Prince Hamlet of Denmark laments both his father's death and his mother’s remarriage to Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius. The ghost of Hamlet's father appears to him and tells him that Claudius has murdered him. Hamlet swears revenge against Claudius. In his vengeful rage, he kills the eavesdropping Polonius, the court chamberlain.  In turn, Polonius's son Laertes returns to Denmark to avenge his father's death. Meanwhile, in the aftermath of her father’s death, Ophelia (Hamlet’s lover) goes mad with grief and drowns in the river.  Eventually, Hamlet kills his mother, Gertrude, and Claudius.  Laertes succeeds in cutting Hamlet but then is killed by his own blade.  After Hamlet dies, Fortinbras, a Norwegian prince with ambitions of conquest, leads his army to Denmark and comes upon the scene. Horatio recounts the tale and Fortinbras orders Hamlet’s body to be carried away honorably.