He misses his father and loathes Claudius. Horatio agrees that the ghost looks just like the late King and vows to tell the prince about it. They talk of how much the ghost looks like King Hamlet, and when they see him again they drag Horatio, Prince Hamlet's close friend, outside so that he can witness it too. Meanwhile, closer to home at Castle Elsinore, sentries Bernardo and Marcellus have been seeing a ghost. It is quite a tense time in Demnark's history, because an invasion by Norway is feared. He has been succeeded to the throne by his brother, Claudius, who has also succeeded the late King by marrying his widow, Gertrude. Prince Hamlet of Denmark is the son of King Hamlet, who has recently passed away. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own. Hamlet decides to spare his life for the time being.These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Hamlet reasons that to kill the King now would only send his soul to heaven rather than hell. Hamlet is summoned by his distressed mother, Gertrude, and on the way, he happens upon Claudius kneeling and attempting to pray. He immediately resolves to send Hamlet away. The play provokes Claudius, and he interrupts the action by storming out. Act IIIĪt the performance, Hamlet watches Claudius closely to see how he reacts. During rehearsal, Hamlet and the actors plot to present Hamlet's play before the King and Queen. Hamlet writes a play which includes scenes that mimic the murder of Hamlet's father. Their arrival coincides with a group of travelling actors that Hamlet happens to know well. Claudius summons Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, old friends of Hamlet to find out what's got into him. They had hoped to find the reason for Hamlet's sudden change in behaviour but could not. He rejects Ophelia, while Claudius and Polonius, the royal attendant, spy on him. Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 3Īccording to his plan, Hamlet begins to act strangely.
This above all: to thine own self be true. Laertes warns his sister, Ophelia, away from Hamlet and thinking too much of his attentions towards her. When Hamlet hears of the Ghost from Horatio, he wants to see it for himself.Įlsewhere, the royal attendant Polonius says farewell to his son Laertes, who is departing for France. Hamlet continues to mourn for his father's death and laments his mother's lack of loyalty. At that moment, the Ghost reappears, and the guards and Horatio decide to tell Hamlet.Ĭlaudius, Hamlet's uncle, married Hamlet's recently-widowed mother, becoming the new King of Denmark. The guards describe a ghost they have seen that resembles Hamlet's father, the recently-deceased king. Late at night, guards on the battlements of Denmark's Elsinore castle are met by Horatio, Prince Hamlet's friend from school. The play ends with a duel, during which the King, Queen, Hamlet's opponent and Hamlet himself are all killed. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge.
The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. TL DR: Hamlet sees his dead dad's ghost, pretends to go crazy with revenge, actually goes crazy with revenge (debatable), and everyone dies. Prices, booking, opening times and more to help you get organised