Hamlet is a tragedy about a prince of Denmark and the murder of his father. A ghost reveals to the young Hamlet that his father was murdered and demands to be avenged. Hamlet refuses to act and instead searches for more evidence proving Claudius guilty. Claudius is eventually proven guilty in Hamlet’s eyes when he stops a play that Hamlet has set up that recreates the murder of Old Hamlet.
Hamlet considers killing Claudius immediately after the play but Claudius begins praying. Hamlet fears that if he kills Claudius while he’s praying he will go to heaven. Hamlet then visits his mother where the ghost appears to him again. At the same time Hamlet notices Polonius, who he believes is Claudius, hiding behind a curtain. Hamlet stabs the figure only later to find out it was truly Polonius.
Hamlet is then sent to England but in secret doesn’t go. Hamlet with the help of Horatio finds Laertes who eventually with the guidance of Claudius challenges Hamlet to a duel. Laertes believes Hamlet is guilty for the death of his father and sister and in order to exact vengeance he poisons his sword. Both Hamlet and Laertes take a slash from the poisoned blade. Before his death Hamlet stabs Claudius and forces him to drink poison intended for Hamlet. In the end only Horatio is left to tell the story to the new king of Denmark, Fortinbras.
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