HAMLET
PLOT
The story of Hamlet is divided in five acts:
First act.
Two months after the death of Hamlet’s father, the King of Denmark, Queen Gertrude
marries her brother-in-law, Claudius (cognato, the dead king’s brother).
The dead King’s ghost appeares at the castle and tells Hamlet he was killed by Claudius who put
poison in his ear while he was sleeping. Finally, he asks Hamlet to avenge him, but to leave his
mother’s punishment to Heaven.
Second act.
Hamlet acts like he’s mad to carry out (portare avanti) his plan of vengeance
(vendetta).
King’s councellor, Polonius believes Hamlet turned mad because of his love for his daughter,
Ophelia.
Then Hamlet arranges – for the court - the performance of “The Murder of Gonzago”, a play with a
story very similar to the one revealed by the ghost.
Third act.
The play is presented and soon King Claudius goes away. Hamlet goes to his mother’s
bedroom and, during an argument with her, kills Polonius who was overhearing them. The King
decides to send Hamlet to England to get rid of him (sbarazzarsi di lui).
Fourth act.
Hamlet is sent to England to be killed. Ophelia goes mad and suicide. Her brother,
Laertes, wants revenge for his father’s murder and the King, after knows Hamlet has escaped,
arranges his death in a duel with Polonius’ son.
Fifth act.
There’s the duel. The King prepares a poisoned drink for Hamlet - that will be drunk
by his mother – and puts some poison on Laertes’ sword. Laertes wounds Hamlet but then the two
swords are exchanged and Laertes gets wounded too. The Queen dies and Laertes, denounces the
King, who is stabbed by Hamlet. Both the king and Laertes die.
Hamlet asks his friend, Horatio to tell his story, recommending that Fortinbras (Re di norvegia) be
elected King of Denmark. Then he also dies. In the end, Fortinbras takes possession of the kingdom
after having given military honours to Hamlet.
SETTING
The story is set in the Middle Ages in the 14th and 15th centuries in Denmark. It was a Protestant
country, like England. Hamlet studies in Germany, where Martin Luther started the Protestant
Reformation, and he’s sceptical of the ghost.
THE CHARACTER OF HAMLET
