Act 1 – The Ghost’s Revelation
The play begins with guards on the castle battlements seeing the ghost of the late King
Hamlet.
Prince Hamlet meets the ghost, who reveals that Claudius murdered him by pouring
poison in his ear while he slept.
The ghost demands revenge but warns Hamlet not to harm Queen Gertrude.
Hamlet vows to remember and obey but decides to act cautiously and appear mad (“put
on an antic disposition”) to hide his plans.
Act 2 – Feigned Madness and Spying
Hamlet behaves strangely, making the court think he’s gone mad.
Claudius and Gertrude ask Hamlet’s childhood friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to
spy on him.
Polonius, the king’s advisor, believes Hamlet’s madness is caused by love for his
daughter, Ophelia.
Hamlet begins to suspect that he needs proof of Claudius’s guilt before acting.
Act 3 – The Play Within a Play
Hamlet stages a play, The Murder of Gonzago, which mirrors the way Claudius killed
King Hamlet.
Claudius reacts with guilt and leaves abruptly, confirming his crime to Hamlet.
Hamlet confronts his mother in her chamber and accidentally kills Polonius, who was
hiding behind a curtain, thinking it was Claudius.
The ghost appears again to remind Hamlet of his mission.
Act 4 – Consequences and Manipulation
Claudius sends Hamlet to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, secretly ordering
his execution.
Hamlet discovers the plot and escapes, arranging for his two friends to be executed
instead.
Ophelia, devastated by her father’s death and Hamlet’s behavior, goes mad and drowns in
a stream.
Laertes, Ophelia’s brother, returns to Denmark seeking revenge for Polonius’s death.
Claudius manipulates him into plotting Hamlet’s murder.
Act 5 – Tragic End
Hamlet returns to Denmark and discovers Ophelia’s death at her funeral, where he and
Laertes fight in grief and anger.
Claudius arranges a duel between Hamlet and Laertes, poisoning both the sword and a
cup of wine.
During the duel:
o Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poisoned sword.
o Hamlet wounds Laertes with the same blade.
o Queen Gertrude accidentally drinks the poisoned wine and dies.
o Laertes, dying, admits Claudius’s plot.
o Hamlet kills Claudius before succumbing to the poison himself.
As Hamlet dies, he names Fortinbras, Prince of Norway, as the next king.
Fortinbras arrives to find the Danish royal family dead, and the play ends with his taking
control of Denmark.
1. Hamlet vs. Claudius (External Conflict)
Type: Man vs. Man
Description: Hamlet seeks to avenge his father’s murder by killing Claudius, but
Claudius is cunning and constantly schemes to protect himself. This central conflict
drives most of the plot.
2. Hamlet vs. Himself (Internal Conflict)
Type: Man vs. Self
Description: Hamlet struggles with indecision, doubt, and moral hesitation. He questions
whether revenge is justifiable, fears the consequences, and delays action, leading to tragic
results.
3. Hamlet vs. The Corruption of Denmark (External Conflict)
Type: Man vs. Society
Description: Hamlet sees Denmark as morally “rotten” due to Claudius’s treachery,
Gertrude’s hasty remarriage, and the court’s deceit. He feels trapped in a corrupt world.
4. Hamlet vs. Fate (External/Internal Conflict)
Type: Man vs. Fate
Description: Hamlet often wonders if events are predestined by divine will or if he has
control over his destiny, especially when contemplating life, death, and the afterlife.
Themes
Revenge and Justice – The central conflict revolves around Hamlet’s quest to avenge his
father.
Corruption and Morality – The Danish court is full of deceit, betrayal, and moral
decay.
Madness – Both feigned (Hamlet) and real (Ophelia) madness are explored.
Fate and Free Will – Characters struggle between action and hesitation.
Appearance vs. Reality – Deception is used to hide truth and manipulate others.