Hamlet, Summary By Acts And Steps

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Hamlet |
William Shakespeare |
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Por Valeria Rivas Torres |

Act 1

Scene 1
Summary: A ghost, who looks like the death King of Denmark, has appeared to the guardians of the castle “El Sinore”, which is armed in case of attack from Prince of Norway. The guardians have brought Horatio, a friend of Hamlet, to observe the ghost. The ghost appears, disappears severaltimes till finally disappears when the rooster sang.
Steps: Step forward- The ghost´s appearance.
Step forward- Horatio informed Hamlet.
Scene 2
Summary: Later in the day, the King of Denmark, Claudius, brother to the late King, who had defeated Fortinbras´ father, sends messengers to the King of Norway, gives Laertes, Polonius´ son, permission to return to France, and inquires aboutHamlet´s melancholic state. His time to get the crown is passing by. They arranged to meet that night to see whether the ghost appears.
Steps: Step forward- The arrangement to meet the ghost.
Scene 3
Summary: At Polonius´ house, Laertes advised Ophelia, his sister, not to trust Hamlet or be seduced by him, then Polonius says goodbye to Laertes, and advising him to remain a loaf fromentanglements with his fellow man. Next, Polonius advised Ophelia not to believe Hamlet and reports to him her contacts with the Prince.
Steps: No steps in this scene. Secondary actions, but they do not disturb the main one.
Scene 4
Summary: That night the ghost appears again, calling Hamlet for a private talk.
Steps: Step forward- The ghost asked to speak directly to Hamlet.
Scene 5
Summary: Theghost states that he is the spirit of Hamlet´s father, who has been murdered by current King. While he slept in his room, his brother put poison in his ear and after this the ghost asks for revenge to Hamlet. He wants Hamlet to kill his uncle, but to leave his mother´s punishment to heaven.
Steps: Step forward- Hamlet is told to take revenge.

Act 2

Scene 1
Summary: Polonius sends Reynaldoto spy on Laertes in France and then questions Ophelia about a meeting with Hamlet. Polonius concludes that he is in love with her.
Steps: Step forward- The condition Polonius took from this (Hamlet is melancholic because of Ophelia and his love for her).
Scene 2
Summary: The King commissions Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, friends of Hamlet, to find out what is going on with Hamlet. And Poloniusadvices his theory about Hamlet´s disposition, giving as evidences a letter given to Ophelia. Polonius proposes to arrange a meeting between Ophelia and Hamlet while the King and Polonius himself watch it. Hamlet enters and Polonius tries him to tell what is bothering him.
The conversation turns to a travelling troop of actors who have come to provide an entertainment to the royal court. Aftertalking with the players and the actors, an actor recites lines about the death of Prime, King of Troy. Hamlet asks him to play the murderer of Gonzaga but with a little change in the performance. He regrets his inability to act upon his plan of revenge.
Steps: Step back- Claudius ´movement.
Step forward- The creation of the tramp.
Step forward- Claudius didn´t findthe truth.
Step forward- The acting of the actor stimulates Hamlet´s desire of revenge.
Step forward- The death of Gonzaga stimulates Hamlet more.
Step back- Hamlet doesn´t feel strong enough to continue with the plan.

Act 3

Scene 1
Summary: Further preparations to spy on Hamlet. The King, Polonius and Ophelia conceal while Hamlet meditation on whatcause of action should he make. Suspicious of Ophelia, who is instructed to enter into a conversation with him, Hamlet dismisses her to a nunnery. The King recognize what is troubling Hamlet and therefore decides to send Hamlet to England.
Steps: Step forward- Hamlet doesn´t believe Ophelia.
Step back- The King finds out what is bothering Hamlet.
Step back- The Kind...