These following scene summaries are only intended to be study aids to the play, and
are not intended to be a substitution for reading the actual play. They are
very basic summaries written as simply as possible, in point form, to express the main
concepts in each scene. In order to get the most out of each summary,
prior reading of the scene, knowledge of the characters, and following class
discussions will prove very useful.
 |
 |
 |
 |
| scene 1 | scene 1 | scene 1 | scene 1 | |||
| scene 2 | scene 2 | scene 2 | scene 2 | |||
| scene 3 | scene 3 | scene 3 | ||||
| scene 4 | scene 4 | scene 4 | ||||
| scene 5 | scene 5 | |||||
| scene 6 | ||||||
| scene 7 |
 |
Act
1
Ø
The play opens at King
Hamlet’s castle in Elsinore, Denmark. It
is midnight and time for the changing of the guard.
Ø
Bernardo has come to
relieve Francisco of his post.
Ø
Another guard, Marcellus,
enters, bringing with him Horatio.
Ø
As Marcellus and Horatio
enter, Francisco leaves. Marcellus
asks Bernardo if “this thing” (referring to a ghost) has appeared again this
evening. Bernardo says he has seen
nothing and Marcellus explains Horatio’s skepticism about the whole situation.
Ø
Horatio is educated and
Marcellus wants his opinion/reactions to the ghost that has been appearing the
past two nights. He also thinks
Horatio could speak to the ghost.
Ø
Bernardo and Marcellus
explain that they believe it is the ghost of King Hamlet who has just recently
been buried.
Ø
The ghost appears!
Ø
Horatio tries to speak to
the ghost but it vanishes. He
agrees with Bernardo and Marcellus that it is a ghost and that it does look
exactly as the King. He feels that
the ghost is an omen of bad things to come to Denmark.
Ø
This causes Marcellus to
ask why they are made to keep such strict watch and why Denmark appears to be
preparing for war.
Ø
Horatio explains: The
King is dead and Denmark is in a vulnerable state; young Fortinbras, the Prince
of Norway, may see this vulnerability as a time to attack Denmark and reclaim
the land his father lost in battle.
Ø
The ghost appears again.
Ø
Once more, Horatio tries
to talk to it. Searching for
reasons of the ghost’s presence, he asks if the ghost knows something of the
fate of Denmark, or if it has some treasure buried that it has returned for.
Ø
Just as the ghost appears
ready to speak, the rooster crows signaling dawn’s approach.
Ø
The ghost begins to move
away and Horatio tells Marcellus to stop it.
Bernardo and Marcellus swing at it with their battle axes, but it
vanishes.
Ø
Marcellus fears they have
insulted the spirit with their violent attempt to retain it.
Ø
Upon more contemplation,
the three ponder the possibility that the spirit had to leave since
daylight was approaching.
Ø
As dawn arrives, all
three decide they owe it to their friend, Prince Hamlet, to tell him that the
ghost of his dead father has appeared the past 3 nights in a row.
Ø
The scene ends with
Marcellus saying he knows where to find Hamlet, and they exit.
Ø
Claudius, the new King,
addresses the court for the first time. His speech:
(a) Time
to move on after the loss of our King.
(b) Discuss
Prince Fortinbras’ belief that Denmark is in a weakened state and is pestering
Denmark for the land his father lost.
(c) Voltimond
and Cornelius are being sent to Norway with a letter for Young Fortinbras’
uncle, who is currently in charge of Norway, to inform him of Prince Fortinbras’
doings and asking him to intervene.
Ø
Laertes
asks for permission to return to France and the King grants it.
Ø
The
King and Queen show concern for Hamlet’s depression:
o
they want him to move on
o
they want him to stay in
Denmark
Ø
Hamlet’s
first soliloquy: we learn of his true contempt for his mother’s remarriage; he
has a HUGE, problem with this.
Ø Horatio finds Hamlet and Hamlet is pleasantly surprised to see his friend. We learn that Horatio has been away at school and has returned to Denmark for Hamlet's father's funeral -- or if we take on Hamlet's sarcasm -- his mother's wedding.
Ø
Horatio,
Marcellus and Bernardo tell Hamlet of the ghost and he agrees to keep watch with
them that night.
Ø
Hamlet believes the ghost indicates something is wrong.
Ø Laertes says good-bye to Ophelia. Before he leaves he wants to talk to her about Hamlet. He explains that Hamlet's affections are not sincere, despite Ophelia's opinion that they may be. He tells her that Hamlet's interest in her is of a fickle and lustful nature, typical of a young man, and that, even if Hamlet's feelings were sincere, he would not be able to honor them (by marrying her). He tells her to follow her mind and not her heart when making decisions about Hamlet. As Laertes is leaving when Polonius enters, Ophelia tells Laertes to be sure to take his own advice, and make wise decisions (regarding women and love) while he is in France.
Ø
Polonius
enters. He gives Laertes a lecture on behaviour telling him to be a man and act
cautiously and wisely while on his own.
-- If you have inappropriate thoughts keeps them to yourself.
-- Be friendly, but don't socialize with ordinary
people.
-- Keep the friends that have proven their
loyalty to you, close and choose your
friends wisely.
-- Avoid getting into fights, but if you find yourself
in one, act like a man.
-- Listen well to others, but keep your judgments to
yourself.
-- Spend your money wisely, but be sure to dress to
your position.
-- Do not lend or borrow money, for this will often
cost you your money and your
friends.
-- above all else, be true to yourself.
Ø
As Laertes exits,
Polonius asks Ophelia
what she and Laertes were discussing. When Ophelia tells him that Laertes
was telling her to be cautious regarding Hamlet. Polonius reinforces this
notion; he feels that Laertes was right in warning her of Hamlet and feels
that she is naive in believing Hamlet could be sincere. He assures her Hamlet
only sees her as a way to occupy his time. He furthers
the issue by giving his own warnings and bids her to stay away from Hamlet.
Ø
Twenty four hours have passed and
Horatio, Marcellus and
Hamlet meet on watch to wait for the ghost to appear.
Ø The celebration for the King and Queen can be heard from the castle below and Horatio asks Hamlet if it is a Custom in Denmark to shoot cannon each time the King toasts during a celebration.
Ø
Horatio
and Marcellus follow Hamlet.
Ø
Hamlet follows ghost, and
once alone, the ghost speaks.
Ø
The
ghost verifies that he is the spirit of Hamlet’s father and that he is doomed
to walk the earth until he has served penance.
Ø
The
ghost tells Hamlet why he has come to him: to have Hamlet avenge his murder.
Ø
Hamlet
is shocked. The ghost goes on to explain what everyone has been lead to believe,
about his death, was a lie – he wasn’t bitten by a snake in his orchard.
Ø
The
ghost tells the truth of what happened: his brother (the current king) poured
poison into his ear while he was sleeping in his orchard. This same brother
seduced his wife and then murdered him.
Ø
Hamlet
is stunned. He promises to avenge his father’s death.
Ø
Horatio
and Marcellus catch up to Hamlet.
Ø
Hamlet
bids them to swear that they will keep everything secret. They swear.
Ø
Hamlet
warns them that if he seems “strange” or “mad” the next time they meet
not to worry, and not to let on that they may know why.
Ø
Polonius sends Reynaldo
to France with money and letters for Laertes. He also wishes Reynaldo to
“spy” on Laertes to see if he is conducting himself properly. He tells
Reynaldo to lie, if necessary, to get to the truth.
Ø
Ophelia
enters very upset. Hamlet has shown himself to her in a frantic state and
frightened her.
Ø
Polonius
inquires as to what happened. He asks if Ophelia has been “mean” to Hamlet.
Ophelia explains that she simply obeyed her father’s wishes and kept her
distances from Hamlet.
Ø
Polonius
fears he may have misjudged Hamlet and realizes that Hamlet’s feelings must
have been true. He tells Ophelia that they will tell the King.
Act
2 scene II is a very lengthy scene. If we break this scene down, however, we can
examine the scene as a scene with “sub-scenes” (because of the many comings
and goings of characters). The “sub-scenes” are broken down, as follows,
with an explanation of the important events of each.
A)
On stage: The King, Queen,
Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.
The
King and Queen have sent for two of Hamlet’s childhood friends, Guildenstern
and Rosencrantz. The King and Queen feel that, because the two young men know
Hamlet so well, they might be able to discover the cause of his madness. They
invite them to stay in Elsinore to spend time with Hamlet and also “spy” on
him.
B)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern exit. Polonius enters.
Polonius
tells the King that the Ambassadors from Norway have returned (Voltimond &
Cornelius). He also tells the King that he believes he has found the cause of
Hamlet’s madness. The King wants to know of this immediately, but Polonius
first tells to deal with the Ambassadors.
C)
Voltimond and Cornelius enter.
Voltimond
brings news of the trip to Norway. He tells the King that all went well. The
young Fortinbras’ uncle was informed of his nephews doings and reprimanded.
The young prince will no longer be pestering Norway for the land his father lost
in battle. The Young Fortinbras has drawn up a request on paper (Voltimand hands
this to the King) asking for safe passage with his troops through Denmark
towards Poland. The King says that he will read the request at a more convenient
time.
D)
Voltimond and Cornelius exit.
E)
Hamlet enters.
Polonius
asks the King and Queen to leave quickly so that he can talk to Hamlet. In his
conversation with Hamlet he realizes that although Hamlet’s words
may seem mad this is logic behind them (“though this be madness, yet
there is method in “t”). Polonius leaves Hamlet.
F)
Guildenstern and Rosencrantz enter.
Hamlet
is surprised and very pleased to see them. He soon realizes that Guildenstern
and Rosencrantz have come to Elsinore because they have been sent for by the
King and Queen. Hamlet is quick and realizes that he must keep an eye on them
because they are spying on him and “working” for the King and Queen.
The
first player recites part of a play at Hamlet’s request, and before he is
escorted to his lodgings, Hamlet privately asks him if the troop can perform The
Murder of Gonzago. When the player says yes Hamlet explains that he would
like to add a few lines to the play.
G)
Polonius escorts the players away.
H)
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave.
I)
Hamlet is alone on the stage.
At
the closing of the scene Hamlet reveals to us his plans; he is going to change
the play so as to be a reenactment of his father’s murder. He figures that by
watching his uncle, the King, during the performance, his conscience will be
revealed implying his part in Hamlet’s father’s murder – “the play’s
the thing wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.”
*Note:
Two months have gone by since Hamlet spoke to his father’s ghost. His
procrastination, in regards to avenging his father’s death, has lead to his
uncertainty of the ghost’s sincerity.
Act
3
Ø
The King wants to know if
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had any luck finding out what is troubling Hamlet.
Ø
Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern admit they were unable to discover the cause and that Hamlet
received them well at first, but then appeared to be forcing his cordiality
(politeness).
Ø
Rosencrantz
then tells the Queen that Hamlet seemed pleased to know they invited the players
to Elsinore.
Ø
Polonius
and the King then set their plan for Hamlet and Ophelia into action. Ophelia is
left alone praying when Hamlet enters.
Ø
Hamlet
enters the scene with his most famous soliloquy beginning, “To be, or not to
be …” (To live or not to live). The main points of his soliloquy are as
follows:
o
death is nothing but a
deep sleep.
o
if we knew for sure we
could escape the tortures of life we would all kill ourselves to end our ties of
suffering.
o
it is the fear of the
unknown, what lies beyond death, that prevents us all from doing this.
Ø
Hamlet
and Ophelia speak. She attempts to return some of his gifts to him. Hamlet
denied he gave them to her and denies that he ever loved her.
Ø
Hamlet
goes on to explain her contempt for women and their vile ways (keep in mind he
knows his mother committed adultery and this has tarnished his view of women),
Ophelia is greatly saddened and distraught over the change that has occurred in
Hamlet.
Ø
When
Hamlet leaves, Polonius and the King enter. The King is not convinced that
Hamlet is truly mad, nor is he convinced that his transformation was brought on
by love-sickness.
Ø
The
King tells Polonius that he is going to send Hamlet to England on business. He
feels that some time away may do him some good (he wants to get Hamlet out of
the picture because he feel he is up to something!)
Ø
Polonius
thinks this might be a good idea, but entreats the King to first have the Queen
confront her son to find out what troubles him while he listens in on their
conversation. If she is unsuccessful, he thinks they should send him to England.
Ø
Hamlet lectures the
players before their performance.
Ø
Hamlet
calls on Horatio. He tells Horatio to watch the King during the performance, as
he himself will, and they will “compare notes” afterwards.
Ø
The
players perform the play with the changes Hamlet has made, including the title,
which is now, The Mousetrap.
Ø
The
King becomes very upset and walks out on the performance. The performance is
then stopped.
Ø
Hamlet
becomes excited. He feels certain that the King’s conscience has gotten the
better of him. Horatio agrees that he seemed very upset.
Ø
Rosencrantz
has been sent, by the Queen, to ask Hamlet to see her privately.
Ø
Hamlet
is angered by this and accuses Rosencrantz of trying to “play” him.
Ø
Polonius
enters asking Hamlet to go to his mother immediately.
Ø
Hamlet
agrees to go, and when left alone, reveals his feelings to the audience. He
realizes that he will be unable to be kind to her as he would like to see her
dead.
Ø
The King comments on
Hamlet’s behaviour and his dislike for it. He is afraid of the effect Hamlet
is having on Elsinore. He tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to prepare to go to
England with Hamlet.
Ø
Rosencrantz
comments that it would be unjust to allow the downfall of the King; the effects
on the country would be devastating. ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN EXIT.
Ø
Polonius
informs the King that Hamlet is going to see his mother, and justifies his
eavesdropping by saying that a mother tends to be too
partial towards her children. POLONIUS EXITS.
Ø
The
King, alone, curses himself and the crime he has committed. He wants to pray for
Forgiveness, but feels unsafe. He feels that because he is “still possessed of
those effects for which [he] did murder: [his] crown, [his] own ambition, and
[his] Queen” he is unworthy of forgiveness. He wants redemption but does not
want to give up the things he has attained by murdering his brother.
Ø
Hamlet
walks in on the King praying and decides to kill him. As he raises his sword he
pauses. He realizes that it would be unjust to kill his uncle during prayer when
his own father was prevented from such redemption because of his murder by this
man. He decides to wait until his uncle is committing a more damning act, and
heads off for his mother’s chamber.
Ø
Polonius speaks with the
Queen telling her to be blunt with Hamlet. He then hides behind an Arras
(curtain) in her
chamber.
Ø
Hamlet
enters and uses mean words with his mother. She asks him if he has forgotten who
he is speaking to. He assures her that he knows, and asks her to sit while he
reveals her true self to her. The Queen becomes frightened and asks Hamlet if he
is going to murder her. She yells for help.
Ø
Polonius
becomes afraid and he, too, yells for help for behind the curtain.
Ø
Hamlet
approaches the curtain and strikes through it with his rapier (dagger) to kill the spy.
Polonius falls and dies.
Ø
Hamlet,
is disappointed as he believed it was the King in hiding.
Ø
He
then admonishes his mother by pointing out her wicked deeds to her.
Ø
The
queen realizes the sin in her actions (but knows nothing of her former
husband's/king’s
murder) and begs Hamlet to stop confronting her.
Ø
The
ghost enters with the Queen unable to see him. As Hamlet speaks to the ghost she
is certain of his madness.
Ø
The
ghost notices the Queen watching Hamlet and bids Hamlet to speak to her. When he
does, the Queen asks him what he is looking at. Frantically, he tells her to
look at the ghost, but she tells him she sees and hears nothing. She believes
his madness is causing him to hallucinate.
Ø
He
assures her he isn’t mad and asks her to speak nothing of what they have
discussed. She promises.
Ø
He
reminds her that he is to go to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and
that he is sure they have something planned for him (he knows they cannot be
trusted).
Ø
Hamlet
leaves dragging Polonius’ body with him.
Ø
The King asks the Queen
what is wrong.
Ø
She
tells him of Hamlet’s stabbing Polonius and his madness.
Ø
The
King is saddened, but believes it best to send Hamlet to England A.S.A.P.
Ø
He
summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and tells them to find Hamlet and take
Polonius’ body to the chapel.
Ø
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern find Hamlet after he has hidden the body. They ask him where the
body is but he will not tell them. They tell him he must tell them and to go see
the King. He says he will go see the King but will not reveal the body.
Ø
Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern tell the King that they failed to recover the body of Polonius.
Ø
The
King wishes to see Hamlet, and Hamlet is brought in. Eventually, Hamlet suggests
where the body may be.
Ø
The
King tells Hamlet, that for his own safety, he must go quickly to England. He
agrees to go without hesitation and exits.
Ø
The
King tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to follow him closely, and make certain
that he leave Denmark before tomorrow.
Ø
When
the King is alone he reveals his fear of Hamlet and that he has sent letters
with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to England telling them to execute Hamlet. He
will not rest until he knows Hamlet is dead.
Ø
Young Fortinbras arrives
in Denmark with his men. He sends his captain to the King to tell of their
arrival.
Ø
Hamlet
sees the captain and speaks to him. He asks where they are headed and why.
Ø
Hamlet
reproaches himself. He is further disgusted by his lack of action in avenging
his father’s death. The fact that an army of men is willing to face certain
death for honour disturbs him. While he himself, his father murdered and his
mother soiled, is unable to act. He vows to have only murderous thoughts (“my
thoughts be bloody”) from now on.
Ø
We learn of Ophelia’s
madness.
Ø
We
learn that Laertes has learned of his father’s death and is secretly returning
to Denmark with vengeance.
Ø
A
messenger enters to warn to King that Laertes has arrived and is very hostile.
Ø
Laertes
enters and believes the King has played some role in his father’s death.
Ø
The
King proclaims his innocence as Ophelia enters.
Ø
Laertes
is shocked with disbelief by his sisters condition.
Ø
The
King explains that he grieves with Laertes for the loss of his father and for
Ophelia’s condition, and he will prove his innocence in Polonius death.
Ø
The
scene ends with the King telling Laertes that when they know who is guilty they
will punish, “and where th’offence is, let the great axe fall”.
Ø
A letter arrives for
Horatio from Hamlet. Horatio learns that Hamlet’s ship, while on its way to
England, was overcome by pirates and he was taken hostage. He tells Horatio,
they have treated him well because he has promised them some service in return.
He wants Horatio to send the sailors to the King with the other letters they
carry. He also wants Horatio to come with the men to where he is. Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern have continued on to England and Hamlet has something very
important to tell Horatio.
Ø
Horatio
leaves with the sailors.
Ø
The King has convinced
Laertes that he is not guilty of Polonius’ death, and informs him of
Hamlet’s involvement.
Ø
Laertes
asks why the King has not taken action against Hamlet.
Ø
The
King explains that he cannot do anything to
Hamlet for two reasons: a) the Queen’s love for her son, and b) the common
people’s affection and loyalty to him.
Ø
The
King and Laertes plot against Hamlet. The King needs to figure out a way to make
it look like an accident (so no guilt/blame is laid) and Laertes wants to be the
one to kill Hamlet and avenge his father’s death.
Ø
The
two plan to coax Hamlet into a fencing match. The King informs Laertes of
Hamlet’s envy for his talent. He says they can easily use this against him and
lure him into a “match”.
Ø
Laertes
adds that he has a very potent poison that he will dip his rapier’s tip into.
If he so much as scratches Hamlet with it, it will kill him. The King thinks
this is a good plan, but to ensure Hamlet’s demise he suggests putting poison
in his cup of wine before they play. This way, if Laertes misses, the poisoned
wine will do the job.
Ø
The
two agree just as the Queen enters to tell them of Ophelia’s drowning.
Ø
The
scene ends with Laertes taking his leave of the King and Queen and the King
suggesting that they follow him.
Ø Two gravediggers dig a grave and jest. The talk about Ophelia’s Christian burial although she took her own life.
Ø Horatio and Hamlet approach. Hamlet finds the detached ways of the gravediggers unsettling.
Ø Hamlet comments on life, and how the greatest man and the most insignificant man end up the same in death.
Ø Hamlet speaks to the gravediggers to find our who’s grave he digs.
Ø The funeral procession approaches (the King, Queen, Laertes, and the others follow Ophelia’s body).
Ø Hamlet bids he and Horatio to hide. They look on and Hamlet learns that it is Ophelia who has died. (Laertes jumps into her grave to hold her one last time).
Ø Hamlet approaches the funeral party and jumps into Ophelia’s grave with Laertes. He tells everyone that he loved Ophelia, “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum”.
Ø They pull the two rivals apart. The King reminds Laertes to be patient and remember the conversation they had previously.
Ø Hamlet explains to Horatio how he snuck out of his chamber (on board the ship to England) during the night and took the letters (commissions) Rosencrantz and Guildenstern had from the King and read them. He learned of the King’s plan to have him killed in England.
Ø He then goes on to explain that he forged a new letter telling England to kill the bearers of the letter (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) and kept the original letter.
Ø How he got away Horatio already knows (the pirates).
Ø The courtier, Osric, comes to inform Hamlet that the King has made a wager on Hamlet’s fencing abilities. He has bet that Laertes could not get three hits more than Hamlet in twelve rounds of fencing. The King has sent for Hamlet to have him settle the bet.
Ø Hamlet eventually goes, although his intuition warns him, “but thou wouldst not think how ill all’s here about my heart”.
Ø Hamlet and Laertes begin the match. Hamlet lays the first hit and the King entreats him to drink a toast (from the poisoned cup). Hamlet wants to wait until the round is finished.
Ø The Queen decides to toast her son, the King tells her not to, but she insists and drinks the poisoned wine.
Ø Hamlet accuses Laertes of letting him win. With that Laertes wounds him. When Hamlet realizes, Laertes’ sword is unbated (not blunted with a button) he forces him to exchange swords and then wounds Laertes.
Ø The Queen falls. She realizes the wine was poisoned, tells Hamlet, and dies.
Ø Laertes falls. He tells Hamlet about the poison on the tip of the sword, and how they are both going to die. He also confirms what the Queen has said about the poisoned wine and blames the King.
Ø Hamlet lunges for the King and stabs him. He then forces him to drink the reminder of the poisoned wine. The King dies.
Ø Laertes asks for forgiveness from Hamlet and dies.
Ø Hamlet asks Horatio to tell everyone the truth of what has happened – to tell the true story to the people.
Ø Horatio says he would rather die then outlive his friend, and tries to drink from the poisoned cup.
Ø Hamlet stops him.
Ø Osric announces Prince Fortinbras’ return from Poland.
Ø Hamlet tells Horatio that Fortinbras has his vote to take Denmark. He dies.
Ø Fortinbras enters shocked at the scene. He sees the opportunity to get Denmark and Horatio tells him is to be so.
Ø They remove the bodies from the stage.