Acts 1-2: The Ghost's Revelation and Hamlet's Plan
Everything kicks off when watchmen spot a ghost that looks exactly like Denmark's recently deceased king. Meanwhile, Claudius has married Queen Gertrude just two months after her husband's death, and he's now ruling as the new king.
When Hamlet encounters this ghostly apparition, he discovers a shocking truth: Claudius murdered his father by pouring poison in his ear whilst he slept. The ghost demands that Hamlet seek revenge, setting the entire tragic plot in motion.
Hamlet decides to fake madness whilst he figures out how to get his revenge. His erratic behaviour worries everyone, especially Ophelia, who's been told by her father Polonius to avoid Hamlet completely. Claudius and Polonius spy on Hamlet to understand what's causing his strange conduct.
Key Point: Hamlet's famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy happens here, where he contemplates suicide and the meaning of existence. This sets up a travelling theatre troupe to perform a play that mirrors his father's murder, hoping to catch Claudius's guilty reaction.
