A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark 

Is by a forgèd process of my death 

Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, 

The serpent that did sting thy father’s life  

Now wears his crown” (Act 1, Scene 5. 35-40).

Hamlet follows his Father's ghost into the woods. The ghost tells Hamlet that he must get revenge on Claudius because he murdered the former King. Hamlet’s Father explains how Claudius poured poison into the King’s ear while he was asleep. Hamlet then obeys his Father’s command and plans to get justice by killing Claudius. As Hamlet sets his goal of killing the King, he starts planning, but after setting his goal, he drags out his plans. 

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak 

Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, 

And can say nothing—no, not for a king, 

Upon whose property and most dear life 

A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?” (Act 2, Scene 2. 525-530).

As time ticks by, Hamlet has still not devised a plan to kill his Uncle. The actors show Hamlet how they can perform plays with such emotions as if the play is real. This makes him feel useless compared to them, as he himself has a real reason to motivate his actions, but still, he has done nothing. His inaction of planning revenge makes him hate himself and think himself a coward. He calls himself a useless dreamer because all he does is talk instead of taking action. Hamlet drags on his plans of taking revenge, ultimately leading him to also drag the killing of the King to the last minute. This leaves Hamlet with only one chance left to kill the King before he also dies. If Hamlet had killed the King earlier, Claudius wouldn’t have time to devise a plan against him. Hamlet’s dragging of plans is also shown in Act 4, Scene 4, 24- 28 and Act 3, Scene 3, 74-97. 

That guilty creatures sitting at a play 

Have, by the very cunning of the scene, 

Been struck so to the soul that presently 

They have proclaimed their malefactions. 

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak 

With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players 

Play something like the murder of my father 

Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks. 

I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench, 

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen” (Act 2, Scene 2. 550-560).  

Hamlet wants to get revenge on Claudius for his Father, but has no proof of Claudius’s murderous actions. Finally, Hamlet devises a plan to make the King’s conscience come out to expose himself. Hamlet hears that plays make a person’s guilt come out and sometimes even makes them plead guilty of their sins. He tells the actors to reenact a scene very similar to the former King’s death in front of everyone. If Hamlet sees any reaction from his Uncle, he can use the reaction as more proof to back up his Father’s murder statement. In the end, the plan is successful, but isn't as effective because it takes too long to plan and accomplish. 

That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by

The important acting of your dread command?

O, say!” 

GHOST. “Do not forget. This visitation

Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose “ (Act 3, Scene 4, 108-112). 

Gertrude asks to speak with Hamlet while Polonius spies in the background, but Hamlet takes this chance to give his Mother a good scolding. While Hamlet shouts at his Mother, he gets off topic and forgets that the target isn’t Gertrude, but instead Claudius. The Ghost enters to remind him of the revenge that he keeps dragging on and tells him to let his Mother be because heaven will punish her. Hamlet’s habit of straying from his goals, leads him to have setbacks between his plans. The setbacks Hamlet has gives Claudius time to plan for more murders. To be more exact, Hamlet's murder.

HAMLET. “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!”

POLONIUS. (from behind the arras) “Oh, I am slain.”

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!” (Act 3, Scene 4, 23- 28).

While Hamlet is filled with anger when speaking with Gertrude, Polonius yells “Help, help, help!” as he thinks the Queen needs assistance. Hamlet decides to act rashly and stabs through the curtains to kill the screaming creature. He does not know if it is the King or a friend he has stabbed, all he knows is his anger. His rash action of killing Polonius is what leads Laertes to kill him and Ophelia becoming insane. If Hamlet had thought before stabbing the stranger, he would not have made a new enemy and lost his loved one. 

That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay,

Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly,

Or—not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,

Running it thus—you’ll tender me a fool” (Act 1, Scene 3. 105-109).

OPHELIA. “I shall obey, my lord” (Act 1, Scene 3. 136).

Context: Polonius asks Ophelia about what Laertes told her. He agrees with what Laertes says and tells Ophelia that she is a little baby for believing Hamlet truly loves her. He also tells her she is acting like an innocent girl who doesn’t know Hamlet’s true intentions.

Analysis: The audience learns Ophelia is easily controlled and persuaded by others. She first believes Hamlet when he says he truly loves her, then she believes her brother when he says it is just lust, and then she obeys her Father to stay away from Hamlet. All Ophelia does is listen to what others have to say and obey like a child. From this scene on, Ophelia acts coldly toward Hamlet.  

That sucked the honey of his music vows,

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason

Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;

That unmatched form and feature of blown youth

Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me,

T' have seen what I have seen, see what I see!” (Act 3, Scene 1, 155- 161).

Context: As Ophelia meets with Hamlet, Polonius and the King spy from another room. Hamlet goes mad while talking and starts talking to Ophelia harshly. After Hamlet leaves, Ophelia starts remembering how kind Hamlet was before madness overtook him.

Analysis: After Ophelia decides to listen to her brother and father, she breaks up with Hamlet. Hamlet, enraged because of Ophelia’s betrayal, starts treating her nastily with anger and hate. As Hamlet leaves, Ophelia is left alone to think about the old Hamlet she misses. This gives readers insight that Ophelia still has some feelings left for Hamlet, but still chooses to obey what others say. It seems that she doesn’t follow her own opinions/ emotions. This is the starting point of Ophelia’s madness. Her mind starts feeling stressed of everything happening with her brother, Hamlet and Father.  

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,

And mermaid-like a while they bore her up,

Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds

As one incapable of her own distress, (....)” (Act 4, Scene 7, 170- 174).

Context: While Ophelia uses the leaves on a tree to make braid crowns, she falls into a deep brook and starts singing rhymes not caring she will drown.

Analysis: The last scene shows Ophelia becoming fully insane. As Ophelia is in a life death situation, she starts singing without worry of death. In the end, she dies in the brook. It seems she is sadly peaceful to leave her human life behind. Her madness eventually overcame her personality and fear of death.

Grim Reaper: HOw dArE YoU nOT FeAr mE OpHEliA!

Let me not think on ’t. Frailty, thy name is woman!—

A little month, or ere those shoes were old

With which she followed my poor father’s body,

Like Niobe, all tears. Why she, even she—

O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason

Would have mourned longer!—married with my uncle, (....)” (Act 1, Scene 2, 145- 151). 

Context: Gertrude and Claudius are having a wedding, but Hamlet looks very depressed dressed in black. They ask Hamlet to kindly stop mourning the old King soon because it is normal for Fathers to pass away. 

Analysis: The main character Hamlet is introduced to readers when Gertrude and Claudius ask Hamlet to stop mourning his Father. Hamlet obeys their wishes, but when they walk away, he starts ranting about their marriage and his Father’s death. He feels that his uncle is unkind to marry the former King’s wife and is suspicious of his Father’s death. Hamlet’s suspicions are correct when he meets the ghost of his Father. 

Quote:
MARCELLUS. “Peace, break thee off. Look where it comes again!”

BARNARDO. “In the same figure like the king that’s dead” (Act 1, Scene 1, 38- 39).

Context:  As the scene opens, Marcellus, Barnardo and Horatio stand guard talking about seeing a ghost the other day. When Haratio refuses to believe their nonsense, the ghost appears once again looking like the former King Hamlet.

Analysis:  The ghost’s spectacle is what starts the play in motion. The guards are in awe of what they see and decide to tell their lord Hamlet of his Father’s appearance at night. The next day, Hamlet goes to see the ghost and follows it into the woods. The ghost explains to Hamlet how the former King was murder and asks for vengeance. Hamlet, enraged, agrees to kill Claudius and starts planning to do so. The news of the murder is what starts all the bloodthirst plans and manipulations in the play. This shows the theme of revenge starting to appear. 

King Hamlet: I aM sLainNn

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;

No hat upon his head; his stockings fouled,

Ungartered, and down-gyvèd 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 loosèd out of hell

To speak of horrors—he comes before me” (Act 2, Scene 1, 77- 84). 

Context:  Ophelia runs up to her Father (Polonius) to tell him of what just happened. She explains how Hamlet came up to her looking like he came back from hell and was acting very strange while not saying anything.

Analysis: This scene signifies the first of 2 main rising action events in Act 2. With Hamlet starting to act strangely, the people around him become confused. The confusion and curiosity of others start to lead to the climax of the play. More events and incidents happen because of Hamlet’s sudden change in personality. For example, after Ophelia tells Polonius of Hamlet’s strange acts, he tells her to stop seeing Hamlet and reject his affections. The order from Polonius then leads to problems in the future for Ophelia. 

Quote: 
HAMLET. “For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players

Play something like the murder of my father

Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks.

I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench,

I know my course” (Act 2, Scene 2, 555- 560). 

Context:  Hamlet devises a plan to make the King’s conscience come out to expose himself, by having a play perform an act similar to the former King’s death. He has heard that plays make a person’s guilt come out and sometimes even makes them plead guilty of their sins. If he sees any reaction from his Uncle, he can use the reaction as more proof to back up his Father’s murder statement.  

Analysis: Hamlet’s first plan is about to be put in motion to guilt trip the King. This shows the rising action as Hamlet’s play is about to be performed and the climax when Hamlet plans to expose Claudius during play.

HORATIO. “Very well, my lord” 

HAMLET. “Upon the talk of the poisoning?”

HORATIO. “I did very well note him”

HAMLET. “Ah ha! Come, some music! Come, the recorders!”

For if the king like not the comedy,

  Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy

“Come, some music!” (Act 3, Scene 2. 260-268).

Context:  Hamlet’s plan of getting more proof from Claudius’s reaction to the play is successful. His plan for revenge is slowly coming together as he gets more proof of the King’s murder.

Analysis: Hamlet’s first plan is put in motion when he guilt trips the King into leaving the play that is being performed. This leads the audience to wonder why the King has such an agitated reaction to the play. Hamlet also uses this moment to try to expose the King of his murderous deeds, but fails to do so. Claudius realizes Hamlet is on to him after the play and starts planning as well. Hamlet’s failed plan is the action that causes the tension between Claudius and Hamlet to become very visible as they both plan to kill one another (climax). 

Quote: HAMLET. “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead!”

POLONIUS. (from behind the arras) “Oh, I am slain.”

GERTRUDE. “O me, what hast thou done?” (Act 3, Scene 4, 24- 26). 

Context: Hamlet goes to speak with Gertrude and realizes there is someone hiding behind the curtains. He stabs the curtains with his sword not thinking about who is behind it. Polonius is then slain because of Hamlet.

Analysis: While Hamlet is explaining how wicked Claudius is, he becomes furious and acts rashly. Hamlet’s senseless act of killing Polonius is what flips the whole play into an aggressive battle. The characters related to Polonius become enraged and plan for revenge to kill Hamlet. As Hamlet is trying to kill the King, others are also trying to kill him. The climax of the play is revealed as every character becomes insane with vengeance, stress and grief.

A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,

If he by chance escape your venomed stuck, (....)” (Act 4, Scene 7, 155- 157).

Context:  Laertes and Claudius plan to kill Hamlet with a poison drink and sword once he returns from England. 

Analysis: As the King and Laertes are done making a plan to kill Hamlet, they do not realize that the plan will be the beginning of the end for everyone. The play is slowly nearing the end as the readers wait to see how the character’s plans will end. With so much hatred and sadness, can death of the enemy be enough to heal the wounds in the hearts?   

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh

May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,

A ministering angel shall my sister be

When thou liest howling.”

HAMLET. (to HORATIO) “What, the fair Ophelia?”  (Act 5, Scene 1, 213-218). 

Context: The gravediggers dig a hole to bury a body with Hamlet and Haratio watching. When Laertes mentions it is for Ophelia, Hamlet becomes shocked and starts ranting about how he truly loved Ophelia. Laertes and Hamlet get into a fight and decide to have a fencing match in the castle. 

Analysis: As one of the main characters dies, it signifies the near end of the play. The King’s plan of wounding Hamlet with a sword and drink are finally about to happen as Hamlet and Laertes have a fencing match. The match will determine the life, death, revenge and end of all characters.  
Quote: 
LAERTES. “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). 

Context: As Laertes and Hamlet have a fencing match, they get into a fight and switch swords. Hamlet then successfully wounds Laertes with the poisoned sword, but he himself is also wounded. The Queen collapses from accidentally drinking the poison and Laertes explains the plan that has backfired against him. With Laertes’s last breaths, he says it is all the King’s doings. Hamlet, out of one’s mind, charges toward the King and wounds him with the poison blade. As the King is struggling to escape, Hamlet pours down the poison wine into Claudius’s throat. In the end, Hamlet also dies, but he dies successfully getting his revenge on the King. Haratio is left to tell the tale of Hamlet as Fortinbras invades the castle. 

Analysis: The ending of the play showcases the downturn of events because of the backfired plans. The characters are all put out of their misery as they ascend to heaven and hell. The new King of Denmark is announced to be Fortinbras and Haratio lives to remember his great friend, Hamlet. 

A serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark

Is by a forgèd process of my death

Rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth,

The serpent that did sting thy father’s life 

Now wears his crown” (Act 1, Scene 5. 35-40).

Hamlet follows his Father's ghost into the woods. The ghost tells Hamlet that he must get revenge on Claudius because he murdered the former King (Hamlet’s father). Claudius pours poison into the King’s ear while he is asleep causing the King to die a painful death. Hamlet obeys his Father’s command and plans to get justice for his Father. 

Act 2: 
HAMLET. “About, my brain.—Hum, I have heard

That guilty creatures sitting at a play

Have, by the very cunning of the scene,

Been struck so to the soul that presently

They have proclaimed their malefactions.

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players

Play something like the murder of my father

Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks.

I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench,

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen” (Act 2, Scene 2. 550-560).

Hamlet wants to get revenge on Claudius for his Father, but has no proof. Instead, he devises a plan to make the King’s conscience come out to expose himself. Hamlet has heard that plays make a person’s guilt come out and sometimes even makes them plead guilty of their sins. If he sees any reaction from his Uncle, he can use the reaction as more proof to back up his Father’s murder statement. 

Act 3:
HAMLET. “O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound. Didst perceive?”

HORATIO. “Very well, my lord” 

HAMLET. “Upon the talk of the poisoning?”

HORATIO. “I did very well note him”

HAMLET. “Ah ha! Come, some music! Come, the recorders!”

For if the king like not the comedy,

  Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy

“Come, some music!” (Act 3, Scene 2. 260-268).

Hamlet’s plan of getting more proof from Claudius’s reaction to the play is successful. His plan for revenge is slowly coming together as he gets more proof of the King’s murder.

Act 4:
FORTINBRAS. “Go, Captain, and give the Danish king my greetings. Tell him that Fortinbras asks permission to move his troops across Denmark. You know the meeting place we’ve arranged. If His Majesty wants us to do any favor for him, tell him his wish is my command” (Act 4, Scene 4, 1-7).

Fortinbras with an army and captain start their journey to invade Poland. They claim it is for a small piece of land, but Fortinbras has other plans to avenge his father. The plan to take over land is actually Fortinbras’s plan to take revenge on Denmark.

Act 5:
CLAUDIUS. (to LAERTES) “Strengthen your patience in our last night’s speech.

We’ll put the matter to the present push.—

Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.—

275This grave shall have a living monument.

An hour of quiet shortly shall we see.

Till then in patience our proceeding be” (Act 5, Scene 1, 272-277). 

As Hamlet goes to cry about Ophelia’s death, Claudius pulls aside Laertes to talk about being patient. Laertes then calms down to wait for the moment of revenge. 

No reckoning made, but sent to my account

With all my imperfections on my head.

Oh, horrible, oh, horrible, most horrible!

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.

Let not the royal bed of Denmark be

A couch for luxury and damnèd incest” (Act 1, Scene 5. 77-83).

The ghost tells Hamlet to not stand for Cladius’s murderous and incest actions. He tells Hamlet to get revenge for him. Hamlet then agrees to take action and kill Claudius to avenge his Father.

Act 2: 
HAMLET. “Yet I,

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak

Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,

And can say nothing—no, not for a king,

Upon whose property and most dear life

A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?” (Act 2, Scene 2. 525-530).

Hamlet sees that the actors can perform plays with such real emotions without any real reason. This makes him feel useless compared to them. His inaction of planning revenge makes him hate himself and think himself a coward. He calls himself a useless dreamer because all he does is talk instead of taking action. 

Act 3: 
HAMLET. “I will speak daggers to her but use none.

My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites.

How in my words somever she be shent,

To give them seals never, my soul, consent!” (Act 3, Scene 2, 358- 361).

Gertrude asks to speak with Hamlet with Polonius spying in the background. Hamlet decides to use the chance to give his mother a scolding without physical actions. His inaction of killing his mother leaves him to use words to teach her a lesson. What he tells his mother ends up hurting her more than being stabbed by a dagger. 

Act 4:
HAMLET. "Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats

Will not debate the question of this straw.

This is th' impostume of much wealth and peace,

That inward breaks and shows no cause without

Why the man dies.—”I humbly thank you, sir” (Act 4, Scene 4, 24- 28). 

As Hamlet is on his way to England, he crosses roads with a captain of an army. The captain says they are fighting alongside Fortinbras to invade Poland. After Hamlet sees Fortinbras taking action to avenge his father’s death, he feels useless in comparison again. Hamlet decides to start taking action as well after seeing Fortinbras do so.   

Act 5: 
HAMLET. “Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damnèd Dane,

Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?

Follow my mother” (Act 5, Scene 2, 320- 322).

Hamlet realizes the King has poisoned everyone and forces the King to drink from the cup. Hamlet accomplishes killing Claudius and avenging his father, but he is too late. Hamlet’s habit of getting off topic leads him to only kill Claudius at the very end. He could’ve easily killed Claudius before, but because of his own inactions, he dies while killing the King.  

Hamlet seems lazy... like me

Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive

Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven

And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge

To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once” (Act 1, Scene 5. 84-88). 

The ghost/former king tells Hamlet to not hurt or take actions against Gertrude. The ghost believes Gertrude will repay for her sins in the afterlife and deserves to feel guilty for eternity. It is her fate to be punished one way or another. Hamlet agrees and promises to not take revenge against her too. This lets Gertrude be free from Hamlet’s rage and revenge plan. 

Act 2: 
HAMLET. “That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal: be even and direct with me whether you were sent for or no.”

ROSENCRANTZ. (to Guildenstern) “What say you?”

HAMLET. (aside) “Nay, then, I have an eye of you—If you love me, hold not off” (Act 2, Scene 2. 277-286).

Hamlet’s two friends named Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are ordered to find out why Hamlet is acting strange. They look guilty when faced with Hamlet and eventually almost goes against the king and queens orders to tell Hamlet why they came to visit. In the end, they don’t have free will and have to obey the king’s commands. 

Act 3: 
GERTRUDE. “What shall I do?” 

HAMLET. “Not this, by no means, that I bid you do—

Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed,

Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse,

And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses

Or paddling in your neck with his damned fingers,

Make you to ravel all this matter out:

That I essentially am not in madness

But mad in craft ” (Act 3, Scene 4, 184-192). 

While Hamlet scolds his mother and reveals the truth about Claudius, Gertrude is shocked by his tone of voice towards her. Hamlet tells her to confess to heaven of her sins and refuse the King’s commands of desire that night. He also reminds her to treat herself with more respect and that she has free will of disobeying the King’s orders of pleasure. Hamlet decides to kill the King to avenge his father. It is now the King’s fate to die as pension for his sins. 

Act 4: 
LAERTES. “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.”

CLAUDIUS. “Who shall stay you?”

LAERTES. “My will, not all the world.

And for my means, I’ll husband them so well,

They shall go far with little” (Act 4, Scene 5, 107- 114). 

Laertes’s plan to take revenge on Denmark is stopped when his Father dies. He gets mad and says he will get vengeance for his Father. There is nothing stopping him except his free will and conscience in continuing his plan. The King then explains it isn’t him who killed Laertes’s Father, but Hamlet. They then both teamup to murder Hamlet when he goes to England.

Act 5: 
CLAUDIUS. “Gertrude, do not drink.”

GERTRUDE. “I will, my lord. I pray you, pardon me.”

CLAUDIUS. (aside) “It is the poisoned cup. It is too late” (Act 5, Scene 2, 286- 288). 

As Gertrude is going to drink to Hamlet’s hit, Claudius stops her, but as Gertrude has free will to do what she wants, she drinks the poison. It is then her fate to die in a couple minutes.

You must not put another scandal on him

That he is open to incontinency.

That’s not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

A savageness in unreclaimèd blood,

Of general assault” (Act 2, Scene 1. 28-35). 

Polonius orders Reynaldo to go to France and see if Laertes is doing what he is supposed to be doing. He orders Reynaldo to act as someone who knows Laertes. Reynaldo must spread little rumors about Laertes to see if the others agree to seeing Laertes do what Reynaldo describes. Reynaldo will seem like an old friend of Laertes when in reality, he is actually a spy for Polonius to see what his son is doing.  

Act 3: 
CLAUDIUS. “Oh, ’tis too true!

How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience!

The harlot’s cheek, beautied with plastering art,

Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it

Than is my deed to my most painted word.

O heavy burden!” (Act 3, Scene 1, 51-55). 

As Polonius says people mask themselves with God’s name, Claudius agrees quietly. The King’s thoughts show his guilt of using fine words to cover up his ugly actions. This shows the King appears elegant and good, but really is evil and full of selfishness inside.  

Act 4: 
LAERTES. “Let this be so. His means of death, his obscure funeral—

No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,

No noble rite nor formal ostentation—

Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth,

That I must call ’t in question” 

CLAUDIUS. “So you shall.

And where the offense is, let the great ax fall.

I pray you, go with me” (Act 4, Scene 5, 173- 180). 

While sending Hamlet away the King says he loves Hamlet. After Laertes shows up to avenge his father, the King decides to help him kill Hamlet. This shows the King's appearance of loving Hamlet vs reality. 

Act 5: 
CLAUDIUS. “She fainted at the sight of them bleeding.”

GERTRUDE. “No, no, the drink, the drink! Oh, my dear Hamlet! The drink, the drink! I’ve been poisoned.”

HAMLET. “O villainy! Ho, let the door be locked” (Act 5, Scene 2, 304- 307). 

When Gertrude is dying from the poison drink Claudius made. Claudius has the audacity to say she faints because of the blood. Claudius may look like a good innocent king, but he is a murderous villain in reality. He is in the end, not guilty of his sins and can still lie as his wife is dying because of him. 

How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself

(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet

To put an antic disposition on),

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall—” (Act 1, Scene 5. 170-174). 

As Hamlet explains to his friends he is fine, he also tells them to never mention they know anything even if he acts insane or mad. He also makes them swear by his sword that they will never talk about what they saw and heard today. The way Hamlet starts to talk makes Haratio say he sounds crazy.

Act 2: 
POLONIUS. “That we find out the cause of this effect,

Or rather say, the cause of this defect,

For this effect defective comes by cause.

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend” (Act 2, Scene 2. 104-108). 

Polonius seems to have found the cause of why Hamlet has been acting strange and insane. He presents it to the queen and king by reading a letter Hamlet wrote to Ophelia. Ophelia hands the letter to her father saying Hamlet has gone mad from heartbreak. The king is not convinced it is the reason for Hamlet's odd behaviour, but Polonius believes it is.  

Act 3: 
OPHELIA. “And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,

That sucked the honey of his music vows,

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason

Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;

That unmatched form and feature of blown youth

Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me,

T' have seen what I have seen, see what I see!” (Act 3, Scene 1, 155- 161).

As Ophelia meets with Hamlet, Polonius and the King spy from another room. Hamlet then goes mad while talking to Ophelia. After Hamlet leaves, Ophelia starts remembering how kind Hamlet was before madness overtook him.

Act 4:
OPHELIA. “There’s fennel for you, and columbines.—There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it “herb of grace” o' Sundays.—Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference.—There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say he made a good end (sings) For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy— “ (Act 4, Scene 5, 149- 157). 

After Ophelia hears about her Father’s death, she becomes insane. She starts identifying people to flowers and singing songs while running around. This brings the King and Queen to feel sorry for her, while Laertes becomes heartbroken to see his sister become mad. 

Act 5: 
HAMLET. “Singeing his pate against the burning zone,

Make Ossa like a wart! Nay, an thou'lt mouth,

I’ll rant as well as thou.”

GERTRUDE.

 ”This is mere madness.

And thus a while the fit will work on him.

Anon, as patient as the female dove

When that her golden couplets are disclosed,

His silence will sit drooping” (Act 5, Scene 1, 260- 266). 

The royal family goes to the graveyard to bury Ophelia, but don’t realize Hamlet is hiding behind the trees watching. After Hamlet finds out it is Ophelia who is dead, he becomes mad and starts talking like a lunatic. Hamlet even admits he always loved Ophelia, but he had told her he didn’t before. 

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.

O Hamlet, what a falling off was there!

From me, whose love was of that dignity

That it went hand in hand even with the vow” (Act 1, Scene 5. 42-49). 

While the ghost explains to Hamlet how wicked and unloyal his uncle is, he also mentions his ex wife (Hamlet’s mother). The ghost explains how loyal he was to his wife and the betrayal he felt when his wife remarried Claudius after a couple of months. Claudius uses gifts and desires to eventually make Gertrude his own wife. CLaudius’s unloyal actions get worse and worse as he kills his brother and steals Gertrude.   

Act 2: 
VOLTEMAND. “Upon our first, he sent out to suppress

His nephew’s levies, which to him appeared

To be a preparation 'gainst the Polak,

But, better looked into, he truly found

It was against your highness. Whereat grieved—

That so his sickness, age, and impotence

Was falsely borne in hand—sends out arrests” (Act 2, Scene 2. 61-67). 

After Polonius finds out his nephew is actually planning an attack on Denmark in France, he tells people to arrest Fortinbras and stop the plans. Polonius also exposes this to King Claudius. This shows Polonius is loyal to the King by betraying his own nephew.  

Act 3: 
HAMLET. “One scene of it comes near the circumstance

Which I have told thee of my father’s death.

I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot,

Even with the very comment of thy soul

Observe mine uncle. If his occulted guilt

Do not itself unkennel in one speech,

It is a damnèd ghost that we have seen,

And my imaginations are as foul” (Act 3, Scene 2, 69- 76). 

Hamlet plans a play that decipits his Father’s death. Hamlet asks Haratio to spy on the King while watching the play to see any guilt. Haratio then agrees to help Hamlet get proof against the King. As Haratio does what he is told, he becomes loyal to Hamlet, but betrays the King. 

Act 4: 
MESSENGER. “Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,

O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him “lord”

And—as the world were now but to begin,

Antiquity forgot, custom not known,

The ratifiers and props of every word—

They cry, “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!”

Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:

“Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!” (Act 4, Scene 5, 75- 82). 

As Laertes is about to flood the castle and invade Denmark, the citizens betray the King to cheer for Laertes. 

Act 5: 
LAERTES. “Thy mother’s poisoned.

I can no more. The king, the king’s to blame.”

HAMLET. “The point envenomed too!—Then, venom, to thy work.”

ALL. “Treason! Treason!”

CLAUDIUS. “O, yet defend me, friends. I am but hurt.”

HAMLET.

“Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damnèd Dane,

Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?

Follow my mother.”

LAERTES.

  ”He is justly served.

It is a poison tempered by himself.

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet” (Act 5, Scene 2, 315- 324). 

When Hamlet’s mother is poisoned, Hamlet demands justice for the murder. Laertes, already dying, betrays Claudius and reveals the revenge plan he and the King were scheming. As Hamlet kills his father, Laertes agrees it is justly served that the King dies for his evil doings.