HAMLET

Hamlet in a Nutshell:

A haunting tale of revenge, madness, and moral conflict.
 

🕯️ Act I – A Ghostly Revelation
Prince Hamlet of Denmark is devastated by the sudden death of his father, the king. His mother, Gertrude, has quickly married Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius—now the new king. One night, Hamlet sees the ghost of his father, who reveals he was murdered by Claudius. Hamlet swears revenge.
 

🎭 Act II – The Mask of Madness
Hamlet starts acting strangely to uncover the truth, making others think he’s gone mad. He stages a play that mirrors his father’s murder to gauge Claudius's guilt. The king’s guilty reaction confirms the ghost’s story.
 

🗡️ Act III – Mistakes and Madness
Hamlet confronts his mother and accidentally kills Polonius, thinking he’s Claudius. Polonius’s daughter, Ophelia—who loves Hamlet—goes mad with grief. Claudius fears Hamlet and sends him to England with secret orders to have him killed.
 

💔 Act IV – Downward Spiral
Ophelia drowns in a suspected suicide. Her brother, Laertes, returns and wants revenge. Hamlet escapes death in England and returns to Denmark. Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet in a rigged fencing match using a poisoned sword.
 

💀 Act V – The Tragic Finale
During the duel, the poison strikes everyone. Gertrude drinks poisoned wine meant for Hamlet. Both Hamlet and Laertes are wounded by the deadly blade. As he dies, Hamlet finally kills Claudius. With his last breath, he names Fortinbras of Norway as the next king.
 

🧠 Theme in One Line:
“When you dwell too long on vengeance, you lose yourself in the shadows.”