大象传媒

ACT 1

Elsinore Castle, Denmark.聽

Two months after the death of King Hamlet, fanfares announce the marriage of his brother and successor Claudius to the widowed queen, Gertrude. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark and son of the former king, remains apart from the celebration. He is consumed by remorse and self-doubt and vehemently disapproves of his mother鈥檚 new marriage so soon after his father鈥檚 death. His thoughts are interrupted by the arrival of Oph茅lie, the daughter of the Lord Chamberlain, Polonius. She is in love with Hamlet and upset by rumors that he intends to leave the court. He assures her that he still loves her. La毛rte, Oph茅lie鈥檚 brother, arrives. He is being sent on a mission to Norway and entrusts his sister to Hamlet鈥檚 care. The prince refuses to join the others for the wedding banquet. His friend Horatio appears to tell Hamlet that his father鈥檚 ghost has been seen.

At night, alone on the ramparts of the castle, Hamlet meets the ghost. He tells his son that he was poisoned by Claudius and demands vengeance for his murder. Hamlet swears to obey.

ACT II

Oph茅lie is distressed by Hamlet鈥檚 indifference. She would like to leave the court, but Gertrude thinks she can help cure the prince鈥檚 melancholy. Claudius, who also has noticed Hamlet鈥檚 disturbing behavior, arrives. Gertrude wonders if her son suspects the real cause of the former king鈥檚 death but Claudius assures her that he is merely losing his mind. The prince enters, rebuffs Claudius for addressing him as his son, and announces that he has arranged for a play to be performed that evening. When the players arrive Hamlet instructs them to perform 鈥淭he Murder of Gonzago.鈥� He hopes that the story of a murder by poisoning will prompt a confession from the king and queen. In order not to arouse suspicion, he plays the fool and invites the actors to drink.

The court assembles to watch the play. It has the desired effect: Claudius erupts in anger as the murderer of the story gains the crown. Hamlet hides his true feelings by feigning madness, snatching the crown from the king鈥檚 head, to the horror of everyone present.

ACT III

Hamlet reflects on life and death: he could have killed the king but did not. He hides as the king enters. Claudius is racked with remorse and calls on his dead brother to intercede for him with God. Polonius appears, calming the king, and the two leave. Hamlet is shocked to discover that Polonius was an accomplice in the murder. When Oph茅lie enters with Gertrude, he roughly rejects the girl鈥檚 advances and urges her to enter a convent, declaring that he no longer loves her and will not marry her. Gertrude wonders what really prompted Hamlet鈥檚 change of heart. Oph茅lie leaves in tears, and Hamlet confronts his mother with her crime. She begs for mercy. At that moment the ghost reappears and reminds Hamlet that it is not up to him to judge his mother. Gertrude, who cannot see the apparition, believes that her fears Hamlet has gone mad are confirmed.

ACT IV

Oph茅lie has lost her senses. She imagines herself to be married to Hamlet and recalls the tale of a water nymph who lures away wandering men. She kills herself.

ACT V

In a cemetery, two gravediggers discuss the inevitably of death. Hamlet arrives. Unaware of Oph茅lie鈥檚 death, he reproaches himself for the way he treated her and the madness his behavior has provoked. La毛rte appears, demanding vengeance, and the two men are about to duel when the funeral cort猫ge with Oph茅lie鈥檚 body approaches. Hamlet, distraught to discover she is dead, kneels by her bier. He then rushes at Claudius with his sword and kills him, before being stabbed by Laertes.