Themes in Hamlet

Themes in Hamlet

1. Act I

   • It's a cold night at Elsinore, the Danish royal castle
     • Bernardo takes over from Francisco, and he's joined by Horatio (Hamlet's best friend)
       • They tell Horatio they've seen a ghost of the dead King Hamlet
         • Hamlet decides to go see the Ghost himself
           • Laertes is returning to France while Hamlet couts Ophelia. Polonius and Laertes fear he is not genuine about her
             • The Ghost lures Hamlet to a private place and tells him that Claudius murdered him/his father. Hamlet vows to avenge him

2. Act II

   • Orphelia worries about Hamlet, and tells Polonius that he ran in her room to stare at her silently
     • Polonius takes it that he is ecstatically in love and tells her not to worry
       • Claudius sends two men to watch Hamlet, as he's concerned about his erratic behaviour
         • Hamlet realises they are there to spy on him, and sends them away
           • When the troupe of actors arrive, Hamlet arranges for them to put on a play depicting the King's death

3. Act III

   • Claudius listens to Ophelia and Hamlet speaking, as he contemplates suicide
     • Hamlet rejects Ophelia
       • During the play, Hamlet takes Claudius leaving as an admission of guilt
         • While in Gertrude's closet arguing, Polonius fears for the Queen's safety and leaps out. Hamlet stabs him, thinking it was Claudius
           • Claudius sends him on a one-way trip to England, where he hopes he'll meet his death
             • While arguing over Polonius' death, the Ghost enters and Hamlet's communication with him convinces all he is truly mad.

4. Act IV

   • Gertrude and Claudius speak of Hamlet's madness, and sending him away.
     • Hamlet refuses to give the location of Polonius' body away, although eventually does
       • Hamlet learns he is to go to England, and reminds himself of his vow to avenge his father's death
         • Ophelia wanders the castle with flowers, singing and deluded. Laertes returns from France to comfort her
           • Claudius convinces Laertes it's Hamlet's fault, but news arrives that he is alive and returning to Denmark
             • They concoct a plan to murder Hamlet using poison and a poisoned sword, in an 'accident' during a fencing match
               • Ophelia drowns herself

5. Act V

   • Gravediggers discuss Ophelia's suicide, and the funeral procession arrives as Hamlet converses with them
     • Distraught at the lack of ceremony and Hamlet's outburst of love, Laertes and Hamlet fight in the grave
       • During the fencing match, Gertrude accidentally drinks the poisoned wine. She cries she's been poisoned before dying.
         • Laertes strikes Hamlet with the poisoned sword and Hamlet uses the poisoned sword against him.
           • Laertes reveals the plot as they die, and Hamlet forces Claudius to drink and be cut, to ensure he dies and his father is avenged
             • Horatio goes to kill himself, but Hamlet stops him so someone can live to tell the story