The tale of Hamlet is a story of revenge and murder. The prince of Denmark, Hamlet, lost his father, King Hamlet, just two months ago. The cause of King Hamlet’s death is said to be a venomous snake bite. The former king’s brother, Claudius, has married his former sister-in-law, Gertrude, and has gotten himself crowned as the new king of Denmark. Two Danish officers, who guard the castle at Elsinore where Hamlet and his family live, witness an apparition of the former king for two nights. On the third night they invite Horatio, Hamlet’s best friend and schoolmate, to stand guard with them. When the apparition appears to the two guards and Horatio on the third night, Horatio speaks to it and commands the ghost to speak. However, the ghost refuses to speak and appears to be offended by Horatio’s words. Just before sunrise, the ghost disappears. Horatio decides to inform Hamlet about the former king’s ghost’s appearance. The next day at the castle, Claudius gives a speech to a large crowd. He says that he is mourning his brother’s death, but is also happy to take Gertrude as his wife. Hamlet is not happy about his mother’s hasty marriage with his uncle, but he does not reveal these thoughts. After the speech, Horatio meets Hamlet privately and asks him stand guard with them that night to meet his dead father’s ghost. Laertes, the son of Polonius, who is the chief counselor to Claudius, leaves Denmark to attend school in France. Polonius also has a daughter, Ophelia, who is in a relationship with prince Hamlet. Polonius does not approve and tells her to stay away. Ophelia agrees to obey her father.

At midnight, Hamlet joins Horatio and the other guards at the castle gate. Soon the ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to follow him. When Hamlet and the ghost are alone, the ghost reveals that Claudius was the one who murdered him, by pouring poison in his ear while he was taking a nap in the orchard. King Hamlet was unable to ask for forgiveness for his sins before he died, and now he will remain wandering the earth as a ghost until his murderer is killed. Hamlet promises to take revenge on his father’s death. Soon Hamlet pretends to go insane so everyone will be distracted from Hamlet’s plans of killing Claudius. Polonius thinks Hamlet has gone mad because of love-sickness ever since Ophelia began to refuse his tokens of love. He informs Claudius and Gertrude of his suspicions but they are not sure Ophelia rejecting Hamlet is the main reason behind Hamlet’s strange behavior. Claudius and Polonius decide to stage a coincidental encounter between Hamlet and Ophelia and spy on their conversation. Claudius also sent Guildenstern and Rosencrantz to find out about Hamlet’s trouble since the three are childhood friends, but they fail to find out why Hamlet is depressed because Hamlet figures out that their sudden visit is to spy on Hamlet. Hamlet’s favorite acting troupe is on their way to Elsinore castle and he is overjoyed at the news. He requests a performance of ‘The Murder of Gonzago’ to the company’s manager. He decides to observe Claudius’s reaction to the play since the play is similar to the recent incident that has occurred in his family. He wants to be sure the ghost was telling the truth because he suspects than an evil demon may be trying to mislead him.

Claudius and Polonius hide behind a curtain while Hamlet talks to Ophelia. He tells Ophelia that he did love her once, and charges her with immodesty and commands her to go to a nunnery. Claudius feels that the prince will harm people since he is insane. He decides to send Hamlet to England to collect a tax owed to Denmark. Polonius urges Gertrude to question her son about his insanity. The next night, the actors set up the play. Hamlet has confided in Horatio about his message from the ghost, and assigned Horatio to observe Claudius while he watches the play along with him. The play starts with the death of King Gonzago. A nephew of Gonzago poisons him, and Baptista, Gonzago’s widow, allows the killer to comfort her. Right after Gonzago’s dead body is buried, the nephew seduces Baptista. After seeing this, Claudius feels so guilty that he rushes out to his bedroom and the play ends unfinished. Hamlet talks to Horatio and confirms that Claudius is indeed the murderer because he displayed guilt by suddenly leaving the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Hamlet that his mother wants to speak with him in her room. Polonius hides behind a drape to listen to Gertrude and Hamlet’s conversation. Gertrude scolds Hamlet for his strange behavior. Hamlet argues with her about why she would marry his uncle, whose status of leadership is much lower than his father. Polonius tries to yell for help from behind the drapery. Hamlet, thinking Claudius is behind the drapery, thrusts his knife through the drape and kills Polonius.

Hamlet opens the drape to discover Polonius lying dead and drags is body away. Gertrude reports the events to Claudius, whom realizes that Hamlet thought he was stabbing the king when he accidentally killed Polonius. Servants find Polonius’s body and prepare it for burial. Claudius writes to the king of England to kill Hamlet, and sends Hamlet to England with the letter. He has no knowledge of the contents of the letter. Ophelia becomes emotionally disturbed at the news of her father’s death. Laertes is angry and returns to Denmark. Danish rebels support Laertes’s claim to the throne. Claudius explains to him that Hamlet is behind Polonius’s death. Hamlet’s ship is attacked by pirates, who help Hamlet to return to Denmark. Horatio carries the letter to the king. Claudius and Laertes plan to kill Hamlet. Gertrude interrupts to report that Ophelia has drowned. Laertes and Hamlet are going to sword fight. Laertes’s sword will have poison on it. There will also be poisoned wine in Hamlet’s cup for him to drink. Hamlet finds out through Horatio that the letter being carried to the king of England has orders to kill Hamlet. He steals the letter and forges a letter ordering the death of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Before the duel begins, Hamlet apologizes to Laertes for hurting his father and sister. Hamlet scores the first points against Laertes. They take a short break Gertrude wipes sweat off of her son’s forehead, and she drinks the poisoned wine without knowing the drink is poisonous and meant for Hamlet.

Claudius couldn’t stop her from drinking it since he would have brought suspicion onto himself. At the second round, Laertes creates a minor wound on Hamlet with the poisoned sword. As the duel continues, the swords are exchanged. Hamlet strikes Laertes with the poisoned sword. Suddenly Gertrude collapses and states the wine is poisoned. Servants secure the exits. Laertes confesses the plan to kill Hamlet, and reveals that both he and Hamlet are dying because of the poisoned sword. Hamlet stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword and forces him to drink the rest of the wine. Before dying, Laertes excuses Hamlet for Polonius and Ophelia’s death. Hamlet requests Horatio to stay alive and defend their reputation as he grows weaker. The king of Norway, Fortinbras, takes over Denmark. He orders honors and military music for prince Hamlet.

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