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Hamlet has an interaction with the ghost of his father. (The old king) The ghost tells him of the treacherous act his uncle, King Claudius committed against his father and asks him to seek revenge and avenge his death.

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" 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me-so the whole ear of Denmark is by a forged process of my death Rankly abus'd- but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown." (Act 1, Scene 5, Line 35-40)

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Here Hamlet learns that his father was murdered by his Uncle in order to get the throne and marry the Queen. He learns that how they thought the Old King died is not to be true.

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The conflict/rising action is Hamlet's inner turmoil and conflict with self. He is conflicted on how to act upon the ghosts request to avenge his death. He spends his time pretending to be 'mad' and Claudius and Gertrude search for the reason why.

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"Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, And can ay nothing-no, not for a King, Upon whose property and most dear life A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward? (Act 2, Scene 2, Line 552-557)

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Here we see that Hamlet feels like a coward for not acting upon the Ghost's wishes. He is having a hard time making a decision on whether not to avenge the death or not.

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Hamlet has started to actually become 'mad' and is no longer pretending. His inner turmoil has been detrimental to him and causes a series of tragic events. He experiences suicidal thoughts, has a falling out with Ophelia, Conducts a play that exposes Claudius, berates his mother and accidentally kills Polonius.

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"To be or not to be that is the question:" (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 56)
"How now? A rat! Dead for a ducat dead." (Act 3, Scene 4,  Line 23)
"[Behind] O, I am slain." (Act 3, Scene 4, Line 24)

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In first quote we see Hamlet's madness as he questions life and death and killing himself. The beginning of the tragic events that are to follow start with Hamlet killing Polonius by 'accident' as seen in the other two quotes. His impulsive act will determine the course of the rest of the story.

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Due to the death of Polonius, everything goes awry. Ophelia is driven to madness after finding out her father's death, Laertes comes back to avenge his father and ends up plotting to kill Hamlet upon his return from England. Everything is in shambles as Ophelia commits suicide and Hamlet continues to struggle with inner turmoil.

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"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 scratch'd withal. I'll touch my point with this contagion, that if I gail him slightly, It may be death." (Act 4, Scene 7, Line 140-148)

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Laertes and King Claudius discuss how Laertes will challenge Hamlet to a duel. He will put poison on his blade so that when he scratches Hamlet just a bit, the poison so strong will kill him right away. No medicine could cure it. They both, the King and Laertes wish death upon Hamlet.

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Laertes challenges Hamlet to a sword duel that eventually ends up in the death of everyone. Claudius's plan to kill Hamlet backfired and in the process kills himself, Laertes, Gertrude and Hamlet. Horatio remains and as his last words, Hamlet instructs Horatio to tell his story and that Fortinbras is to be king.

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"It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet thou art slain. No medicine in this world can do thee good; in thee there is not half an hour's life. The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenom'd. The foul practice Hath turn'd itself on me. Lo, here I lie, Never to rise again. Thy mother's poison'd. I can no more. The king is to blame." (Act 5, Scene 2, Line 307-314)

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Laertes admits that he and the king planned everything and that Hamlet is to die and there's nothing to be done of it. Laertes is shown giving up and declaring defeat as the plan has gone awry. There is an eerie calm to his statement since. All main characters perished exception to Horatio.

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After his father's passing, Hamlet becomes unhinged. He does many things he would not have done before the passing of his father. This consists of poor treatment towards his mother and the innocent Ophelia, killing Polonius and his suicidal thoughts. Based on his actions, it can be said that the cause of Hamlet's downfall (Death) is his own doing via Karma. Which seems to be a reoccurring theme in the play. Normally in any old cliche story, the main character wins at the end of the story. Hamlet did not have his happy ending and this is his own doing. Had he kept his sanity and continued to be a 'good' person, he might've lived. He had to pay for all his wrong doings and in turn died.

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The ghost of Hamlet's father after appearing to Hamlet

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The ghost of Hamlet's father after appearing to Hamlet

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Hamlet when he accidentally murders Polonius

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Hamlet when he accidentally murders Polonius

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Claudius was a competent ruler but had a dark secret and greedy/selfish tendencies. His guilt eventually caused him to become anxious and overly suspicious of the cause of Hamlet's madness: knowing of his crime. If he he had less guilt over killing his brother he wouldn't have been so uneasy and given away himself at the Play. He's the cause of his own downfall. Not only did he give himself away he is a victim of karma. He 'had it coming'.

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"Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one of brow woe, yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our Sometime sister, now our queen, Th'imperial jointress defeated with joy, with an auspicious and a dropping eye, with mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage," (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 1-12)

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Claudius seems like a good ruler here. Addressing the sad occasion but also trying to lift the spirits of everyone at the same time. Although this he is actually doing for himself. He wants to ensure that the people in Denmark are okay with a new leader so no rebellions are formed. By making this speech he ensure that his country will be on his side, welcoming him as the new ruler.

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"The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown."
(Act 1, Scene 5, Line 39-40)

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If you believe in karma you could say Claudius's death was expected as soon as we learn he murdered his brother. 'what comes around goes around' In the end he had what was coming.

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"Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, with witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts-O wicked wit, and gifts that have the power So to seduce!-won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen."
(Act 1, Scene 5, Line 42-46)

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In this quote we see the ghost of Hamlet's father, the old king. He claims that Hamlet isn't who he seems. Hamlet is said to have Gemini characteristics. (Two faced) This new information we learn in this scene shows Claudius in a new light as a murderer.

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"My fault is past-but O, what form of prayer Can serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder? That cannot be, since I am still possess'd of those effects for which I did the murder-My crown, mine own ambition, and my queen, May one be pardonn'd and retain th'offence?"
(Act 3, Scene 3, Line 51-56)

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We see the King feeling guilt for what he's done and attempting to repent but feeling as if he cannot since he still reaps the benefits of his crime against his brother. Nevertheless, he continues to cling to his greedy tendencies showing that his decisions are only made for his own self-benefit. He does feel guilt but his wanting surpasses that.

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The main theme of the play is madness. In each act there is some sort of madness occurring. Whether it's Hamlet or Ophelia who were quite similar in going mad after the passing of their father's, most of the characters are in fact 'mad'.

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"Sanity becomes a matter of degree" - Stephen King

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"Sanity becomes a matter of degree" - Stephen King

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This quote can be used to argue that all the characters in the play were 'mad'. Each characters actions were directly influenced by madness. It isn't explicitly said or depicted but each is 'mad' to a certain degree.

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Quote:
"O that is sullied flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew, or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His cannon 'gainst self slaughter. O God! O God!
(Act 1, Scene 2, Line 129-133)
Context:
Commencement of Hamlet's madness. Due to his father's passing Hamlet contemplates suicide.

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Quote:
"My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd, No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd, Ungarter'd and down-gyved to his ankle, Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors, he comes before me."
(Act 2, Scene 1, Line 77-84)
Context:
Hamlets spend the majority of Act 2 pretending to be mad. This an example of an encounter he had with Ophelia. Though, this scene can also be interpreted as possible foreshadowing as he does eventually become mad for real.

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Quote:
"Get thee to a nunnery"
(Act 3, Scene 1, Line 121)
Context:
Hamlet once loved Ophelia so why would he act so harshly towards her? Madness. He is driven to hatred towards women due to his mothers actions after his father's death. His madness has blinded him.
Quote:
"How now? A rat! Dead for a ducat, dead."
(Act 3, Scene 4, Line 23)
Context:
Hamlet is so mad at this point in the play, upon just hearing a voice behind a curtain he thrusts his rapier into it. Without thinking about the consequences of his actions or who it might have been behind the curtain. Even afterwards he doesn't seem overly phased that he murdered Polonius. He has gone mad.

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Quote:
"[...] Poor Ophelia Divided from herself and her fair judgement,"
(Act 4, Scene 5, Line 83-84)
Context:
King Claudius says this after seeing Ophelia who has gone mad after her father's passing. She is no longer herself and has gone completely mad.

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Quote:
"I lov'd Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers Could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her"
(Act 5, Scene 1, Line 255-257)
Context:
Both King Claudius and the Queen call Hamlet mad after his dramatic declaration of love for Ophelia is made. This is quite true.

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"So excellent a king, that was to this Hyperion to a satyr, so loving to my mother That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face roughly Must I remember? [...]" (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 139-144)

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Hamlet looked up to his father very highly. he loved his father and his death started the undoing of his saneness. This is the commencement of his inner turmoil.

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"To be or not to be that is the question"
(Act 3, Scene 1, Line 24)

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Hamlet wants to kill himself. He struggles very much with his inner self.

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"I have heard your paintings well enough God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another: you jig, you amble, and you lisp, you nick-name God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance. "
(Act 3, Scene 1, Line 143-145)

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Hamlet's cruelness towards Ophelia is shown here. This shows how mad he truly is and changed as a person. (He once loved her so why would he be so cruel?)