Hamlet - Play Chronology

Use this to learn the sequence of events in the play. This will allow you to place any passage you receive into its context.

Act 1, Scene 1

• Francisco stands on guard, Bernardo enters to relieve him

• Bernardo is joined by Marcellus and Horatio - Horatio urged to stand watch with them because they believe they have seen an apparition the past two nights (Horatio is skeptical)

• Ghost appears before the men then vanishes

• Horatio declares the Ghost must bring warning of misfortune for Denmark

• Ghost materialises for second time - Horatio tries to speak to it but it remains silent

• Horatio suggests they tell Prince Hamlet - believes that the Ghost will speak to his beloved son if it really is King Hamlet

Act 1, Scene 2

The morning after Horatio and guardsman see the Ghost:

• King Claudius gives a speech to courtiers

• Declares he mourns his brother but has chosen to balance Denmark’s mourning with the delight of his marriage

• Mentions Fortinbras has written to him

• Laertes expresses desire to return to France - Polonius gives son permission and Claudius reinforces consent

• Claudius questions Hamlet’s continued grief (still wearing black mourning clothes) - Gertrude urges him to cast off his ‘nightly colour’

• Hamlet responds bitterly about his inner sorrow

• Claudius attempts fatherly advice - declares all fathers die but to mourn for too long is unmanly and inappropriate

• Declares he does not wish for Hamlet to return to Whittenberg as he has asked to - Gertrude echoes her husband

• Hamlet stiffly obeys

• Hamlet’s first soliloquy - “O that this too too solid flesh would melt” - wishes bitterly that God had not made suicide a sin. Remembers how deeply in love his parents seemed and curses that his mother has married his father’s inferior brother two months after his death

• Hamlet quiets as Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo enter

• Hamlet is happy to see Horatio

• Horatio tells Hamlet they have seen what appears to be his father’s ghost

• Hamlet is stunned - agrees to keep watch with them that night in hopes that he can speak to the apparition

Act 1, Scene 3

In Polonius’ house as Laertes prepares to leave for France:

• Laertes warns Ophelia against falling in love with Hamlet whilst saying goodbye

• Suggests that it may be impossible for Hamlet to marry her or love her honourably due to his position as heir

• Ophelia agrees to be mindful but urges Laertes not to give advice that he does not practice himself

• Laertes reassures that he will take care of himself

• Polonius enters to bid his son farewell

• Tells him to hurry then delays him a great deal with advice about how to behave with integrity and practicality and to be true to himself

• Laertes bids farewell to Ophelia once more

• Polonius asks what Laertes said to Ophelia before he left one they were alone

• Ophelia says it was about Lord Hamlet

• Polonius asks about her relationship with Hamlet - she says Hamlet claims to love her

• Polonius echoes Laertes’ advice and forbids Ophelia to associate with Hamlet

• Ophelia pledges to obey

Act 1, Scene 4

Night time - Hamlet keeps watch outside the castle with Horatio and Marcellus, waiting for the Ghost to appear:

• Shortly after midnight, trumpets and gunfire sound from the castle and Hamlet explains that Claudius is spending the night carousing (Danish custom)

• Hamlet suggests this custom lessens Denmark’s impressive achievements among other nations

• Ghost appears - Hamlet calls out to it

• Ghost beckons Hamlet to follow it out into the night

• His companions urge him not to follow, begging him to consider that the Ghost might lead him toward harm

• Hamlet is unsure whether his father’s apparition is truly the king’s spirit or an evil demon

• Follows the apparition and disappears into darkness

• Horatio and Marcellus declares the event bodes ill for the nation

• Horatio proclaims heaven will oversee the outcome of Hamlet’s encounter with the ghost

• Marcellus says they should follow and try to protect him themselves

• Horatio and Hamlet follow after Hamlet and the ghost

Act 1, Scene 5

In darkness:

• The ghost speaks to Hamlet - claims to be his father’s spirit come to encourage Hamlet to revenge his death

• Hamlet is appalled at the revelation that his father has been murdered

• The ghost tells the story of his death and confirms Hamlet’s worst fears about Claudius

• The ghost says that Claudius has corrupted Denmark and corrupted Gertrude

• Ghost urges Hamlet not to act against his mother in any way - tells him to ‘leave her to heaven’

• As dawn breaks the ghost disappears

• Hamlet swears to remember and obey the ghost

• Soliloquy - “O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else?”

• Horatio and Marcellus arrive frantically and ask Hamlet what happened

• Shaken - Hamlet refuses to tell them and insists that they swear upon his sword not to reveal what they have seen

• Tells them further he may pretend to be a madman - makes them swear they won’t reveal his motives

• Ghost’s voice echoes from beneath the ground, proclaiming ‘swear’

• Horatio and Marcellus take the oath upon Hamlet’s sword

• The three men exit the castle - Hamlet bemoans the responsibility he now carries

Act 2, Scene 1

• Polonius sends Reynaldo to France with orders to inquire about and spy on Laertes’ personal life

• Gives explicit directions on how to gather information and sends him on his way

• Reynaldo leaves as Ophelia enters, visibly upset

• Tells Polonius that Hamlet, who look unkempt, has startled her - grabbed her, held her, but did not speak to her

• Polonius says Hamlet must be mad with his love for Ophelia since she has distanced herself (under Polonius’ orders)

• Polonius speculates that this lovesickness might be the cause of Hamlet’s moodiness

• Hurries to tell Claudius his theory

Act 2, Scene 2

• In the castle - Claudius and Gertrude welcome Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet’s friends - summoned them out of concern for Hamlet’s erratic behaviour hoping they may be able to cheer Hamlet out of melancholy

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree to investigate and report back

• Polonius enters announcing the return of the ambassadors Claudius sent to Norway

• Norwegian King requested that Prince Fortinbras’ army be allowed to pass through Denmark safely on way to attack Poles

• Claudius relieved to have averted war and says he will attend to matter later

• Polonius declares that the prince is mad with love for Ophelia - shows Claudius and Gertrude letters and poems Hamlet has given to Ophelia

• Proposes a plan to hide behind an arras while Ophelia confronts Hamlet to see whether madness really originates from his love for her

• King declares they will try the plan

• Gertrude notices Hamlet approaching - Polonius says he will speak to prince - Gertrude and Claudius exit

• Polonius attempts to converse with Hamlet who appears insane - answers questions irrationally and refers to him as ‘fishmonger’

• Polonius remarks that although he is clearly mad his sentiments have accurate meaning

• Polonius leaves - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter - Hamlet seems pleased to see them

• They discuss Hamlet’s unhappiness

• Hamlet asks why they have come - sternly says he knows Claudius and Gertrude sent for them - they admit this

• Rosencrantz smiles and says he wonders how Hamlet will receive a theatrical troupe that is currently travelling to castle

• Hamlet tells friends they can stay in Elsinore but that Claudius and Gertrude are deceived in his madness

• Polonius announces arrival of players

• Hamlet welcomes them and listens to a speech off one

• Hamlet orders Polonius to see them to guestrooms

• Announces that they will hear The Murder of Gonzago performed with additional short speech he will write himself

• Leaves Rosencrantz and Guildenstern - in room alone

• Soliloquy - “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” - curses himself that the actor was able to summon a depth of feeling to long-dead figures of no significance to him, while Hamlet is unable to take action even with his far more powerful motives

• Hatches play trap to see if Claudius appears guilty

Act 3, Scene 1

Act 3, Scene 2

Act 3, Scene 3

Act 3, Scene 4

Act 4, Scene 1

Act 4, Scene 2

Act 4, Scene 3

Act 4, Scene 4

Act 4, Scene 5

Act 4, Scene 6

Act 4, Scene 7

Act 5, Scene 1

Act 5, Scene 2