The Shakespeare Book

190

I

n Elsinore castle in Denmark,

King Claudius grieves for the

death of the former king, his

brother. He hastily marries

Gertrude, the dead king’s widow,

and sends messengers to Norway,

Denmark’s feuding neighbor,

to prevent an invasion by the

Norwegian Prince Fortinbras.

Gertrude’s son, Hamlet, is also

grieving for the king, his father.

Horatio, a companion, informs

Hamlet that the ghost of his father

has appeared on the battlements

at night, and takes him to see for

himself. The ghost tells Hamlet that

HAMLET

Hamlet’s father was murdered

by his uncle. Hamlet swears to

avenge his father. However, unsure

if he can believe the ghost, Hamlet

feigns madness to distract his

peers while he discovers the truth.

The courtier Polonius interprets

Hamlet’s strange behavior as a

symptom of love for Ophelia. After

informing the King of this, they use

Ophelia to spy on Hamlet. Hamlet

guesses what she is doing and

cruelly denies any affection for her.

To help assuage Hamlet’s grief

the King and Queen send for

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

Hamlet Son of the dead king

and Prince of Denmark. He is

the nephew and step-son of

King Claudius.

Claudius The newly crowned

Danish king who marries his

brother’s widow, Gertrude.

Fortinbras Nephew of

the Norwegian king and

successor to the Danish

throne. He seeks vengeance

against Denmark for his

father’s murder.

Polonius Courtier and trusted

adviser to Claudius. Father to

Ophelia and Laertes.

Gertrude Mother to Hamlet

and former wife of the

deceased King Hamlet. She

is now the wife of Claudius

and Queen of Denmark.

Laertes Son of Polonius and

brother to Ophelia. Laertes has

been studying in France, but

returns to Denmark to avenge

Polonius’s death.

Rosencrantz and

Guildenstern University

companions of Hamlet, whom

he distrusts.

Ophelia Daughter of Polonius

and sister to Laertes.

Horatio Trusted friend

of Hamlet, to whom Hamlet

reveals his plans.

Ghost of Hamlet’s father

It orders Hamlet to avenge his

father’s death.

Four players They perform

in Hamlet’s play.

Act 1 Act 2

1.5

2.1

1.1

1.2

2.2

The ghost makes

Hamlet swear to

avenge his

father’s murder.

The ghost of King

Hamlet is seen

haunting the battlements

of Elsinore castle.

Claudius announces

his marriage to his

brother’s widow,

Gertrude.

Rosencrantz and

Guildenstern are

greeted by the King and

Queen, then sent to

spy on Hamlet.

Ophelia informs her

father that Hamlet

visited her in a state

of sorrow and undress.