Hamlet: Important Facts and Summary

Posted on May 10, 2025 by thespectrumworld

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a masterpiece of Elizabethan drama that continues to captivate audiences with its complex characters, philosophical themes, and psychological insights. Written around 1599-1602, the play tells the story of the Prince’s quest for justice and truth in the face of his father’s murder, corruption, and deceit.

The Story of Hamlet:

The play revolves around Prince’s struggle to avenge his father’s murder, which he believes was orchestrated by his uncle Claudius, who has taken the throne and married his mother, Queen Gertrude. As he navigates the complexities of morality, mortality, and madness, he must confront his own emotions, doubts, and fears.

Sources of Hamlet:

William Shakespeare’s play draws inspiration from various sources, including:

Norse legend: The story of Amleth, a prince who avenges his father’s murder, is found in Saxo Grammaticus’s “Gesta Danorum” (History of Denmark).
French adaptation: François de Belleforest’s “Histoires Tragiques” (1570) adapts the Amleth story, influencing Shakespeare’s play.
Elizabethan revenge tragedy: Shakespeare drew from the genre of revenge tragedy, popular during the Elizabethan era.
Classical influences: Shakespeare incorporated elements from classical Greek and Roman literature, such as the works of Seneca

Characters in Hamlet:

Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark, the play’s protagonist, seeks to avenge his father’s murder.
Claudius: The King of Denmark, his uncle, who murdered his brother and took the throne.
Gertrude: The Queen of Denmark, his mother, who married Claudius after the King’s death.
Ophelia: Polonius’s daughter, who is driven mad by the events of the play and ultimately dies.
Polonius: The Lord Chamberlain, who is known for his verbosity and scheming.
Horatio: Hamlet’s loyal friend and confidant, who serves as a voice of reason.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Two friends, who are summoned by Claudius to distract.
Fortinbras: The Prince of Norway, who serves as a foil to Hamlet and ultimately takes the throne.
The Ghost of King: The spirit of Hamlet’s father, who appears to him and demands justice.

Summary of Hamlet:

Act 1

The play opens with the death of the King, and his brother, Claudius, marries the King’s widow, Queen Gertrude.
Prince is deeply disturbed by his father’s death and his mother’s quick remarriage to Claudius.
His father’s ghost appears to him and reveals that he was murdered by Claudius.
He vows to avenge his father’s death.

Act 2

His behavior becomes increasingly erratic, and he feigns madness to distract from his true intentions.
His friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, arrive at Elsinore, and He uses them to gather information about Claudius.
Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain, believes his madness is due to his love for Polonius’s daughter, Ophelia.

Act 3

His famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy takes place in this act, where he contemplates the meaning of life and death.
He confronts Ophelia, and their relationship deteriorates.
He stages a play that reenacts the murder of his father to gauge Claudius’s guilt.

Act 4

Claudius becomes increasingly suspicious of his behavior and plots to send him to England, where he hopes Hamlet will be killed.
He discovers Claudius’s plan and escapes, returning to Denmark.
Ophelia’s madness and eventual death are revealed.

Act 5

He returns to Denmark and confronts Claudius, ultimately killing him and several other characters.
He himself is mortally wounded by a poisoned sword and dies after finally achieving his revenge.
Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, takes over the throne, restoring order.

Quotes from Hamlet:

“To be, or not to be: that is the question” – Soliloquy (Act 3, Scene 1)
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark” – Marcellus (Act 1, Scene 4)
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be” – Polonius (Act 1, Scene 3)
“To thine own self be true” – Polonius (Act 1, Scene 3)
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – Hamlet (Act 2, Scene 2)
“A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.” ( Act 1, Scene 1) describes the ghost.
“This above all: to thine own self be true” – Polonius (Act 1, Scene 3)
“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray, love, remember” – Ophelia (Act 4, Scene 5)

The Play within the Play in Hamlet:

The play’s title: The play within the play is called “The Murder of Gonzago.”
Purpose: He stages this play to gauge Claudius’s guilt and reaction to the murder scene, which mirrors the circumstances of the King’s death.
Significance: The play within the play allows him to observe Claudius’s behavior and confirm his suspicions about his uncle’s guilt.
Dramatic device: This technique enables Shakespeare to explore themes, such as truth, deception, and the power of art to reveal hidden truths.

Themes and Symbolism in Hamlet:

Ambition and power: The play highlights the corrupting influence of power and the destructive nature of unchecked ambition.
Madness and sanity: His feigned madness and Ophelia’s actual madness serve as foils to explore the blurred lines between reason and insanity.
Mortality and transience: The play’s famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy contemplates the human fear of death and the unknown.
Appearance vs. reality: Characters like Claudius and Polonius hide behind masks of deception, while Hamlet’s appearance of madness conceals his true intentions.

Its influence on literature, art, and popular culture is immense. The play’s themes, characters, and soliloquies have become part of the cultural lexicon, inspiring countless adaptations, interpretations, and references.

Adaptations Based on Hamlet:

Film Adaptations:

Kenneth Branagh’s Hamlet (1996): A four-hour film adaptation starring Kenneth Branagh as the main protagonist.
Franco Zeffirelli’s Hamlet (1990): A film adaptation starring Mel Gibson.
The Lion King (1994): An animated Disney film loosely based on the play by Shakespeare, with Simba’s story mirroring Hamlet’s.

Stage Adaptations:

The Royal Shakespeare Company’s productions: Various stage productions of the play have been performed by the RSC, featuring notable actors like David Tennant and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Broadway productions: It has been performed on Broadway numerous times, with notable productions featuring actors like Jude Law and Liev Schreiber.

Literary Adaptations:

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1966): A play by Tom Stoppard that explores the lives of two minor characters from the play.
The Hamletmachine (1977): A postmodern play by Heiner Müller that reinterprets the play’s original story.

Indian adaptations:

Haider (2014): A Hindi-language Bollywood film directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, set in Kashmir during the conflict. This adaptation explores themes of revenge, politics, and trauma.
Karmayogi (2012): A Malayalam film adaptation, showcasing the play’s relevance in Indian contexts.
Hamlet: The Clown Prince: A production by Rajat Kapoor, offering a unique take on the classic tragedy using clowning, humor, and satire.
Hemlat: The Prince of Garanhata (2006): A Bengali stage play by Bratya Basu, part of the Indian cinematic adaptations of Shakespeare.
Kolkatar Hamlet (1989): A Bengali film adaptation by Asit Basu.
Marathi adaptation of the play: A recent production that has received positive reviews for its creative take on the classic play.

Conclusion:

It remains a timeless classic, offering insights into human nature, morality, and the complexities of existence. Shakespeare’s masterpiece continues to captivate audiences with its rich characters, philosophical themes, and enduring relevance.