Summary of Hamlet by William Shakespeare | Characters | Symbols | Themes | Plot
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Course
ENG-205
Institution
ENG-205
Book
Hamlet
This document is about complete explanation of novel Hamlet written by William Shakespeare. In this document there is characters list, symbols, themes, plot and all important events of play Hamlet.
Longest play (Shortest is Comedy of Errors); 4,042 lines; 1599 & 1602
Anti-Stratfordian theory initially given by James Wilmot is that these plays have been written by
Francis Bacon or Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford (or Elizabeth- the Queen or Morlowe)
Setting of the play: Elsinore Castle, Denmark; late Middle Ages; Reformation & humanist thought
& Oedipal complex; based on Danish revenge story first recorded by Saxo Grammaticus in the
1100s; many modern adaptations (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead)
Characters:
Hamlet: mother Gertrude & father King Hamlet; Uncle Claudius (Now step father); friend Horatio
Fortinbras: prince of Norway, foil of Hamlet; Yorick: deceased royal jester, skull is played
Polonius (advisor to Cla.): daughter Ophelia (Ham. lover) & son Laertes (scholar, expressive)
The Story
Barnado replaced by Francisco; horrified; asks to send Horatio & Marcellus to join; they join &
Fran. Leaves; Horatio is to watch apparition the other two have watched twice; Ghost of late King
appears; Horatio fearfully talks, ghost leaves; Horatio: something bad will happen; Fortinbras will
avenge his father; ghost reappears; Horatio offers help for peace; roster crows & ghost disappears;
Horatio says he will talk to son Hamlet; let us inform him
Cla. Court; gives speech; mourns the death; resolves to make Denmark strong against Fortinbras;
gives a letter to Voltemand and Cornelius for Fortinbras’ uncle; gives permission to Laertes to go
France; to Hamlet: “the clouds [of grief] still hang”; Hamlet: “too much in the sun.” Gertrude: it’s
common to die; treat Cla. well; Cla. calls his mourning “impious stubbornness.”; stay in Denmark;
he agrees; all makes merry; Hamlet alone says: life “unprofitable”, the marriage “incestuous” but
holds tongue for peace; Horatio (friend from Wittenberg)with 2 other comes; Hamlet happy &
sad to know; says he saw father last night; explains; Hamlet will join tonight; ghost may ask for
“foul play”
Laertes leaves for France & advises not to love Hamlet; she promises; Polonius farewells son;
advises him to make let not trustable near; Polonius asks; Ophelia reveals relationship; forbids to
keep on
Hamlet waits for ghost; Cla. enjoys parties; enrages Hamlet; Ghosts appear & asks Hamlet to
follow, he follows; they stops but Hamlet goes; Marcellus: “something is rotten in the state of
Denmark.” Asks ghost to stop; tells he is father’s spirit; take revenge of his; Hamlet asks for detail;
tells that Cla. poisoned in ear; Hamlet promises revenge; Horatio & Marcellus asks but he doesn’t
tell; they swear to keep secrecy; ghost asks to re-swear on Hamlet sword not to tell anyone & help
Hamlet
Polonius sends Reynaldo to watchdog Laertes as an acquaintance; Ophelia comes pale; tells about
Hamlet grabbing her wrist; readmits he loves; afraid Polonius takes her to Cla. for complaint
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