* Scene 1: The play begins with the appearance of the Ghost of King Hamlet, who was murdered by his brother Claudius, now King of Denmark. The Ghost appears to Horatio, a friend of Hamlet's, and two soldiers, Bernardo and Marcellus.
* Scene 2: Claudius and Gertrude, Hamlet's mother, are married. Hamlet is upset about his father's death and his mother's hasty marriage to Claudius.
* Scene 3: Laertes, son of Polonius, the Lord Chamberlain, is leaving for France. He warns his sister Ophelia not to be too trusting of Hamlet.
* Scene 4: Hamlet encounters the Ghost, who tells him that he was murdered by Claudius and demands that Hamlet avenge his death.
* Scene 5: Hamlet vows to avenge his father's death but decides to pretend to be mad in order to deceive Claudius and his followers.
Act 2
* Scene 1: Polonius sends Reynaldo to France to spy on Laertes.
* Scene 2: Hamlet feigns madness and begins to act strangely. Claudius and Gertrude are concerned about him.
* Scene 3: Ophelia tells Hamlet that her father has forbidden her to see him. Hamlet tells her that he is no longer interested in her.
* Scene 4: Claudius and Gertrude send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet's friends, to spy on him.
Act 3
* Scene 1: Claudius decides to send Hamlet to England in order to get him away from Denmark.
* Scene 2: Hamlet encounters a group of actors and asks them to perform a play called "The Murder of Gonzago" in front of Claudius and Gertrude.
* Scene 3: The play is performed and Claudius becomes upset during the performance, revealing his guilt.
* Scene 4: Hamlet confronts Gertrude in her chamber and accuses her of being complicit in his father's murder.
Act 4
* Scene 1: Claudius sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to England with orders to have Hamlet killed.
* Scene 2: Ophelia has gone mad and drowns herself.
* Scene 3: Laertes returns to Denmark and learns of Ophelia's death. He vows to avenge her death and challenges Hamlet to a duel.
* Scene 4: Hamlet returns from England and prepares for the duel with Laertes.
Act 5
* Scene 1: The duel between Hamlet and Laertes takes place. Hamlet is mortally wounded, but he manages to kill Laertes before he dies.
* Scene 2: Claudius is also killed by Hamlet.
* Scene 3: Fortinbras, the Prince of Norway, arrives in Denmark and takes control of the kingdom. He orders a state funeral for Hamlet.