Hamlet

Hamlet's father, the King of Denmark, dies suddenly, and his throne has been taken by the dead King's brother Claudius, who immediately marries Gertrude the dead King's widow. Hamlet suspects that his father was murdered by Claudius and Gertrude and his suspicion is strengthened by the news that his father's ghost has been seen haunting the Castle of Elsinore. One night, on the castle battlements, the ghost reveals that he was indeed murdered, and makes Hamlet swear to avenge him. Hamlet arranges for a troupe of travelling actors to stage a reconstruction of the murder, hoping that Claudius will break down and incriminate himself. The idea succeeds but Hamlet still cannot bring himself to kill Claudius. During this time Hamlet has been troubled by his love for Ophelia the young daughter of Polonius. Claudius suggests that the revenge be taken in a fencing bout. Laertes is to be given a poisoned foil with which to fight Hamlet. If this fails Hamlet is to be given poisoned wine. But this simple plot goes terribly wrong when the poisoned foil, after scratching Hamlet, passes into Hamlet's hands and with it Laertes is killed. Queen Gertrude, knowing nothing of the poisoned wine, drinks it herself and dies. Hamlet, mortally wounded just has strength enough to kill Claudius before he too dies on the throne.