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Hamlet

By William Shakespeare - Stage play

Stage playStageACT II, Scene 2
Edwin Booth posed in costume as Hamlet.

J. Gurney & Son, N.Y.Public domainWikimedia Commons

Roles

  • Hamlet - Young Adult (20-35), Male

About this piece

Hamlet plans his revenge on Claudius

Summary

The play is set in Denmark at the Castle Elsinore. King Hamlet has just died and his brother, Claudius, has replaced him and also married his dead brother's wife, Gertrude. Hamlet is still grieving over his father's death. In the first scene of the play two watchmen, Bernardo and Marcellus, along with Hamlet's friend Horation, witness the apparition of a ghost that they believe is the spirit of King Hamlet. The ghost doesn't say anything and disappears. They decide to bring Hamlet the next time, thinking that the ghost, if it's really Hamlet's father's spirit, will maybe address his son. That night the ghost appears again and speaks to Hamlet. He says that he is indeed his father's spirit and has come back to reveal the cause of his death, that is he was poisoned by his brother, King Claudius. He asks Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet starts planning the revenge and decides that part of his plan will be to pretend to be gone mad. This monologue comes at the end of ACT II, Scene 2. During the scene Hamlet meets Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain of the court, who thinks Hamlet is mad because of his love for his daughter Ophelia. He also meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet's friends from Wittenberg, who the king has summoned hoping that they will be able to cheer Hamlet up. Hamlet also welcomes a theatrical troupe that has just arrived at the castle. They will perform a play in the castle the next day and Hamlet asks one of the actors to deliver a speech for him. When everybody leaves Hamlet curses himself. He was impressed by the spirit of the actor who shows passion for something that is only fictional. He says that he, even if he has strong and real motives, can't feel the same passion. He also plans to have the troupe perform a play that will remind the king of the murder of King Hamlet. He will observe his reaction and will be able to understand if he is really guilty or not.

Tone

Angry

Use cases

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