Part 1 sets the stage in the castle of Elsinore, where the story unfolds. In the opening scene, Horatio and the guards witness the ghost of the deceased king and inform Prince Hamlet. The ghost reveals that the current king, Claudius, who is Hamlet’s uncle, murdered him by poisoning and usurped the throne. Hamlet vows to avenge his father but hesitates, seeking confirmation of Claudius’s guilt. Meanwhile, Polonius and his children, Ophelia and Laertes, become entangled in Hamlet's complex situation. Hamlet's internal conflict deepens as he grapples with his moral dilemmas and the burden of revenge.

PREFACE.

Act I.
Scene I. ELSINORE. A Platform before the Castle
Scene II. A ROOM OF STATE IN THE PALACE.
Scene III. A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.
Scene IV. THE PLATFORM.
Scene V. A MORE REMOTE PART OF THE PLATFORM.
Notes

Act II.
Scene I. A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.
Scene II. A ROOM IN THE CASTLE.
Notes