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In act 1 of Hamlet, guards Marcellus and Bernardo find a ghost walking and gets scared of it. The next day, Gertrude and King Claudius have a marriage in the kingdom. Hamlet is not happy about this marriage and debates suicide. Later that night, Marcellus and Bernardo inform Hamlet of the ghost they saw yesterday. As a result, Hamlet, Marcellus and Horato go looking for it. Once they see it, Hamlet runs after it and when alone together the ghost reveals himself to be the ghost of his father King Hamlet. The ghost informs him of his death was due to murder from King Claudius. The ghost tells Hamlet “Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched, Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin” (Act 1, Scene 5, 74-76). In this quote, the ghost informs Hamlet of how he died. He states that he killed him by putting poison through his ear when he was sleeping, stealing the crown, fame and queen. He tells Hamlet to get revenge and kill Claudius. Once he disappears, he informs the two that he will be acting insane as a strategy to get his revenge. This is the exposition because we are introduced to all of the main characters. This is also where Hamlet is introduced to his task of getting revenge against Claudius. This is also where Hamlet says that he will act insane. This act would last for the entire play.

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Included to skip introductions of characters in the Act Summaries

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Included to skip introductions of characters in the Act Summaries

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Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark and son of King Hamlet. He is the protagonist of Hamlet

King Claudius: New King of Denmark, husband of Gertrude and murderer of King Hamlet. He is the antagonist of Hamlet

Gertrude: Hamlet’s mother and new wife to Claudius

Laertes: Son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia

Horatio: Hamlet’s friend and he is seen with Hamlet throughout the play

Polonius: Claudius’s chief counselor (someone who assists the King), father of Laertes and Ophelia.

Fortinbras: Prince of Norway and attempts to invade Denmark to get land taken from his father.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Two of Hamlet’s friends sent to Denmark from Claudius in order to find the cause of Hamlet’s madness

Ophelia: Hamlet’s girlfriend and Polonius daughter

Ghost: Ghost of dead King Hamlet. He informs Hamlet of his murder and requests that Hamlet gets revenge. He appears throughout the play.

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Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Of unimprovèd mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes, For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in ’t, which is no other— As it doth well appear unto our state— But to recover of us, by strong hand (Act 1, Scene 1, 94 - 101)

In this quote, Horatio tells Marcellus about the rumors that Fortinbras is planning to attack Denmark in order to avenge his dead father. This is because Fortinbras(the father) lost a duel to Hamlet(the father) where he had to give up all of the territories and land that he owned. Now, his son wants to attack Denmark in order to claim the lost land and serve justice to his father.

GHOST

Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.

HAMLET

Murder?

GHOST

Murder most foul, as in the best it is. But this most foul, strange and unnatural.

(Act 1, Scene 5. 25-27)

In this quote, the ghost of King Hamlet tells Hamlet how he died. He told him that he actually was murdered by King Claudious by him pouring poison into his ear when he was asleep. He tells Hamlet to avenge him by getting revenge on King Claudius by killing him. Hamlet later swears to the ghost that he will get revenge and bring justice to his fallen father.

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In act 2 of Hamlet, people in the kingdom start taking notice of Hamlet's behavior. First Ophelia, she informs Polonius of the behavior. Polonius would tell both Claudius and Gertrude about this. After attempts of Polonius talking to Hamlet about his behavior, Claudius and Gertrude decide to take action. They decide to send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to Denmark, “Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you. And sure I am two men there are not living To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gentry and good will As to expend your time with us awhile For the supply and profit of our hope, Your visitation shall receive such thanks As fits a king’s remembrance.” (Act 2, Scene 2, 19-25). In the quote, Gertrude explains that because Hamlet is friends with them then it would be easier to find the cause. Meanwhile, Hamlet greets actors visiting the kingdom and uses them to reenact the play of the Murder of Gonzaga. Hamlet thinks that because the play is very similar to the murder of King Hamlet, he might provoke a reaction from Claudius. If this happens, then he would be guilty of the murder. This is the rising action as we see Hamlet start making moves towards his revenge. We see him plan a play that would ensure if Claudius is the murderer. We also get to see everyone’s response to Hamlet’s behavior.

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May be the devil, and the devil hath power T' assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds More relative than this. The play’s the thing. Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king. (Act 2, Scene 2, 561-568)

Hamlet explains that the play being played tomorrow night will be a test for Claudius. This is because the play will resemble the murder of his father. Hamlet says that if we catches Claudius in shock or uneasy then it would confirm the murder was done by him. This relates to revenge because he personally told one of the actors to reenact the act. This request came out of nowhere. He asked for the play purely out of revenge for his father.

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In act 3 of Hamlet, Claudius is suspicious of Hamlet’s behavior and actions. He thinks of sending him to England. The play takes place and Hamlet did provoke a reaction from Claudius. Claudius ended up leaving the play after it was over for “some air”. Later Hamlet catches him praying alone. He states “Oh, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t, A brother’s murder. Pray can I not. Though inclination be as sharp as will, My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,” (Act 3, Scene 3, 37-41). Throughout the prayer, he talks about his sin of killing King Hamlet and that he feels a lot of guilt. Hamlet has an open look at him but doesn't decide to kill him, as it would send him to heaven. He decides that he would have to kill him when he is doing something that doesn't have any good in it. The next day, Hamlet goes to Gertrude to talk about Claudius with Polonius eavesdropping from behind a curtain. Hamlet kills Polonius thinking it is Claudius. Hamlet and Gertrude argue about the murder and Claudius. He is later faced with the ghost saying that he has not completed his job yet and that he still needs to kill Claudius. This is the climax because this is the first time that we were introduced to someone being killed in the play. This foreshadows that Hamlet will kill others even if he doesn't think that it is Claudius or not. The presence of the ghost in this act provokes Hamlet as he is reminded that he didn't complete the task yet.

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HAMLET

To take him in the purging of his soul. When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No. Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent. When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed, At game a-swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation in ’t— Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, And that his soul may be as damned and black (Act 3, Scene 3, 86-95)

Hamlet heavily debates whether he should or shouldn't kill Claudius when he is praying. He decides not to as he would most likely go to heaven if he killed him at that moment. Hamlet wants the absolute worse for Claudius and will kill him when he is doing a sin, in order for him to go to hell. This act of choosing when will be the best time to kill someone and wanting someone to suffer even in the afterlife shows Hamlet’s desire to avenge his father.

GERTRUDE

O me, what hast thou done?

HAMLET

Nay, I know not. Is it the king?

GERTRUDE

Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this!

HAMLET

A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king and marry with his brother.

GERTRUDE

As kill a king?

HAMLET

Ay, lady, ’twas my word

Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune. Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger. (Act 3, Scene 4, 26-34)

Hamlet’s mind was filled with revenge in this quote as he killed Polnoius mistaking him for Claudius. When he initially killed him, he just wanted to know if it was Claudius. He also doesn't show any remorse of grief or sorrow for Polonius and instead rubs it off saying that he thought he killed someone more important and that he deserved it. This shows that he is willing to do anything to kill King Claudius even if it is to kill someone that he doesn't know 100% that it is him.

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In act 4 of Hamlet, Claudius is informed with the killing of Polonius and makes his plan of sending Hamlet to England a reality. He sends him there with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern being there to ensure he makes it to England. He reveals that he sent letters to the King of England telling him that they should execute Hamlet when he gets there. When making it to the boat, Hamlet comes across Fortinbras. Fortinbras tells Hamlet that he plans to invade Denmark in order to get back the land that his father lost. After this conversation, Hamlet thinks to himself and decides that he needs to kill Claudius and that all of his thoughts will now be filled with violence. Back at the kingdom, Laertes barges in and threatens Claudius to be the murderer of his father. After time talking, Claudius convinces Laertes that his real opponent is Hamlet. Ophelia goes mad because of the death of her father, the sending of Hamlet to England, and Laertes wanting to kill Hamlet. As a result of this, she drowned. When the boats arrive in England, Horatio receives a letter saying Hamlet also “When thou shalt have overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the king. They have letters for him. Ere we were two days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled valor, and in the grapple I boarded them. On the instant, they got clear of our ship, so I alone became their prisoner. They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy, but they knew what they did; I am to do a good turn for them Let the king have the letters I have sent, and repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldst fly death. I have words to speak in thine ear will make thee dumb, yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for England. Of them I have much to tell thee. Fare-well.” (Act 4, Scene 6, 9). In this quote, Hamlet says that his boat was attacked and invaded by pirates and that he was taken away by them. He also states that he made letters that should be sent to the King of England. In reality, Hamlet uses this as a divergent to go back to Denmark and the letter state that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are supposed to die, not Hamlet. Back at the kingdom, Claudius and Laertes discuss a plan that would kill Hamlet. Laertes would challenge Hamlet to a fencing match with his sword being poisoned. This means that if Laertes were to hit Hamlet once then he would die. If Hamlet won then Claudius would offer a poisoned drink to him. This is the falling action because we see everything fall apart. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are separated from Hamlet, Ophelia dies and a plan is plotted to ensure Hamlet’s death. This act really foreshadows that Hamlet’s and Claudius’s death are coming soon.

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LAERTES

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with. To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand That both the worlds I give to negligence. Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged Most thoroughly for my father. (Act 4, Scene 5, 104-110)

Laertes comes rushing into the hall. He points his sword to Claudius and says that he came for revenge for Polonius. He says that he would do anything to get justice for him and that he doesn't even care for himself, just for his father. He is similar to Hamlet, where he is willing to do anything in order to get their revenge.

Claudius

A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice Requite him for your father.

LAERTES

I will do ’t. And for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mountebank, So mortal that, but dip a knife in it, Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, Collected from all simples that have virtue Under the moon, can save the thing from death That is but scratched withal. I’ll touch my point With this contagion, that if I gall him slightly. It may be death (Act 4, Scene 7, 135-145)

Both Laertes and Claudius plot a plan which would certainly kill Hamlet and will avenge Laertes’s dead father. The plan consists of challenging Hamlet to a duel and dipping Laertes’s sword into poison, so if even the sword touches Hamlet then he would die. The poison dipped would have no cure to it, so he will certainly die. This plan shows Laertes’s ambition to avenge his father and even shows Claudius revenge to get back at Hamlet for all of the harm done to him. This includes the murder of Polonius and for spreading the rumor that he killed Hamlet’s father(this is done throught the Murder of Gonzaga play and Hamlet telling Gertrude and others about it himself).

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In act 5 of Hamlet, Hamlet learns that Ophelia died and witnesses her funeral with Horatio. The duel begins between Hamlet and Laertes. During the duel, Gertrude drinks the poisoned drink made by Claudius by accident but doesn't feel the effects just yet. Laertes ends up slashing Hamlet with his poisoned sword and then a scuffle happens between Laertes and Hamlet which results in both people swapping swords. Hamlet now has the poisoned sword and lands a cut on Laertes with the poisoned sword and he collapses. Gertrude finally feels the effect of poison and dies. As Hamlet tries to find the culprit of the murder, Laertes tells Hamlet, “It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain. No medicine in the world can do thee good. In thee there is not half an hour of life. The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie, Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned. I can no more. The king, the king’s to blame.”(Act 5, Scene 2, 309-316). In the quote, he explains that the poison is not curable, that it was on the sword that hit Laertes and in the drink, and that Claudius was the one who made the poison. Enraged by this, Hamlet impales Claudius and forces him to drink the poisoned drink and he dies. Laertes congratulates him and also dies. Hamlet finally feels the effect of the poison and stops Horatio from drinking the poisoned drink. He tells Horatio to tell his story and dies. Right after, Fortinbras, his army and the England Ambassador invade the kingdom. Surprised by the disaster that took place, the Ambassador announces that Rosencrantz and Guildensten will be killed due to the orders given. Due to some rights that Fortinbras hands on to the kingdom he becomes the new King of Denmark. Fortinbras states that Hamlet would have become a great king so his funeral should be treated with honor.

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Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damnèd Dane, Drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow my mother. (Act 5, Scene 2, 320-321)
Here Hamlet finally gets his revenge on Claudius. He first impaled Claudius with the poisoned sword and then forced him to drink the poisoned drink he made, causing him to die. By killing him, Hamlet had successfully completed the quest that the ghost of his father gave him and brought justice to his father.
Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune. I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me. (Act 5, Scene 2, 387-391)
Fortinbras and his army invades the hall after the death of Hamlet. He invades because he wants to avenge his fallen father and take back the land that he gave up. He states in this quote that he will seize the opportunity of taking over the kingdom because he has rights to it, through his father. In the end, Fortinbras takes back the land that his father lost and becomes the new King of Denmark

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"Oh, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God, God!" (Act 1, Scene 2, 129 - 132)

Following the marriage between King Claudius and Gertrude(Hamlet’s mother), he talks about the subject of suicide. He talks about his life being pointless and also complains about the law that restricted someone from committing suicide. Right out of the gate, we are shown that Hamlet’s state of mind is not in the best place due to the marriage and his dead father.

"Haste me to know ’t, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge." (Act 1, Scene 5 29-30)

Hamlet in Act 1 gets introduced to the ghost of his dead father. He tells Hamlet that he needs to avenge him by killing Claudius. Hamlet starts off by having his mind filled with revenge and justice for his father. This is the main mindset that Hamlet is in throughout the book and it is responsible for most of the actions that he has done.

"May be the devil, and the devil hath power T' assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds More relative than this. The play’s the thing. Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king. (Act 2, Scene 2, 561-568)"

This quote once again demonstrates Hamlet’s intelligence because he makes a plan that would practically make Claudius confess that he murdered King Hamlet. His plan is to make the actors conduct a play that would look very similar to the murder of King Hamlet. If Claudius feels uneasy then it would confirm that he is the murderer. This demonstrates intelligence because he wants to be completely sure that the ghost is not lying and that Claudius is the murderer. He doesn't want to accuse or threaten him if the claim is false.

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"May be the devil, and the devil hath power T' assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds More relative than this. The play’s the thing. Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king." (Act 2, Scene 2, 561-568)

This quote once again demonstrates Hamlet’s intelligence because he makes a plan that would practically make Claudius confess that he murdered King Hamlet. His plan is to make the actors conduct a play that would look very similar to the murder of King Hamlet. If Claudius feels uneasy then it would confirm that he is the murderer. This demonstrates intelligence because he wants to be completely sure that the ghost is not lying and that Claudius is the murderer. He doesn't want to accuse or threaten him if the claim is false.

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"To be, or not to be? That is the question— Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And, by opposing, end them? To die, to sleep— No more—and by a sleep to say we end" (Act 3, Scene 1, 57-62)

We once again get a look at the mental state of Hamlet and it is still not in the best place. He once again debates whether he should commit suicide or not. He talks about killing himself in order to get rid of all of the struggles in his life. This shows that acting mad, getting revenge on Claudius, his dead father and Claudius and Gertrude marrying has a major toll on his mental state and state of mind.

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"To hide the slain? Oh, from this time forth, My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!" (Act 4, Scene 4, 64-65)

During this conversation, Fortinbras stated that he is going to invade Poland for a small patch of land. Hamlet thinks to himself that he should do a better job at getting revenge against Claudius as his case for revenge is much more significant than Fortinbras’s. After this encounter and conversation, Hamlet stated that all of his thoughts from now on will be violent. Hamlet’s state of mind at this point is filled with revenge and violence. He is determined to kill Claudius and nothing would stand in his way. This mindset eventually leads to the death of many other characters excluding Claudius.

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"Not a whit. We defy augury. There’s a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all. Since no man of aught he leaves knows, what is ’t to leave betimes? Let be." (Act 5, Scene 2, 211)

In this quote, we see Hamlet having a conversation with Horatio regarding the fencing match that is going to happen. Horatio tells Hamlet that if he doesn't want to do it then don't. However, Hamlet makes a statement about him knowing his fate and that he needs to be prepared for death. This shows that Hamlet now is not scared of death and is willing to kill Claudius unlike in the earlier acts in the play. This also shows that he is mentally ready for the fencing match against Laertes.

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"Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother’s hand. Of life, of crown, of queen at once dispatched, Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, (Act 1, Scene 5, 74-76)"

The ghost of King Hamlet is talking to Hamlet regarding his death. He explains that Claudius killed him by pouring poison into his ear while he was sleeping. He explains that Claudius did it in order to steal his crown and queen.

In this quote, we are shown Claudius's motive for killing King Hamlet. He was jealous of the King, he wanted his crown, fame, queen and simply the title of King of Denmark. Being exposed to this in the first act, reveals that King Claudius is the main antagonist of this play.

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"A murderer and a villain, A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe Of your precedent lord, a vice of kings, A cutpurse of the empire and the rule, That from a shelf the precious diadem stole, And put it in his pocket—" (Act 3, Scene 4, 97-102)

After Hamlet kills Polonius thinking it is Claudius, his mother yells at him for talking to her in a rude manner. Hamlet explains that she married the wrong man, she replaced his father with someone who is a murderer. He does this through showing two pictures of King Hamlet and King Claudius, explaining both people to his mother and why Claudius is such a bad person.

We hear how other people in the play describe Claudius. Hamlet is the only one in the kingdom who says that he is a bad person. He explains to him as a murderer and that he is one of the worst kings as he stole everything from King Hamlet. However, Gertrude does not think this. She protects Claudius and begs Hamlet to stop. We learn that Claudius is hated a lot from Hamlet while others do not think that he is a bad guy.

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"And, England, if my love thou hold’st at aught— As my great power thereof may give thee sense, Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red After the Danish sword and thy free awe" (Act 4, Scene 3, 60-64)

This takes place shortly after Hamlet accidentally killed Polonius. Claudius plans to send Hamlet to England early tomorrow morning in order to kill him. He sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern with him in order to make sure that he is executed. He also sends letters to the King of England to make sure he is aware of the arrival and execution of Hamlet.

We learn in this quote that Claudius wants to send Hamlet to England and that his motive is to kill him. He is afraid of Hamlet and the other actions he might do when “mad”. We also learn as an audience that he sends letters to the King of England in order to ensure his execution. He also sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to ensure that he gets on the boat.

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"No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize. Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes, Will you do this, keep close within your chamber." (Act 4, Scene 7, 124-126)

Laertes originally accused Claudius of killing his father but Claudius told him that it was Hamlet. This makes Laertes want to kill Hamlet now. So both of them are talking about a potential plan to kill Hamlet.

We see in this quote that Claudius in encouraging Laertes into going with the plan saying that there are no limits to revenge. We learn that he also wants Hamlet to die but he doesn't want his hands to get dirty, as it may damage his reputation as a king. So he wants to use Laertes so he has the blood on his hands.