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Overview
Synopsis
All is not well in the world of Prince Hamlet of Denmark. He has just been hurried back home from University to learn that his father the King (Hamlet Sr.) is dead, and that his mother has already jumped into “incestuous sheets” (I.i) by marrying his father’s brother, Claudius, thus making him the new King of Denmark. In short order, the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to tell him that Claudius is responsible for his death and to urge him to take revenge. Hamlet is plunged into philosophical paralysis, at first utterly resolved to carry out his dead father’s wishes, and then vacillating continuously between action and inaction. Finally, he has the idea to have a group of traveling players play the scene of his father’s murder before his uncle in theatrical form, thus forcing him to admit his guilt. He does so, and once it becomes certain that Claudius committed the atrocity, Hamlet angrily confronts his mother for mindlessly shacking up with his father’s murderer. In a rage, he accidentally murders Polonius, his girlfriend Ophelia’s father, causing her to go mad and drown herself. The bloodbath continues: Laertes, Ophelia’s brother, comes to take revenge on Hamlet, and both of them are fatally injured in a duel; Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, drinks poison that Claudius intended for Hamlet; and Hamlet manages to get one last (fatal) shot in at Claudius shortly before his own death. In the play’s final moments, Hamlet begs his friend Horatio to “draw thy breath in pain / To tell my story” (V.ii). Shakespeare’s longest and most frequently performed play, Hamlet is one of the most influential works in the English literary canon.
Show Information
Context
Hamlet was written and performed in the final years of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote the manuscript during 1599-1600 and it was first performed the following year. It was published in printed form in 1603 and appeared in an enlarged edition in 1604. The play ends with the death of the Hamlet family line, reflecting the position of the monarchy within Britain at that time. Elizabeth I was the last of the Tudor dynasty and she was aging without an heir. Her
to read the context for Hamlet and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
Hamlet opens as the sentry, Francisco, is keeping watch over the castle at Elsinore. He is shortly relieved by Barnardo, who is then joined by Horatio and Marcellus. Barnardo and Marcellus reveal that they saw an apparition and, no sooner have they revealed this, than the Ghost of the late king of Denmark appears before quickly disappearing. Horatio recognizes the Ghost’s armor and realizes that it is the same armor that the King wore when he fought Norway in battle. The three
to read the plot for Hamlet and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Lead |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Female |
Non-singer |
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Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
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Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
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Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
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Ensemble |
Either or Both |
Spoken |
Songs
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Abridged describes a text or performance that has been shortened while retaining its essential content. In theatre, abridged scripts remove or condense material to suit time limits or audience needs. These versions allow greater accessibility while maintaining the story’s core themes.
A character foil is one whose traits contrast with another character, thereby highlighting qualities in both. In No, No, Nanette, Sue’s strict propriety serves as a foil to Nanette’s youthful desire for freedom, emphasizing the tension between tradition and independence. The use of foils helps dramatists reveal character differences without lengthy exposition.
A period of rule by a family or lineage, often referenced in historical drama to explore succession, power, and legacy.
Queen of England whose reign supported the flourishing of English Renaissance theatre and the works of Shakespeare.
Relating to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, marked by flourishing English drama and playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe.
A cultural and intellectual movement in England from the late 15th to the early 17th century, characterized by a flourishing of literary and musical arts, particularly during the Elizabethan era.
A philosophical movement emphasizing individual existence and responsibility, often reflected in modern theatre.
The iconic London theatre associated with Shakespeare, where many of his plays premiered in the late 1500s and early 1600s.
Shakespeare’s acting company under royal patronage, instrumental in performing and popularizing his plays.
A mood or character trait in drama denoting sadness, introspection, or despair, often linked to tragic figures.
A system of thought exploring existence, ethics, or knowledge, often influencing theatrical movements like existentialism or realism.
A dramatic genre popular in Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre featuring murder, ghosts, and the pursuit of vengeance, often ending in multiple deaths.
A speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing inner thoughts or emotions to the audience. Common in Shakespearean plays.
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