(Image from Goodreads.com)

“God hath given you one face, and you make yourself another.”

–Hamlet to Ophelia in Act 3, Scene 1 in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Hamlet

Play by William Shakespeare

Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy about the Prince of Denmark seeking revenge for his father’s murder by his uncle, Claudius, who has usurped the throne and married Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude. The play follows Hamlet as he feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and stages a play to confirm Claudius’s guilt, leading to a tragic finale with multiple deaths, including his own. It explores themes of revenge, madness, morality, and corruption, and is considered one of Shakespeare’s most powerful and influential works. 

Plot summary

• The Ghost: The ghost of Hamlet’s father appears, revealing he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, and commands Hamlet to seek revenge. 
• Feigned Madness: Hamlet pretends to be insane to investigate the ghost’s claims, confusing the court and his love interest, Ophelia. 
• “The Mousetrap”: Hamlet uses a troupe of actors to perform a play that mirrors his father’s murder, and Claudius’s guilty reaction confirms his crime. 
• Polonius’s Death: Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius (Ophelia’s father) while confronting his mother, believing him to be Claudius hiding behind a curtain. 
• Ophelia’s Tragedy: Grief-stricken by her father’s death and Hamlet’s rejection, Ophelia goes mad and drowns. 
• The Duel: Claudius arranges a duel between Hamlet and Laertes (Ophelia’s brother), using a poisoned sword and a poisoned drink to ensure Hamlet’s death. 
• The Finale: Gertrude drinks the poison, Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poisoned sword, Hamlet wounds Laertes, and Hamlet kills Claudius before dying himself. He asks his friend Horatio to tell the story. 

Key characters

• Hamlet: The Prince of Denmark, driven to avenge his father’s death.
• Claudius: Hamlet’s uncle, the new king, and murderer of his brother.
• Gertrude: Hamlet’s mother, who marries Claudius.
• Ophelia: Polonius’s daughter and Hamlet’s love interest.
• Polonius: The Lord Chamberlain, father of Ophelia and Laertes.
• Laertes: Polonius’s son, who seeks revenge for his father and sister.
• Horatio: Hamlet’s loyal friend. 

Themes

Revenge and justice, Madness (real vs. feigned), Mortality and the meaning of life, and Corruption and betrayal. 

(Google.com)