Let’s review what we’ve done thus far! Hamlet

Act 1 Sc. 1 Horatio and the guards of Elsinore see the ghost of the late King Hamlet. The ghost disappears when the cock crows leading Horatio to believe that he is from hell. Horatio and the guards decide to tell Hamlet what they have just seen. Horatio gives us background information on the state of Denmark. Denmark is in conflict with Norway. King Hamlet killed King Fortinbras of Norway over land. Now Young Fortinbras is planning an attack on Denmark in order to avenge his father’s death.

Act 1 Scene 2 We meet Hamlet for the first time. Claudius addresses the people of Denmark and thanks them for their support during his brother’s death and his coronation. His speech is long indicating that he is hiding something. Laertes asks for permission to go back to school and I granted it. Hamlet is denied permission to go back to school. Claudius also tells Hamlet to “man-up” and that his mourning is unnatural. Hamlet then gives his first long soliloquy where he claims “Frailty thy name is woman” and we realize his frustration toward his mother.

Act 1 scene 3 This scene serves as a moment of comparison between Hamlet’s family and Polonius’ family. In this scene Polonius advises his son Laertes before he goes off to school. He then cautions Ophelia against spending time with Hamlet and tries to convince her that his love for her does not have good intentions.

Act 1 Scenes 4 and 5 Hamlet follows the ghost when it beckons despite Horatio’s expostulation. The ghost tells Hamlet the story of his death and asks him to avenge his death. Hamlet vows to “remember” and makes his friends swear to secrecy.

Act 2 Scene 1 Polonius sends Reynaldo to Paris to spy on his son. Ophelia comes in disturbed by Hamlet’s appearance in her room. Polonius decides that Hamlet has gone mad due to love sickness.

Act 2 Scene 2 Polonius brings the love letters to the King and Queen. They decide that they must spy on Hamlet and therefore ask his two childhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to extract information from Hamlet. The players come in for a play, Hamlet asks one to recite lines from the story of Priam and Hecuba. Hamlet becomes immensely disappointed with himself afterwards. He observes the passion the actor is able to put into mere fiction, yet Hamlet cannot evoke the same amount of passion in his own life.

Act 3 Scene 1 Hamlet is “alone” and recites the famous “To be or not to be” speech. Then Ophelia walks in. Hamlet speaks to her with much disrespect, tells her to go to a “nunnery” and denounces all womankind. Claudius and Polonius have witnessed the entire scene and offer their interpretations.

Act 3 Scene 2 Hamlet tells the actors his philosophy of theater, then stages the play within the play. The play catches the King’s conscience and he stops the play and leaves. Hamlet feels as though the play has finally given him the evidence he needed to move on with the murder of King Claudius.

Act 3 Scene 3 Claudius tells R&G to take Hamlet to England. Then Claudius attempts to pray and shows remorse for what he has done. Hamlet is behind him, about to commit the murder when he realizes that by killing him as he is praying, he will send him to heaven. Therefore, Hamlet resolves to kill him when he is in the middle of a sinful act. Claudius then reveals that he had difficulty praying.

Act 3 Scene 4 Hamlet enters his mother’s room to speak “daggers”. Polonius is hiding behind an arras. Polonius shouts out when Gertrude yells and Hamlet stabs him through the arras. Hamlet proceeds to make his mother reflect upon her actions and demands her not to return to his uncle’s bed and to deny all his affection toward her. Hamlet drags Polonius’ body out.

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