HAMLET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Hamlet is a tragic play by William Shakespeare. The story begins with the Ghost, revealing King Hamlet’s murder by Claudius, who has married Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. The play uses soliloquies, where characters speak their thoughts aloud to reveal feelings, the play-within-a-play, and tense confrontations to explore motivations and build suspense.

Hamlet

Prince of Denmark; thoughtful, conflicted, struggles with revenge and morality

Claudius 

Gertrude’s new husband and King of Denmark; ambitious and deceitful, kills his brother to take the throne

Gertrude

Queen of Denmark and Hamlet’s mother; marries Claudius quickly after her husband’s death

Ophelia

Hamlet’s love interest; gentle and obedient, descends into madness

Polonius

King’s advisor and father of Ophelia and Laertes, meddles and spies

Laertes

Son of Polonius; seeks revenge for his father and sister, duels with Hamlet

Horatio

Hamlet’s loyal friend; trustworthy, survives to tell the story

Fortinbras 

Prince of Norway; becomes king after the tragedy

The Ghost

Spirit of Hamlet’s father; reveals the truth about his murder and sparks Hamlet’s quest for revenge

Setting

The play is set in Elsinore Castle, Denmark. Important spots include the battlements, where the Ghost appears, the palace, where spying and plotting happen, and private chambers, where Hamlet thinks and plans revenge. The castle feels dark and tense, showing death, grief, and corruption

Synopsis

Hamlet begins with the appearance of the Ghost, who reveals to Prince Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who has now taken the throne and married Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. The Ghost appears at night on the castle battlements and tells Hamlet the truth, shocking him and leaving him uncertain about how to act while questioning morality.

During this time, Prince Hamlet pretends to be mad to observe Ophelia, his love, and uncover Claudius’s guilt. Polonius, the king’s advisor and father of Ophelia and Laertes, meddles and spies on Prince Hamlet, which causes misunderstandings. Prince Hamlet stages a play to expose Claudius’s crime and confronts Gertrude about her quick marriage.

The climax occurs in a duel between Hamlet and Laertes, manipulated by Claudius. Many die, including Gertrude, Claudius, and Laertes. Hamlet kills Claudius but also dies from his wounds In the end, Horatio, Hamlet’s loyal friend, survives to tell the story, and Fortinbras, Prince of Norway, becomes king.

Revenge and Justice

Hamlet seeks to avenge his father while questioning morality.

Madness and Grief

Hamlet’s pretend madness and Ophelia’s breakdown reflect the impact of loss and sorrow.

Loyalty and Betrayal

Horatio remains loyal, while Claudius deceives, and Gertrude remarries quickly.

Mortality and Death

The story highlights the inevitability of death through the duel and multiple deaths.

Character vs. Character

Hamlet vs. Claudius and Hamlet vs. Laertes 

Hamlet vs. Claudius 

Hamlet seeks revenge against Claudius for murdering his father.

Hamlet vs. Laertes

They duel to avenge their families’ deaths

Character vs. Self

Hamlet struggles with indecision, grief, and whether it is morally right to kill Claudius.

Hamlet struggle

struggles with indecision, grief, and whether it is morally right to kill Claudius.

Character vs. Fate

Hamlet faces the inevitability of death, witnessing many deaths around him and ultimately dying himself.

Hamlet faces

the inevitability of death, witnessing many deaths around him and ultimately dying himself.

Point of View (POV)

Hamlet does not use first-person, third-person limited, or omniscient narration because it is a play, not a novel. Instead, it follows a dramatic point of view, where the story unfolds through the characters’ dialogue and actions on stage. Since there is no narrator, the audience only learns from what the characters say and do. However, Prince Hamlet’s soliloquies (e.g., “To be, or not to be”) provide direct access to his inner thoughts and emotions, which create moments that resemble first-person narration.

Moral of Hamlet

Hamlet teaches that indecision, revenge, and unchecked ambition can lead to tragedy. It emphasizes the importance of morality, thoughtful action, and loyalty.

Important Passages

“The play’s the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” (Act 2, Scene 2) – Hamlet (staging a play to expose Claudius’s guilt)

“To be, or not to be: that is the question” (Act 3, Scene 1) – Hamlet (reflecting on life, death, and whether to act on revenge)

Hamlet is a timeless story of revenge, morality, and the consequences of human choices. Its tragic events and inner conflicts continue to inspire reflection on ethics and duty.