What+Is+Hamlet?

Hamlet was a play written by william shakespeare around the year 1600. //Hamlet// was Shakespeare's take on a revenge play. It is set in Denmark in the 14th century. Throughout the play, Hamlet asks extremely philosophical questions that cannot always be answered by the other characters.

Edwin Booth as Hamlet

The play begins with a few sentries stressing out about the appearance of a mysterious ghost. Hamlet, who beleives the ghost to be his father, ends up speaking to it and finding out that his uncle (who has married the queen (Hamlet's mom)) by murdering his brother (Hamlet's dad/ghost). Throughout the play, Hamlet is constantly being spied on but to lead them astray he pretends to act insane. Polonius, who believes his insanity to be because of love sickness (Hamlet recently broke up with Ophelia (Polonius' daughter)). Unknown to the king and Polonius, Hamlet has struck a deal with the recently arrived actors to put on a play about the murder of a king. The actors agree and while the play is going on, Hamlet watches the king to see his reaction. Once the murder scene has been acted out, the king quickly leaves the theater, looking troubled. Later, whilst speaking to his mother, Polonius hides behind a curtain and listens in on their conversation to spy for the king. Hearing Polonius behind the curtain, Hamlet "accidentally" kills Polonius. Because of her father's death and in great grief, Ophelia drowns herself in a river. Not only that but Laertes wants to avenge his father by killing Hamlet. So, the king and Laertes formulate a plan: the king will propose a duel between Laertes and Hamlet. Except, Laertes will use a sharp sword covered in poison instead of a blunt sword, used for fencing. Not only that but the king will give Hamlet a poisoned glass of wine after the match. Later, in a graveyard, Hamlet reflects over the bones of a jester he knew as a child, questioning death. But, the king, Laertes and their group show up and Hamlet realizes that he his on Ophelia's grave. The two briefly fight before the king assures Laertes that he will have his revenge. Afterwards, the duel begins and Laertes wounds Hamlet with this sword. But, in the confusion of the fight, Hamlet gets a hold of Laertes sword and wounds Laertes. While this is happening, the queen drinks from the poisoned whine, proclaims that she has been poisoned and dies. Laertes, too, begins to die but not before telling Hamlet his complete plan. Hamlet then wounds the king and then makes him drink the poisoned wine as well and he dies too. Horatio (Hamlet's friend) wants to kill himself also, but Hamlet denies him the pleasure. Hamlet wants Horatio to tell people what went on there and continue the story... and Hamlet dies. The play ends with Fortinbras, king of Norway, coming in and taking over the kingdom (because his father had been killed by Hamlet's father.) Kenneth Branagh as Hamlet