway, led by Prince Fortinbras, whose father was killed by the deceased King Hamlet. Ophelia, daughter of one of Claudius’s aides, has received affection from Hamlet, but doesn’t know how to respond. Due to this, she stays away on the advice of her father, Polonius, and her brother Laertes, who is off to Paris. Hamlet is visited by a ghost claiming to be King Hamlet. The ghost explains that Hamlet’s father was killed by Claudius and that Hamlet must avenge him. Hamlet decides to pretend to be mad so he can investigate to see if the ghost is telling the truth. 

Act 2

Ophelia observes him being “mad” and tells Polonius. Polonius thinks that Hamlet is “mad” because he told Ophelia to stay away from him and alerts Claudius. Claudius sends some of Hamlet’s old friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to spy on him. However, Hamlet sees through this easily. The Players arrive, and Hamlet sets them up to do a play for Claudius. The plot of the play shows the way the ghost says that Claudius killed Hamlet’s father. Hamlet hopes that by showing Claudius the play, Claudius will have a strong reaction to it, and then Hamlet will be able to confirm the fact that Claudius killed his father. 

Act 3

Both Polonius and Claudius observe Hamlet being “mad” to Ophelia. The play takes place, and Claudius becomes agitated, confirming Hamlet’s suspicions. 

Intermission

Act 3 Cont.

Gertrude and Hamlet talk, with Polonius eavesdropping. Hamlet thinks the eavesdropper is Claudius, so he kills him, but it turns out he has killed Polonius. Hamlet tells Gertrude of Claudius’ murder of King Hamlet.

Act 4

Hamlet is sent to England with an order for his death for his actions, and Ophelia is driven mad with grief. Laertes, Ophelia’s brother, returns from Paris to find his sister mad and his father dead. Hamlet escapes and tells Claudius he is returning to Denmark. Wanting to exact revenge, Laertes and Claudius come up with a plan to kill Hamlet when he returns: Laertes will challenge him to a fencing match, and poison his rapier so that any stroke is fatal. If Laertes doesn’t get a hit in, Claudius will be on standby with a poisoned cup of wine for Hamlet. Ophelia drowns. 

Act 5

Hamlet returns to Ophelia’s funeral. At the fencing match, Queen Gertrude mistakenly drinks the poisoned wine and dies. Hamlet is wounded by the poisoned rapier, hits Laertes and Claudius with it, and they all die. Fortinbras, the leader of Norway, arrives with everyone dead to claim the crown as his own.