Scene summaries

In the following, we give you detailed summaries of every scene in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. This will give you an overview of the plot. 

Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1

Location: Elsinore in Denmark, a terrace in front of the royal castle

Time: Just after midnight
 

In the Danish castle Elsinore there is fear of the upcoming war against Norway. Before his death, the recently deceased King Hamlet of Denmark won a battle against the Norwegian king Fortinbras and thereby received all his lands. Now the young Fortinbras, the son of the Norwegian king, wants to reclaim these lands and is gathering an army. Denmark is now busy preparing for war, and the royal castle is guarded.

During two of these nightly guard shifts, the ghost of the deceased King Hamlet has appeared to the two officers Bernardo and Marcellus. Horatio, a friend and fellow student of the king’s son, who is also called Hamlet, initially believes the ghost to be pure imagination. However, he agrees to stand guard with the men on the third night to see the ghost with his own eyes.

Indeed, the ghost appears again that night, but does not allow itself to be addressed by any of the three watchers. Horatio immediately decides to tell his friend Hamlet about the event. He is firmly convinced that the ghost will return and speak to Hamlet.

Act 1, Scene 2

Location: A state room in Elsinore Castle

Time: Day after scene 1

At the royal court, the marriage between the newly crowned King Claudius and his former sister-in-law Gertrude is celebrated. Claudius delivers a speech, in which he mourns the death of his brother, but declares it the duty of the living to think of themselves. In the course of his speech, he sends two courtiers to Norway with a diplomatic message urging the young Fortinbras’ uncle to put a stop to his nephew’s plans of war. 

Finally, the new king turns to private talks: First he allows Laertes, the son of his court secretary Polonius, to return to France. He then expresses his displeasure that Hamlet is still mourning his father’s death. Gertrude immediately takes the king’s side and urges her son to stop thinking about his late father. They ask Hamlet to remain at the Danish court and not return to his place of study, Wittenberg.

Hamlet agress and only gives free rein to his despair when he is alone. The whole world seems a bleak, false place to him, and he expresses his disdain that his mother has married his uncle so quickly.

Immediately after his emotional outburst, Horatio, Bernardo, and Marcellus seek him out and tell Hamlet about seeing the ghost of the deceased king. Hamlet immediately decides to join the guards that night.

Act 1, Scene 3

Location: A room in Polonius’ house

Time: The same day as in scene 2
 

Laertes says goodbye to his sister Ophelia before leaving for France to continue his studies. He warns her not to trust Hamlet’s vows of love: They are nothing more than youthful desire. Moreover, Hamlet cannot love whom he wants as he must choose a fitting queen. To preserve her honor and sexual innocence, Laertes urges her not to respond further to Hamlet’s expressions of love.

Polonius joins his two children and he, too, warns Ophelia about Hamlet’s youthful inconstancy. 

Act 1, Scene 4

Time: Around midnight, on the evening of the same day as in scenes 2 and 3

Location: Terrace in front of the castle
 

While King Claudius’ celebration is still in full swing, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus have retreated to the castle terrace to await the ghost of the deceased king. When the ghost appears again, he beckons Hamlet to follow him to a hidden place. Although Hamlet’s friends desperately try to prevent him from joining the ghost alone, Hamlet willingly follows. His life is worth nothing to him anyway. 

Marcellus and Horatio follow their friend. They are not comfortable with what is happening in Denmark.

Act 1, Scene 5

Time: The same night as in scene 4

Location: A hidden part of the...