Summary of William Shakespeare: Hamlet

Summary

This video provides an insightful summary of Shakespeare's *Hamlet*, focusing on key plot points. It introduces the two Hamlets: the late King Hamlet and his son, Prince Hamlet, the protagonist. After King Hamlet's death, Claudius marries Queen Gertrude and takes the throne, which deeply disturbs Prince Hamlet. The play follows Hamlet’s emotional turmoil, the appearance of his father’s ghost, the uncovering of Claudius' guilt, and Hamlet's quest for revenge. Themes of betrayal, madness, and fate culminate in a tragic ending, where nearly all main characters perish.

Takeaways

• 👑 There are two Hamlets: Old King Hamlet, the deceased King of Denmark, and Prince Hamlet, the main character of the play.
• 👿 Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, assumed the throne after Old King Hamlet's death and married Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude.
• 💔 Hamlet is devastated by his father's death and his mother's quick remarriage, leading to deep sorrow and anger.
• 👻 A ghost resembling Old King Hamlet appears to Hamlet's friend Horatio, leading Hamlet to encounter the spirit later.
• 🎭 Hamlet learns from the ghost that Claudius murdered his father by pouring poison in his ear, prompting Hamlet to seek revenge.
• 💔 Hamlet's erratic behavior disturbs Ophelia, his love interest, and is believed to be caused by heartbreak over her.
• 🎬 Hamlet devises a plan to expose Claudius's guilt by having a play performed that mimics the murder of his father.
• ⚔️ Claudius and Laertes conspire to kill Hamlet using a poisoned sword during a duel.
• 💀 Ophelia's tragic death leads to Hamlet and Laertes engaging in a confrontation at her funeral.
• 👑 In the end, Hamlet, Laertes, Claudius, and Gertrude all die, and Fortinbras takes the throne of Denmark.

Q & A

Who are the two characters named Hamlet in the play?

The first is Old King Hamlet, the former King of Denmark who died before the play begins. The second is Prince Hamlet, his son and the main character of the play.

Why is Prince Hamlet upset at the beginning of the play?

Hamlet is upset because his father, Old King Hamlet, has recently died, and his mother, Queen Gertrude, quickly remarried his uncle, Claudius, who has taken the throne.

Who is Claudius and what role does he play in Hamlet's grief?

Claudius is Hamlet’s uncle who became King of Denmark after marrying Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, following the death of Old King Hamlet. Hamlet is deeply disturbed by this quick marriage.

What does the ghost of Old King Hamlet reveal to Prince Hamlet?

The ghost of Old King Hamlet reveals that he did not die from a snake bite as believed, but was murdered by Claudius, who poured poison in his ear.

How does Hamlet plan to confirm Claudius’s guilt?

Hamlet arranges for a play called 'The Murder of Gonzago' to be performed, which includes a scene that mimics the way Claudius murdered Old King Hamlet. Hamlet plans to observe Claudius’s reaction to the scene to confirm his guilt.

Why does Hamlet not kill Claudius when he finds him praying?

Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius while he is praying because he believes that if Claudius dies while confessing, he will go to heaven, which Hamlet does not want.

What leads to the death of Polonius?

Polonius is hiding behind a tapestry in Queen Gertrude’s chamber, eavesdropping on her conversation with Hamlet. Hamlet hears a noise behind the tapestry, assumes it is Claudius spying on him, and stabs through the fabric, killing Polonius by mistake.

How does Ophelia react to Hamlet's behavior and her father’s death?

Ophelia is driven to madness by Hamlet’s cruel treatment of her and the death of her father, Polonius. She eventually drowns herself in the river.

What is the plan Claudius and Laertes devise to kill Hamlet?

Claudius and Laertes plan to have a duel between Laertes and Hamlet, with Laertes using a poisoned sword to ensure Hamlet's death. As a backup, Claudius prepares poisoned wine for Hamlet.

What happens during the final duel between Hamlet and Laertes?

During the duel, both Hamlet and Laertes are struck with the poisoned sword. Gertrude accidentally drinks the poisoned wine meant for Hamlet and dies. Laertes reveals Claudius's plot before dying, and Hamlet kills Claudius. Hamlet dies shortly after.

Outlines

00:00

👑 The Two Hamlets and the Start of the Drama

This paragraph introduces the key background information for the play *Hamlet*. It mentions that there are two Hamlets to keep in mind: Old King Hamlet, who has died before the events of the play, and his son, Prince Hamlet, the protagonist. After the death of Old King Hamlet, his brother Claudius took the throne and married Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, which deeply distresses Hamlet. The play opens with soldiers on night watch at Elsinore castle, where the ghost of Old King Hamlet appears to Horatio, Hamlet’s best friend. Horatio is unsure of the ghost’s intentions but knows Hamlet must be informed. Meanwhile, in the royal court, Claudius celebrates his marriage and speaks to Polonius's son, Laertes. The paragraph also introduces Fortinbras of Norway, who seeks revenge for his father's death at the hands of Old King Hamlet. Hamlet is distraught over his father’s death and his mother’s remarriage, revealing a deep grief that no one else seems to share.

05:00

🎭 Hamlet’s Ghostly Encounter and Descent into Madness

This paragraph covers the start of Hamlet's personal unraveling. Hamlet learns from the ghost of his father that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison in his ear. Hamlet vows revenge. Polonius, the father of Ophelia (Hamlet's love interest), sends someone to spy on his son, Laertes. Meanwhile, Ophelia tells her father that Hamlet has been acting erratically, which Polonius attributes to her rejection of Hamlet. Claudius, also suspicious of Hamlet, employs Hamlet’s childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on him. A group of actors arrives, and Hamlet becomes emotional while watching them perform. He is inspired to devise a plan: he asks the actors to perform a play that mimics Claudius’s murder of Old King Hamlet. Hamlet believes that Claudius’s reaction to the play will confirm his guilt.

Keywords

💡Old King Hamlet

Old King Hamlet is the former king of Denmark and father of Prince Hamlet. His death sets the events of the play into motion, as his ghost reveals to Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother Claudius. This motivates Hamlet to seek revenge, making the revelation of the ghost a central part of the story.

💡Claudius

Claudius is the antagonist of the play, brother to Old King Hamlet and now king of Denmark after marrying Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother. His murder of his brother to usurp the throne is a key conflict, driving Hamlet’s desire for revenge and much of the tragic action in the play.

💡Gertrude

Gertrude is Hamlet’s mother and the widow of Old King Hamlet, who quickly marries Claudius after her husband's death. This swift remarriage deeply disturbs Hamlet, and her actions are seen as a betrayal by Hamlet, adding to his grief and anger throughout the play.

💡Horatio

Horatio is Hamlet's close and loyal friend who witnesses the ghost of Old King Hamlet and helps Hamlet navigate the turmoil throughout the play. Horatio remains one of the few characters alive at the end, tasked with telling Hamlet’s story and carrying out his final wishes.

💡Polonius

Polonius is the father of Laertes and Ophelia, and the chief advisor to Claudius. He is often portrayed as a meddling and verbose character. His spying on Hamlet and Gertrude leads to his accidental death at Hamlet's hands, which escalates the conflict between Hamlet and Laertes.

💡Ophelia

Ophelia is the daughter of Polonius and Hamlet’s love interest. She becomes a tragic figure in the play as Hamlet’s erratic behavior and the death of her father drive her to madness, eventually leading to her drowning, which may be a suicide. Ophelia's descent into madness highlights the theme of mental instability in the play.

💡Laertes

Laertes is the son of Polonius and the brother of Ophelia. After his father’s death at Hamlet’s hands, Laertes returns from France seeking revenge. He plays a significant role in the final act, dueling Hamlet with a poisoned sword in a plot orchestrated by Claudius. His pursuit of vengeance parallels Hamlet's own journey.

💡The Ghost

The ghost of Old King Hamlet appears early in the play and is a key supernatural element. It reveals the truth of Claudius’ treachery, instructing Hamlet to avenge his murder. The ghost's appearance fuels Hamlet's inner conflict about revenge and justice, questioning the morality of his actions throughout the play.

💡The Mousetrap

The Mousetrap is a play within the play, staged by Hamlet to confirm Claudius' guilt. It mirrors the murder of Old King Hamlet, and Claudius' reaction during the performance exposes his crime. This scene highlights Hamlet’s cunning and the theme of appearance versus reality in the play.

💡Fortinbras

Fortinbras is the Prince of Norway, whose father was killed by Old King Hamlet. Fortinbras seeks to avenge his father’s death by invading Denmark. His presence in the play symbolizes a contrast to Hamlet, as he represents decisive action and political ambition, while Hamlet grapples with inaction. In the end, Fortinbras takes control of Denmark, symbolizing a new order.

Highlights

There are two Hamlets: Old King Hamlet, the former King of Denmark, and Prince Hamlet, the main character.

After Old King Hamlet's death, his brother Claudius takes the throne and marries Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother.

Prince Hamlet is deeply upset by his father's death and his mother's quick remarriage.

Horatio, Hamlet's close friend, sees the ghost of Old King Hamlet and informs Hamlet about it.

Hamlet learns from the ghost that Claudius murdered Old King Hamlet by pouring poison in his ear.

Hamlet swears to avenge his father’s death after this revelation from the ghost.

Ophelia, Polonius’s daughter, reports that Hamlet is acting erratically, leading Polonius to believe it's due to her rejection.

Claudius spies on Hamlet by sending Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to observe his behavior.

Hamlet organizes a play that reenacts his father's murder to confirm Claudius's guilt.

Claudius's reaction to the play reveals his guilt, proving Hamlet’s suspicions.

Claudius attempts to send Hamlet to England to be executed, but Hamlet switches the orders, leading to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern's deaths.

Ophelia, driven mad by grief and Hamlet's cruelty, drowns herself.

Laertes, Ophelia's brother, conspires with Claudius to kill Hamlet using a poisoned sword.

During the duel, both Hamlet and Laertes are wounded with the poisoned sword, and Queen Gertrude accidentally drinks poisoned wine meant for Hamlet.

As Hamlet dies, he kills Claudius and names Fortinbras the new King of Denmark.

Transcripts

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's longest

and most complicated plays so here are

some things that you need to know before

we get to our summary one there are two

Hamlet's that you need to get your head

around the first one is old King Hamlet

the beloved King of Denmark who died

before the play began and Prince Hamlet

his son and the main character of the

play too after old King Hamlet died his

brother Claudius assumed the throne and

married the widowed Queen Gertrude

Hamlet's mum three Hamlet is very upset

about this and has been drowning his

sorrows with a beautiful girl named a

philia who is the daughter of Polonius

Claudius's trusted advisor now that

you're up to speed let's begin the play

starts at midnight with a group of

soldiers patrolling the battlements of

Elsinore castle

Hamlet's closest friend Horatio is

watching closely and the ghost of old

King Hamlet appears right in front of

him he isn't sure if the Spirit is good

or evil but decides that Hamlet needs to

know about it later on everyone is

gathered in the royal court to hear

Claudius talk about how happy his

marriage to Gertrude is and impart some

fatherly wisdom on layer T's son of

Polonius there is also the little matter

of Fortinbras the Prince of Norway who

wants to invade Denmark to avenge his

father who was murdered by old King

Hamlet but everyone is really focused on

how badly Hamlet has taken the marriage

of his mother and his uncle when

everyone is gone Hamlet breaks down and

tells us that he is grief-stricken from

the death of his father and his mother's

very quick remarriage he is so upset

that nobody else seems to be all that

sad about it that he wishes he was dead

Horacio arrives and cheers Hamlet up by

sharing the news of the haunting

meanwhile Laertes has left home to study

in France leaving his sister a failure

with the warning that she had better

stop getting so close to Hamlet because

he only wants one thing and that thing

certainly isn't marriage later that

night Hamlet meets with the ghost who

reveals that he did not die from a snake

bite but that Claudius poured poison in

his ear and murdered him Hamlet is

outraged and swears that he will have

his revenge

Polonius pays a servant to follow his

son and spy on him but he has problems

closer to home a fear Lea bursts in

upset from a run in she's just had with

Hamlet

she tells her father that Hamlet seems

to have gone half mad wandering around

trembling and silent dressed in torn and

dirty clothes

Polonius thinks this is great news

because he thinks Hamlet is just upset

because a philia has rejected him

elsewhere Claudius is engaged in a

little spying of his own he hires

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on

Hamlet pretending that he's very worried

about his nephews mental health Polonius

also rushes in and updates Claudius on

Hamlet situation a troop of travelling

actors or players arrive and Hamlet she

is up when he watches them perform

however this doesn't last long as he is

moved by the way one of the players

delivers a dramatic speech he wonders

why he can't show as much passion about

his own awful situation as the actor can

about a pretend one he starts to form a

plan to avenge his father and asks the

players to perform a play for the whole

court called the murder of Gonzago when

he is alone he reveals that this play

will be a mousetrap as it will include a

scene that he has written that will

replicate the way Claudius

all King Hamlet when Claudius reacts

Hamlet will have proof of Claudius is

guilt Hamlet has another dramatic run-in

with a philia who he abuses yelling that

he never loved her at all ah philia is

distraught and Claudius and Polonius who

have been spying on the whole scene

think that there must be another reason

for Hamlet's crazy behavior later on the

whole court has turned out to watch the

play

Claudius freaks out when he says the

players act out the way he killed his

brother and leaves in a rush now Hamlet

has his proof

Claudius decides to deal with Hamlet by

asking Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to

take him away to England he begins to

pray revealing that he has no remorse

for murdering his brother while Claudius

is praying Hamlet creeps up to kill him

but realizes that if Claudius dies while

praying he will go to heaven he

definitely doesn't want that so he

decides to kill Claudius later he goes

off to speak with his mother

Polonius has hidden himself behind a

huge tapestry in Gertrude's chamber so

that he can spy on Hamlet mother and son

get into a huge argument and when Hamlet

he is a noise behind the tapestry he

assumes it is Claudius spying on him

angry he stabs him through the fabric

but then is frustrated to find that it

is Polonius that he has killed not

Claudius as he wanted Claudius is now in

damage control trying to find ways to

keep his grasp on power and get rid of

Hamlet he gets Hamlet on a boat to

England without letting him know that

it's a one-way trip meanwhile a philia

has been sent over the edge by Hamlet's

cruelty and the death of her father

everyone in the court is worried about

her especially Laertes who has arrived

back from France

he wants Hamlet to pay for the death of

his father

Claudius tells Laertes that he can be

the one to punish Hamlet the two will

take part in a Dueling match and when

lair T strikes Hamlet with his blade

that has been secretly poisoned Hamlet

will die and justice will be served

Gertrude interrupts this plotting with

the terrible news that a philia has

drowned herself in the river Hamlet has

been spending time in the graveyard

thinking about the futility of life and

the inevitability of death he watches a

funeral begin and realizes that it is

Afilias Hamlet and Laertes get into a

huge argument and the two need to be

physically separated when talking with

Horatio hammer explains that Claudius

had arranged for him to be murdered when

he arrived in England however he did a

switcheroo with the instructions and now

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are gone

Hamlet realizes that he must succumb to

fate and agrees to duel with Laertes no

matter what the outcome may be at the

duel things don't go quite according to

Claudius's plan Laertes and Hamlet are

both struck with the poisoned sword and

Gertrude accidentally drinks from a cup

of poisoned wine which Claudius had

prepared for Hamlet as a backup in case

his original plan didn't work

when Gertrude falls down dead Laertes

confesses the whole plan and Hamlet

finally kills Claudius Hamlet and

Laertes forgive each other just before

Laertes dies as Hamlet lies dying a

servant brings news that Fortinbras is

marching on the castle Hamlet instructs

that Fortinbras should be made the new

King of Denmark as he has proven himself

to be an excellent leader when he

arrives to a court full of dead bodies

he declares that Hamlet was a great man

and will be buried honorably

[Music]

we hope you enjoyed this schooling

online production for more easy lessons

on Hamlet check out our analysis of all

the themes within the play

[Music]