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The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, usually shortened to Hamlet ( / ˈhæmlɪt / ), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play.
Jun 2, 2020 · Hamlet is Shakespeare's most popular, and most puzzling, play. It follows the form of a "revenge tragedy," in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against his father's murderer, his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark.
- Claudius asks Gertrude where Hamlet is. She tells him that Hamlet has killed Polonius.
- Gentlemen ask Hamlet where he has put Polonius' body. Hamlet replies in a way they cannot understand.
- Claudius asks Hamlet where Polonius' body is. Claudius tells Hamlet that he is being sent to England.
- Hamlet comes across the army of Fortinbras as he marches to attack Poland. Hamlet questions the point of the war.
A comprehensive overview of the classic tragedy Hamlet, in which the prince of Denmark seeks revenge for his father's murder by his uncle, Claudius. Learn about the characters, themes, quotes, and literary devices of the play, and follow the plot from act to act.
- The Action Begins Otherworldly
- Hamlet’s Love
- A Play Within A Play
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
- To Be Or Not to Be …
- Tragic Ending
As the play begins, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is visited by a mysterious ghost resembling his recently-deceased father the king. The ghost tells Hamlet that his father was murdered by Claudius, the king’s brother, who then took the throne and married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude. The ghost encourages Hamlet to avenge his father’s deathby killing Claud...
Polonius’ daughter Ophelia is in love with Hamlet, but their relationship has broken down since Hamlet learned of his father’s death. Ophelia is instructed by Polonius and Laertes to spurn Hamlet’s advances. Ultimately, Ophelia commits suicide as a result of Hamlet’s confusing behavior toward her and the death of her father.
In Act 3, Scene 2, Hamlet organizes actors to re-enact his father’s murder at the hands of Claudius in order to gauge Claudius’ reaction. He confronts his mother about his father’s murder and hears someone behind the arras. Believing it to be Claudius, Hamlet stabs the man with his sword. It transpires that he has actually killed Polonius.
Claudius realizes that Hamlet is out to get him and professes that Hamlet is mad. Claudius arranges for Hamlet to be shipped to England with his former friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, who have been informing the king about Hamlet’s state of mind. Claudius has secretly sent orders for Hamlet to be killed on arrival in England, but Hamlet escap...
Hamletarrives back in Denmark just as Ophelia is being buried, which prompts him to contemplate life, death, and the frailty of the human condition. The performance of this soliloquy is a big part of how any actor portraying Hamlet is judged by critics.
Laertes returns from France to avenge the death of Polonius, his father. Claudius plots with him to make Hamlet’s death appear accidental and encourages him to anoint his sword with poison. He also puts a cup of poison aside, in case the sword is unsuccessful. In the action, the swords are swapped and Laertes is mortally wounded with the poisoned s...
Jun 2, 2020 · Read the full text of Hamlet's soliloquy and his encounter with his uncle Claudius in this scene from the Folger edition of Shakespeare's play. Learn about the context, themes, and language of this classic tragedy.
This page discusses six of the major Hamlet themes that are evident in Shakespeare's play. Hamlet Theme 1: Revenge. There are two young men bent on avenging
