Summary of Act I of William Shakespeare's Hamlet

1. William
Shakespeare
Dr. Mohammed Fahmy Raiyah

2. ACT I

3. On a dark winter night, a ghost walks the walls of
Elsinore Castle in Denmark. Discovered first by a pair
of watchmen, then by the scholar Horatio, the ghost
resembles King Hamlet, whose brother Claudius has
inherited the throne and married his widow, Queen
Gertrude. When Horatio and the watchmen bring
Prince Hamlet, the son of Gertrude and the dead
king, to see the ghost, it speaks to him, declaring
that it is his father’s spirit, and that he was
murdered by Claudius. He orders Hamlet to take
revenge on the man who took his throne and
married his wife. Polonius and Laertes warn Ophelia
against Hamlet.

4. King Hamlet is dead

5. Gertrude, the queen

6. Claudius, the king

7. Prince Hamlet

14. Polonius, Laertes, and Ophelia

18. The ghost speaks to Hamlet

33. BRIEF SUMMARY OF ACT I
• The king is dead.
• Claudius marries Queen Gertrude.
• The ghost of the dead king appears.
• In a soliloquy, Hamlet expresses his anger against
his mother for her hasty remarriage.
• The king asks Hamlet to stay in Denmark.
• Laertes and Polonius warn Ophelia against Hamlet.
• The ghost tells Hamlet that he must avenge his
father’s murder.