Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Play

Hamlet

Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, set in Denmark and centered on Prince Hamlet’s response to his father’s death and the revelation that his uncle Claudius is the murderer.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, set in Denmark. It follows Prince Hamlet’s struggle with revenge and grief, ending in a deadly duel.

What it is

Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1599–1601. Set in Denmark, mainly at Elsinore Castle, it centers on Prince Hamlet’s response to his father’s death and the revelation that his uncle Claudius is the murderer.

Key details

The ghost of King Hamlet reveals Claudius murdered him. Hamlet feigns madness while investigating, accidentally kills Polonius, and the tragedy escalates. The climax is a duel where Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and Laertes die.

Why it matters

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most famous works, known for its exploration of revenge, indecision, and mortality. Its soliloquies, including 'To be, or not to be,' are among the most quoted lines in literature.

In short

  • The ghost reveals Claudius murdered King Hamlet.
  • Hamlet pretends to be mad while seeking revenge.
  • The play ends with a fatal duel killing Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and Laertes.
  • Hamlet is a tragedy about grief, betrayal, and uncertainty.

Quick questions

What is Hamlet about?
It is about Prince Hamlet’s reaction to his father’s murder, his uncle Claudius’s seizure of the throne, and Hamlet’s struggle to decide whether and how to take revenge.
Who wrote Hamlet?
Hamlet was written by William Shakespeare.
How does Hamlet end?
It ends with a duel between Hamlet and Laertes. Gertrude drinks poisoned wine, Laertes and Hamlet are fatally wounded, Hamlet kills Claudius, and Fortinbras arrives after nearly everyone important has died.

Sources

  1. Royal Shakespeare Company — https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/shakespeares-plays/hamlet/
    Supports: Plot summary, ghost’s accusation, Hamlet’s revenge, and the final deaths
  2. Royal Shakespeare Company — https://www.rsc.org.uk/hamlet/the-plot
    Supports: Detailed plot ending, Claudius’s death, and Fortinbras’s arrival
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hamlet-by-Shakespeare
    Supports: Authorship, genre, setting, and core plot
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet
    Supports: Date range commonly given for composition and basic play identification
  5. Superprof — https://www.superprof.com/blog/hamlet-overview/
    Supports: Famous line and broad plot details