Hamlet: Summary, Characters, and Themes

Introduction
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is one of the most famous tragedies in English
literature. Written around 1600, the play explores themes of revenge, madness,
corruption, and the nature of life and death. It tells the story of Prince Hamlet of
Denmark, who seeks to avenge his father’s murder while struggling with his own
doubts and moral dilemmas. This document provides a detailed summary, character
analysis, and exploration of major themes with textual references.

Summary of Hamlet
The play begins at Elsinore Castle in Denmark, where guards see the ghost of the
recently deceased King Hamlet. They inform Prince Hamlet, who later speaks to the
ghost. The ghost reveals that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who has now
taken the throne and married Hamlet’s mother, Queen Gertrude.

Shocked and enraged, Hamlet vows to take revenge but struggles with doubt and
uncertainty. He decides to pretend to be mad to confuse Claudius and buy himself
time. As he contemplates life and death, he delivers the famous soliloquy:

To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them? (Act 3, Scene 1)

To confirm Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet stages a play, The Mousetrap, which reenacts the
murder. When Claudius reacts with guilt, Hamlet becomes certain of his crime but
hesitates to kill him while he is praying. This delay costs Hamlet dearly.

Later, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius, thinking he is Claudius. This act devastates
Polonius’s daughter, Ophelia, who descends into madness and drowns. Her brother,
Laertes, is manipulated by Claudius into challenging Hamlet to a duel.

In the final scene, Claudius poisons a cup of wine intended for Hamlet, but Gertrude
drinks it and dies. Laertes wounds Hamlet with a poisoned sword, but Hamlet, before
dying, kills Claudius. Before taking his last breath, he names Fortinbras of Norway as
Denmark’s next ruler. His last words are:

The rest is silence. (Act 5, Scene 2)

Major Characters
1. Hamlet
Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is the central character of the play. He is highly
intelligent, philosophical, and deeply introspective. After the ghost of his father
reveals that he was murdered by Claudius, Hamlet becomes consumed with the idea
of revenge. However, his hesitation and tendency to overthink prevent him from
taking immediate action.

Hamlet is a character filled with contradictions. He is both passionate and

melancholic, brave yet fearful, and deeply moral yet capable of cruelty. His feigned
madness serves as a tool to uncover the truth, but it also alienates him from those
around him. He constantly questions life and death, as seen in his famous soliloquies.
For example, in the graveyard scene, he reflects on the nature of life while holding the
skull of Yorick:

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio. (Act 5, Scene 1)

His relationship with Ophelia is complicated, as he appears to love her but also
mistreats her, possibly as part of his act of madness. He expresses his disillusionment
with women in general, influenced by his mother’s quick marriage to Claudius:

Frailty, thy name is woman! (Act 1, Scene 2)

Despite his hesitation, Hamlet ultimately takes revenge in the final act. His character
raises deep questions about morality, justice, and human existence.

2. Claudius

Claudius, the new King of Denmark and Hamlet’s uncle, is the primary antagonist of
the play. He is ambitious, cunning, and skilled in political manipulation. His murder
of King Hamlet to seize the throne reveals his ruthlessness, but he also possesses a
charismatic and strategic mind.

Unlike traditional villains, Claudius is not purely evil. He genuinely loves Gertrude
and shows remorse for his crime, as seen in his attempt to pray for forgiveness:

O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;

It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t—
A brother’s murder! (Act 3, Scene 3)

However, despite his guilt, he refuses to give up his throne or power. He continuously
plots against Hamlet, first by sending him to England to be executed and later by
orchestrating the deadly duel with Laertes. His manipulation extends to nearly every
character, as he deceives the court, spies on Hamlet, and exploits Laertes’s grief for
his own gain.

Claudius represents the theme of corruption and moral decay in Denmark. His rule
brings disorder and deception, reinforcing Hamlet’s belief that something is
fundamentally wrong in the state:
 Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. (Act 1,
Scene 4)

Ultimately, Claudius meets his downfall at Hamlet’s hands, proving that deceit and
ambition come with great consequences.

3. Gertrude

Hamlet’s mother and the Queen of Denmark, Gertrude marries Claudius soon after
King Hamlet’s death. Her love for Hamlet is evident, but her actions contribute to his
deep resentment and despair.

4. Ophelia

Polonius’s daughter and Hamlet’s love interest, Ophelia is torn between loyalty to her
father and love for Hamlet. She becomes a tragic figure as grief and pressure from the
men around her drive her to madness and death.

5. Polonius

The chief advisor to Claudius, Polonius is a talkative and meddlesome figure. His
habit of spying on Hamlet leads to his accidental death at Hamlet’s hands.

6. Laertes

Ophelia’s brother, Laertes is passionate and impulsive. He seeks revenge for his
father’s and sister’s deaths and is manipulated by Claudius into fighting Hamlet.

7. The Ghost

The spirit of King Hamlet appears to his son to reveal the truth about his murder.
Whether the ghost is truly his father or a supernatural deception remains a debated
point.

8. Horatio

Hamlet’s closest friend, Horatio is loyal and rational. He survives the play and is left
to tell Hamlet’s story.

9. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern

Former friends of Hamlet, they are used by Claudius to spy on him. They are
ultimately tricked into their own deaths by Hamlet.

10. Fortinbras
The Prince of Norway, Fortinbras acts as a foil to Hamlet. Unlike Hamlet, he is
decisive and seeks to reclaim his father’s honor through action.

Conclusion
Hamlet remains one of Shakespeare’s most complex and thought-provoking plays. It
explores deep philosophical and moral issues while telling a gripping story of betrayal,
revenge, and tragedy. Hamlet’s internal conflict, rich symbolism, and powerful
themes make the play timeless and relevant even today.

By understanding its characters, themes, and famous passages, we can appreciate why
Hamlet continues to be studied and performed centuries after it was written. The play
challenges audiences to reflect on life, death, and the consequences of our choices.

Hamlet’s Procrastination: A Detailed Analysis with Textual References

Introduction
One of the most debated aspects of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is the protagonist’s
tendency to procrastinate. Unlike typical revenge tragedies, where the avenger swiftly
takes action, Hamlet delays executing his plan. His hesitation raises questions about
his psychology, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of overthinking. This
document explores Hamlet’s procrastination with textual references and possible
explanations.

Moments of Procrastination in Hamlet

1. Hamlet’s First Reaction to the Ghost (Act 1, Scene 5)

When the ghost of King Hamlet reveals that Claudius murdered him, Hamlet appears
determined to avenge his father immediately:

"Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift / As

meditation or the thoughts of love, / May sweep to my
revenge." (Act 1, Scene 5)

However, despite his initial enthusiasm, Hamlet does not act immediately. Instead, he
begins to question the authenticity of the ghost and delays action.

2. The ‘Antic Disposition’ (Act 1, Scene 5)

Rather than directly confronting Claudius, Hamlet pretends to be mad, telling Horatio:

"As I perchance hereafter shall think meet / To put an

antic disposition on." (Act 1, Scene 5)
This act of feigned madness becomes an excuse for his delay. Instead of focusing on
revenge, he becomes obsessed with proving Claudius’s guilt.

3. The ‘To Be or Not to Be’ Soliloquy (Act 3, Scene 1)

Hamlet’s hesitation is deeply rooted in his philosophical nature. In his famous

soliloquy, he contemplates life and death:

"To be, or not to be, that is the question: / Whether

'tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows
of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of
troubles / And by opposing end them?" (Act 3, Scene 1)

Here, Hamlet questions the nature of existence itself, showing that he is more
preoccupied with abstract thought than immediate action.

4. The Play within the Play (Act 3, Scene 2)

Instead of avenging his father, Hamlet devises The Mousetrap, a play meant to
confirm Claudius’s guilt:

"The play's the thing / Wherein I'll catch the conscience

of the king." (Act 2, Scene 2)

Although the play successfully exposes Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet still hesitates to act.

5. The Missed Opportunity – Claudius Praying (Act 3, Scene 3)

Hamlet finally finds Claudius alone, seemingly praying. He has a perfect opportunity
to kill him but refrains, rationalizing that killing Claudius in prayer would send his
soul to heaven:

"Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; / And now I'll

do't. And so he goes to heaven; / And so am I revenged?"
(Act 3, Scene 3)

This moment is the clearest example of Hamlet’s procrastination. His need for a
‘perfect’ revenge causes further delay.

6. Hamlet’s Return and Final Action (Act 5, Scene 2)

It is only after Ophelia’s death, the duel with Laertes, and Gertrude’s poisoning that
Hamlet finally acts:

"The point envenom'd too! Then, venom, to thy work." (Act

5, Scene 2)
By this time, Hamlet’s hesitation has led to multiple deaths, including his own.

Reasons for Hamlet’s Procrastination

1. Intellectual and Philosophical Nature

Hamlet is highly introspective and prone to deep contemplation. His tendency to

analyze every situation delays his ability to act decisively.

2. Moral and Religious Concerns

Unlike traditional revenge heroes, Hamlet struggles with the morality of killing. His
soliloquies reveal his concerns about sin, the afterlife, and divine justice.

3. Psychological Paralysis

Hamlet’s inaction may be due to fear of failure or doubt in his own abilities. His deep
emotional turmoil prevents him from taking decisive action.

4. External Manipulation

Claudius’s cunning and the pressures from Polonius, Ophelia, and Gertrude further
complicate Hamlet’s mental state, making it harder for him to act.

Conclusion
Hamlet’s procrastination is a central theme of the play and a defining trait of his
character. His inability to act immediately creates a complex narrative that explores
themes of doubt, morality, and fate. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Hamlet’s hesitation
makes the play more psychologically realistic, leaving audiences to question whether
his delay is justified or a tragic flaw.

Key Quotes from Hamlet with Context for Exams

1. "To be, or not to be, that is the

question" (Act 3, Scene 1)
Context:

This is Hamlet’s most famous soliloquy, where he contemplates existence and suicide.
He questions whether enduring life’s suffering is better than facing the unknown after
death. This reflects his philosophical nature and inner turmoil.
2. "Something is rotten in the state of
Denmark" (Act 1, Scene 4)
Context:

Marcellus, a guard, speaks this line to Horatio after witnessing the ghost of King
Hamlet. It symbolizes the corruption and moral decay in Denmark under Claudius’s
rule.

3. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks"

(Act 3, Scene 2)
Context:

Gertrude comments on the Player Queen’s exaggerated declarations of loyalty in The

Mousetrap, the play within the play. It ironically reflects on Gertrude’s own hasty
marriage to Claudius.

4. "O, my offence is rank, it smells to

heaven" (Act 3, Scene 3)
Context:

Claudius, alone in prayer, admits his guilt in murdering King Hamlet. However, he
cannot truly repent because he is unwilling to give up his throne and queen.

5. "Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio"

(Act 5, Scene 1)
Context:

Hamlet, holding the skull of the court jester Yorick, reflects on mortality and the
inevitability of death. This moment reinforces the play’s theme of the transience of
life.
6. "There is nothing either good or bad, but
thinking makes it so" (Act 2, Scene 2)
Context:

Hamlet speaks these words to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, highlighting his view
that perception shapes reality. It underscores his existential crisis and philosophical
depth.

7. "This above all: to thine own self be

true" (Act 1, Scene 3)
Context:

Polonius gives this advice to Laertes before he leaves for France. It is often quoted as
a general life lesson about integrity and staying true to oneself.

8. "Brevity is the soul of wit" (Act 2, Scene

2)
Context:

Polonius ironically speaks this line while being unnecessarily verbose. It reflects
Shakespeare’s humor and critique of pompous speech.

9. "The rest is silence" (Act 5, Scene 2)

Context:

These are Hamlet’s last words before he dies. They signify his acceptance of fate and
the end of his tragic journey.

10. "Though this be madness, yet there is

method in't" (Act 2, Scene 2)
Context:

Polonius remarks on Hamlet’s seemingly insane behavior, suspecting that there is a

deeper meaning behind it. This quote highlights Hamlet’s use of feigned madness as a
strategy.

11. "The house he makes lasts till doomsday"

(Act 5, Scene 1)
Context:

Hamlet makes this remark while speaking to the gravedigger. He comments on the
nature of graves, stating that the houses (graves) the gravedigger makes are the only
ones that truly last forever, reinforcing the theme of death’s inevitability.

Conclusion
These quotes from Hamlet are essential for understanding the play’s themes,
characters, and philosophical depth. They provide valuable material for analysis and
can be effectively used in exams to support arguments and interpretations.