Main Text
Explore 5 main texts related to Hamlet. Each section contains the full literary work.
Hamlet Summary
Summary
Act 1
The Appearance of King Hamlet’s Ghost at Elsinore Castle
At Elsinore Castle in Denmark, sentinels Barnardo and Francisco are keeping watch through the night. Francisco is about to finish his shift when Marcellus, another guard, arrives along with Horatio. Horatio is a close friend of the young Prince Hamlet. Marcellus and Barnardo eagerly talk about the ghost they have seen twice dur...
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Hamlet Key Facts
Key Facts
Full Title: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Playwright: William Shakespeare (1564-1616) When Written: Likely between 1599 and 1602 Where Written: Stratford-upon-Avon or London, England When Published: First Quarto in 1603; Second Quarto in 1604; First Folio in 1623 Literary Period: Renaissance Genre: Tragic Play; Revenge Play Setting: Elsinore Castle, Denmark, during the late M...
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Hamlet Literary Devices
Symbols
Yorick's Skull : Yorick’s skull symbolizes mortality and the inevitability of death. In the Gravediggers’ Scene, Hamlet finds the skull of Yorick, the court jester whom he knew and loved as a child. Hamlet thinks about how death comes for everyone, no matter their status in life.
The Ghost : The ghost of King Hamlet symbolizes decay and corruption in Denmark. It also embodies vengeance, ur...
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Hamlet Characters
Major Characters
Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark, deeply affected by his father's death and his mother's quick remarriage to Claudius. He is thoughtful and melancholic. He is driven by a desire to avenge his father's murder.
The Ghost: The spirit of King Hamlet, who appears to tell Hamlet that he was murdered by Claudius. The ghost urges Hamlet to take revenge.
King Claudius: Hamlet’s uncle, who bec...
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Hamlet Themes
Themes
Revenge: Revenge is a central theme in Hamlet, driving much of the plot. Several characters seek revenge: the ghost of King Hamlet urges his son to avenge his murder; Laertes seeks to avenge Polonius’s and Ophelia’s deaths; and Fortinbras desires revenge for his father’s death and military losses. Shakespeare might be suggesting the futility of revenge, especially with the play’s final carn...
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Hamlet Quotes
Quotes
"To be, or not to be: that is the question:" (Act 3, Scene 1)
Explanation: Hamlet ponders the nature of existence and the appeal of suicide as a means to escape the pain and unfairness of life.
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." (Act 1, Scene 4)
Explanation: Marcellus' comment to Horatio signals that all is not well in Denmark, indicating deep corruption. It sets the tone...
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Notes
Explore 23 detailed notes related to Hamlet. Each note provides in-depth analysis, explanations, and critical insights.