Hamlet deals with questions about life and existence, sanity, love, death, and betrayal. It is one of the most quoted works of literature in the world, and since 1960 it has been translated into 75 languages (including Klingon).

Summary:

In Hamlet, the ghost of King Hamlet urges his son to avenge his murder by killing Claudius, the uncle who usurped the throne. Prince Hamlet feigns madness, grapples with existential questions, and plots revenge, while Claudius schemes against him. The play culminates in a tragic duel where the King, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, and Hamlet all perish.

The story begins at Elsinore Castle, where guards spot King Hamlet’s ghost. The ghost reveals to Hamlet that Claudius murdered him, spurring Hamlet to seek vengeance while pretending insanity. Hamlet stages a play to confirm Claudius's guilt, causing Claudius to flee in guilt. Sent to England under a secret death warrant, Hamlet outmaneuvers the plot and returns to Denmark.

Meanwhile, Ophelia, devastated by her father’s death and Hamlet’s rejection, drowns in madness. At Ophelia’s funeral, Hamlet confronts her brother Laertes, leading to a duel orchestrated by Claudius. The plan backfires: Gertrude drinks poison meant for Hamlet, Laertes and Hamlet wound each other fatally, and Hamlet kills Claudius before dying. Horatio survives to recount the tale as Fortinbras arrives to take the throne.

The Action Begins Otherworldly

At the start of the play, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, encounters a ghost resembling his recently deceased father. The ghost reveals that King Hamlet was murdered by Claudius, the king’s brother, who seized the throne and married Queen Gertrude. The ghost urges Hamlet to avenge his death by killing Claudius.

This burden deeply troubles Hamlet. He wrestles with the ghost’s intentions, questioning whether it might be an evil spirit luring him into eternal damnation. Hamlet’s doubt, grief, and inner turmoil make him one of literature’s most psychologically complex characters. Though slow to act, his decisions are often impulsive and violent, as seen in the famous "curtain scene," where he mistakenly kills Polonius.

Hamlet’s Love

Polonius’ daughter Ophelia is in love with Hamlet, but their relationship has broken down since Hamlet learned of his father’s death. Ophelia is instructed by Polonius and Laertes to spurn Hamlet’s advances. Ultimately, Ophelia dies by suicide as a result of Hamlet’s confusing behavior toward her and the death of her father.

A Play Within a Play

In Act 3, Scene 2, Hamlet organizes actors to re-enact his father’s murder at the hands of Claudius to gauge Claudius’ reaction. He confronts his mother about his father’s murder and hears someone behind the arras. Believing it to be Claudius, Hamlet stabs the man with his sword. It transpires that he has actually killed Polonius.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Claudius, sensing Hamlet's threat, declares him mad and sends him to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who report on Hamlet’s behavior. Secretly, Claudius orders Hamlet’s execution upon arrival, but Hamlet escapes, altering the orders to condemn Rosencrantz and Guildenstern instead.

To Be or Not to Be …

Hamlet arrives back in Denmark just as Ophelia is being buried, which prompts him to contemplate life, death, and the frailty of the human condition. The performance of this soliloquy is a big part of how any actor portraying Hamlet is judged by critics.  

Tragic Ending

Laertes returns from France to avenge the death of Polonius, his father. Claudius plots with him to make Hamlet’s death appear accidental and encourages him to anoint his sword with poison. He also puts a cup of poison aside, in case the sword is unsuccessful.

In the action, the swords are swapped and Laertes is mortally wounded with the poisoned sword after striking Hamlet with it. He forgives Hamlet before he dies.

Gertrude dies by accidentally drinking the cup of poison. Hamlet stabs Claudius and forces him to drink the rest of the poisoned drink. Hamlet's revenge is finally complete. In his dying moments, he bequeaths the throne to Fortinbras and prevents Horatio's suicide by imploring him to stay alive to tell the tale.