Hamlet, Shakespeare's masterpiece of revenge and psychological complexity, follows Prince Hamlet's quest for vengeance after learning his uncle Claudius murdered his father. This hamlet summary for students explores the tragic tale of murder, madness, and moral ambiguity set in Denmark's Elsinore Castle.
Key elements:
- The ghost of Hamlet's father reveals his murder and demands revenge
- Hamlet feigns madness while plotting against Claudius
- Complex themes of mortality, justice, and human nature
- Multiple tragic deaths including Ophelia, Polonius, and ultimately Hamlet himself
- Rich psychological exploration through Hamlet's soliloquies and wordplay
