Act 1: The Ghost and Hamlet’s Dilemma
The play opens with a scene at Elsinore Castle in Denmark, where guards spot the ghost of the recently deceased King Hamlet, who had been the ruler of Denmark. The ghost appears to be restless, and the guards seek to inform the late king’s son, Prince Hamlet, about the apparition. Hamlet, mourning his father's death, is deeply troubled by the sudden and hasty marriage of his mother, Queen Gertrude, to his uncle Claudius, who has taken the throne.

Soon after, Hamlet meets the ghost of his father, who reveals that he was murdered by Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. The ghost urges Hamlet to seek revenge on Claudius but not to harm Gertrude. This revelation sets in motion the central conflict of the play: Hamlet’s struggle with whether and how to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet vows to remember the ghost’s words and to take action but struggles with uncertainty, feeling conflicted about the morality of revenge.

Meanwhile, Claudius, who now holds the throne, is dealing with political matters and sends his emissaries to Norway to prevent a possible invasion. Claudius and Gertrude, concerned about Hamlet’s melancholic behavior, seek to understand his emotional state. Hamlet’s sorrow seems to concern them, but his true feelings are clouded by confusion and anger.

Act 2: Hamlet’s Feigned Madness
In the second act, Hamlet begins to pretend to be mad in order to deceive Claudius and others, all while investigating the truth behind his father's death. He communicates this feigned madness to his friends Horatio, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern, who are summoned by Claudius to spy on Hamlet and figure out the cause of his strange behavior.

Ophelia, the young woman Hamlet once loved and whose father Polonius is the chief counselor to Claudius, is also drawn into the intrigue. Hamlet behaves erratically toward her, rejecting her and speaking in riddles. Ophelia is deeply affected by Hamlet’s behavior, leading her to report her troubled interactions with him to her father, Polonius.

Polonius, who is eager to gain favor with Claudius, believes that Hamlet’s madness stems from his love for Ophelia. He plans to confront Hamlet directly and sets up a meeting between them. Meanwhile, Hamlet grows more frustrated by his inability to act and take revenge, even as he prepares for a confrontation with Claudius.

Act 3: The Play Within a Play and Hamlet’s Internal Struggles
In the third act, Hamlet arranges a play to confirm Claudius’s guilt. He instructs a group of actors to perform a play titled The Murder of Gonzago, in which the protagonist is poisoned in a manner similar to the way Hamlet’s father was killed. Hamlet hopes that Claudius’s reaction to the play will reveal his guilt.

The play proceeds, and as the scene depicting the murder unfolds, Claudius reacts with visible agitation and abruptly leaves the performance. This reaction convinces Hamlet that Claudius is indeed guilty of his father’s murder. However, Hamlet still struggles with doubts and hesitates to take action immediately.

In the midst of Hamlet's internal conflict, he has a famous soliloquy, “To be or not to be,” in which he contemplates the nature of existence, life, and death. Hamlet debates whether it is nobler to endure life's suffering or to seek escape through death, reflecting his deep psychological turmoil. This soliloquy also reveals his profound existential crisis, as Hamlet grapples with the futility of life and the uncertainty of the afterlife.

Act 4: Hamlet’s Growing Isolation and Tragic Events
Following the play’s confirmation of Claudius’s guilt, Hamlet has an altercation with his mother, Gertrude, in her chambers. Claudius, now fearful of Hamlet’s increasing erratic behavior, sends Hamlet away to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, hoping that Hamlet’s exile will bring him peace. However, Hamlet suspects that they are carrying out Claudius’s orders to have him killed in England. He manages to escape from their plot and returns to Denmark.

Meanwhile, Ophelia is increasingly distraught over Hamlet’s treatment of her and her father's death. She descends into madness and eventually drowns in a river, an event that deeply affects her brother Laertes. Laertes, who has been away in France, returns to Denmark to seek revenge for his father Polonius’s death at Hamlet’s hands. He conspires with Claudius to kill Hamlet.

Claudius arranges a fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes, intending for Laertes to use a poisoned blade that will kill Hamlet with a single scratch. The match is set to take place during a public celebration, and both Hamlet and Laertes are unaware of the plot against him. Before the match, Hamlet expresses a sense of peace, as if fate is finally guiding him toward a resolution.

Act 5: The Final Confrontation and Hamlet’s Death
The final act of Hamlet culminates in a tragic series of events. During the fencing match, both Hamlet and Laertes are wounded by the poisoned blade. Queen Gertrude, unaware of the poison in the drink she consumes, accidentally drinks from the cup intended for Hamlet and dies. Laertes, as he dies from his own poisoned wound, reveals to Hamlet that Claudius is responsible for the deaths of his mother, Ophelia, and the plot to kill him. Hamlet, in his final act of revenge, kills Claudius before succumbing to the poison himself.

As Hamlet dies, he names Prince Fortinbras of Norway as his successor, ensuring that Denmark will be ruled by a leader who will bring stability to the kingdom. Hamlet’s death marks the tragic end of the play, with Fortinbras taking control of Denmark and ordering a military funeral for Hamlet.

Themes:
Revenge and Justice: One of the primary themes of Hamlet is the idea of revenge and justice. Hamlet is driven by the desire to avenge his father’s death, but he wrestles with moral and philosophical questions about whether revenge is justified and how it should be carried out. The play explores the consequences of seeking vengeance, especially when it leads to violence and death.

Madness: Both real and feigned madness play a significant role in Hamlet. Hamlet pretends to be mad in order to deceive those around him, but his behavior often blurs the line between acting and genuine insanity. Ophelia’s descent into madness after the death of her father highlights the psychological toll of grief and betrayal. Madness becomes a reflection of the emotional and moral disarray of the characters.

Mortality and Death: Death is a recurring theme throughout the play, with Hamlet frequently contemplating the nature of life and death. The famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy examines the agony of existence and the fear of the unknown in the afterlife. Hamlet’s struggles with mortality are mirrored by the many deaths that occur throughout the play, including the deaths of his father, Ophelia, Polonius, Gertrude, Claudius, Laertes, and Hamlet himself.

Corruption and Decay: The state of Denmark is described as being in a state of moral and political decay. Claudius’s rise to power through murder and deceit symbolizes the corrupt nature of the political system. Hamlet’s internal conflict and the widespread corruption in the royal court reflect the broader themes of moral decay and the consequences of unchecked ambition and power.

Indecision and Action: Hamlet’s indecision is a key aspect of his character. He constantly vacillates between taking action and doubting the morality and effectiveness of revenge. His hesitation is central to the play’s tragic outcome, as his inability to act decisively leads to unnecessary deaths, including his own.

Existentialism and the Human Condition: Hamlet’s soliloquies, particularly “To be or not to be,” reflect deep existential questions about the meaning of life, suffering, and the inevitability of death. The play addresses the nature of human existence, fate, and the uncertainty of the afterlife, exploring themes that resonate with the broader human experience.

Conclusion:
Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most profound and enduring tragedies, exploring timeless themes of revenge, madness, mortality, and the complexities of the human soul. Through the character of Hamlet, Shakespeare delves into the nature of indecision, the consequences of action, and the devastating effects of corruption and vengeance. The play’s philosophical insights and dramatic tension have made it one of the most widely studied and performed works in the world. Hamlet is a masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences with its exploration of the complexities of the human condition and the tragic consequences of moral dilemmas.