Hamlet
Shakespeare, Hamlet. Penguin Populair Classics, 1994
FEE BROEKHUIZEN- 6VWO 1
, Summary of the plot
The play is about Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, and is set at Elsinore Castle in Denmark.
Hamlet's father was the King of Denmark but has recently passed away (before the play starts).
The brother of the deceased King Hamlet, Claudius, seized the throne and married the widow of
King Hamlet, mother of Prince Hamlet, Queen Gertrude. At Elsinore Castle, patrols have been
startled several times by the appearance of a ghost. This ghost turns out to be the deceased king,
who apparently cannot find piece in his grave. The guards decide to notify Hamlet of the ghost in
the hope that he can do something with it. Meanwhile, Claudius expresses his thoughts about how
Hamlet shouldn't be so sad about the death of his father and commends it to Hamlet, who agrees.
But it soon becomes apparent that Hamlet hates that his mother married Claudius, as Hamlet de-
spises Claudius. Hamlet’s girlfriend, Ophelia, is an innocent of beautiful young women. Ophelia's
father, Polonius, and her brother, Leartes, want to convince Ophelia that Hamlet does not love her
and is simply with her because, as a prince, he cannot marry just anyone. Ophelia, who strongly
relies on the men in her life to instruct her how to behave, promises not to speak to Hamlet any-
more.
Hamlet meets his father's ghost and finds out that his suspicions are true. His father's ghost
tells him that Claudius is responsible for his death by poisoning him. Hamlet’s ghost urges Hamlet
to take revenge on Claudius, as he killed and married his wife, so he can find peace in his grave.
Hamlet promises to take revenge, however, exclusively on Claudius and not his mother, and the
ghost disappears. Hamlet decides to keep this quiet and starts acting insane. Laertes leaves for
Paris. Ophelia tells her father that Hamlet has visited her and she was alarmed by his insane be-
havior. Polonius suggests that Hamlet's love for Ophelia is what has driven him insane.
Meanwhile, the young Prince of Norway, Fortinbras, is seeking revenge for the death of his
father, who was murdered by Hamlet's father. Fortinbras wants to invade Denmark and Claudius
sends envoys to Norway to negotiate and the situation is safe for now. But this isn't Claudius's only
concern. In addition to the problems with Fortinbras and Gertrude, Hamlet's behavior is also a con-
cern. Claudius wishes to know the cause of Hamlet's hateful and mad behavior and also Gertrude
is worried. Claudius fears Hamlet is about to overthrow him and decides to use two of Hamlet's old
academy friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to keep an eye on Hamlet. But Hamlet soon
finds out why his friends have visited him. Because Polonius is still convinced that Hamlet is mad
because of his love for Ophelia, Claudius agrees to inspect on Hamlet during a conversation with
Ophelia.
When a group of actors arrives to Elsinore, Hamlet devises a plan to make sure that
Claudius is the killer of his father. Hamlet inquires the actors if they can play a scene similar to the
death of his father, so Hamlet can base his guilt on Claudius' reaction. Rosencrantz and Guilden-
stern meanwhile pretend they don't know why Hamlet is acting so insane towards Polonius. Then
the meeting takes place between Hamlet and Ophelia, who are being spied on by Claudius and
Polonius. This conversation between Ophelia and Hamlet doesn't go well and climaxes in Hamlet
telling Ophelia not to get married and to enter the monastery. Claudius concludes that Hamlet isn't
in love with her and so his behavior comes from elsewhere. He considers Hamlet a threat to his
throne and decides to send Hamlet to England to have him eliminated there.
Then the moment of the play arrives. When Claudius watches the part of the murder, he
jumps up and leaves. Hamlet concludes that Claudius is guilty of his father's death and decides to
take revenge on Claudius, but spare his mother. When Hamlet notices Claudius kneeling on the
FEE BROEKHUIZEN- 6VWO 2
Shakespeare, Hamlet. Penguin Populair Classics, 1994
FEE BROEKHUIZEN- 6VWO 1
, Summary of the plot
The play is about Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, and is set at Elsinore Castle in Denmark.
Hamlet's father was the King of Denmark but has recently passed away (before the play starts).
The brother of the deceased King Hamlet, Claudius, seized the throne and married the widow of
King Hamlet, mother of Prince Hamlet, Queen Gertrude. At Elsinore Castle, patrols have been
startled several times by the appearance of a ghost. This ghost turns out to be the deceased king,
who apparently cannot find piece in his grave. The guards decide to notify Hamlet of the ghost in
the hope that he can do something with it. Meanwhile, Claudius expresses his thoughts about how
Hamlet shouldn't be so sad about the death of his father and commends it to Hamlet, who agrees.
But it soon becomes apparent that Hamlet hates that his mother married Claudius, as Hamlet de-
spises Claudius. Hamlet’s girlfriend, Ophelia, is an innocent of beautiful young women. Ophelia's
father, Polonius, and her brother, Leartes, want to convince Ophelia that Hamlet does not love her
and is simply with her because, as a prince, he cannot marry just anyone. Ophelia, who strongly
relies on the men in her life to instruct her how to behave, promises not to speak to Hamlet any-
more.
Hamlet meets his father's ghost and finds out that his suspicions are true. His father's ghost
tells him that Claudius is responsible for his death by poisoning him. Hamlet’s ghost urges Hamlet
to take revenge on Claudius, as he killed and married his wife, so he can find peace in his grave.
Hamlet promises to take revenge, however, exclusively on Claudius and not his mother, and the
ghost disappears. Hamlet decides to keep this quiet and starts acting insane. Laertes leaves for
Paris. Ophelia tells her father that Hamlet has visited her and she was alarmed by his insane be-
havior. Polonius suggests that Hamlet's love for Ophelia is what has driven him insane.
Meanwhile, the young Prince of Norway, Fortinbras, is seeking revenge for the death of his
father, who was murdered by Hamlet's father. Fortinbras wants to invade Denmark and Claudius
sends envoys to Norway to negotiate and the situation is safe for now. But this isn't Claudius's only
concern. In addition to the problems with Fortinbras and Gertrude, Hamlet's behavior is also a con-
cern. Claudius wishes to know the cause of Hamlet's hateful and mad behavior and also Gertrude
is worried. Claudius fears Hamlet is about to overthrow him and decides to use two of Hamlet's old
academy friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to keep an eye on Hamlet. But Hamlet soon
finds out why his friends have visited him. Because Polonius is still convinced that Hamlet is mad
because of his love for Ophelia, Claudius agrees to inspect on Hamlet during a conversation with
Ophelia.
When a group of actors arrives to Elsinore, Hamlet devises a plan to make sure that
Claudius is the killer of his father. Hamlet inquires the actors if they can play a scene similar to the
death of his father, so Hamlet can base his guilt on Claudius' reaction. Rosencrantz and Guilden-
stern meanwhile pretend they don't know why Hamlet is acting so insane towards Polonius. Then
the meeting takes place between Hamlet and Ophelia, who are being spied on by Claudius and
Polonius. This conversation between Ophelia and Hamlet doesn't go well and climaxes in Hamlet
telling Ophelia not to get married and to enter the monastery. Claudius concludes that Hamlet isn't
in love with her and so his behavior comes from elsewhere. He considers Hamlet a threat to his
throne and decides to send Hamlet to England to have him eliminated there.
Then the moment of the play arrives. When Claudius watches the part of the murder, he
jumps up and leaves. Hamlet concludes that Claudius is guilty of his father's death and decides to
take revenge on Claudius, but spare his mother. When Hamlet notices Claudius kneeling on the
FEE BROEKHUIZEN- 6VWO 2
