“Who’s there” Scene: The first words that are spoken in the play are the words “Who’s there.” These words are spoken by a guard named Bernardo and this sets up a large theme in the play. The words “Who’s there” are to show the questioning of existence and the meaning of life, which comes into play multiple times later. A little after the guards are talking and a ghost appears to theme and they believe that it is the king. This is a set up for Hamlet to know what his father wants and lead into the theme of revenge. The ghost appearing to the different guards also proves that the ghost actually exists and makes the reader question Hamlet's “madness” when he can see the ghost and his mother can not in during Act 3 scene 4.
Hamlet says he’s going to act mad: During Act 1 scene 5 Hamlet plots to act mad and makes Horatio and Marcellus swear to secrecy that they will not tell anyone. The reasoning that he is going to act mad is so that he can gain more information about his father’s murder. If Hamlet acts mad then everyone will be focusing on how he is acting instead of paying attention to what his actual intentions are. This hits on the theme of madness and deceiving. This decision of Hamlet acting mad leads to the reader thinking that Hamlet may actually be crazy and when he starts acting extremely crazy the reader is lead to believe that he is actually mad. This shows the theme of deceiving because of how he starts to deceive the ones that he loves and the people he cares the most about.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: During act 2 scene 2 the king and queen are worried about Hamlet's well being and call in some childhood friends of his. The two are actually working for the king to find out if Hamlet is truly mad or not. The two being in the play helps emphasize the theme of deception because of how they try to trick their old friend into thinking that they are there for his well being. It also shows the fact that Hamlet knows that they deceiving him and he has to continue to act mad even though these are two close friends of his.
To be, or not to be: The “To be, or not to be” soliloquy during act 3 scene one portrays many of the themes included in Hamlet and characterizes the protagonist. The speech discusses the theme of meaning of existence with the first line “to be or not to be,” to live or not to live. Hamlet asks if it is better to fight against the hardships of life or is it better to just kill himself and move onto the next life. Hamlet continues to discuss the evils of the world and how the reason people don’t kill themselves is because they do not know what will happen after death. This characterizes Hamlet because of how it shows his fatal flaw of inaction. Instead of finding different ways to kill Claudius and avenge his father he continues to think about life and not contribute to his actual goal.
The Mousetrap: “The Mousetrap” was the play in Act 3 scene 2 that Hamlet created and it was supposed to depict the event of Claudius killing Hamlet’s father described by the ghost. During this scene the reader gets the proof that Claudius actually did kill Claudius because of his reaction and how he storms off when the players kill the king. During this scene Hamlet is toying with Ophelia and showing how mad he is because of how he is flirting with her but a few scene ago he told her that she should go to a nunnery. The Mousetrap play also shows Hamlet's fatal flaw of inaction because of how he made a full play instead of figuring out ways to murder Claudius and avenge his father.
Does Not Kill Claudius: During Act 3 Scene 3 Hamlet finds Claudius alone praying and thinks that this is a spectacular time to avenge his father. Yet when Hamlet sees that Claudius is praying he does not kill him because he will go to heaven because his sins will have been forgiven. The climax of the play is when Hamlet decides to not kill Claudius and this is his fatal flaw. After Hamlet leaves Claudius announces that he could not get himself to pray truthfully. This shows that if Hamlet would have taken the action to kill him then and there he would have avenged his father. This proves that Hamlet's fatal flaw is inaction and that this decision leads to his death.
Stabs Polonius: During act 3 scene 4, while talking to his mother, Hamlet sees someone moving behind a curtain and believes it to be Claudius. Hamlet proceeds to stab the person through the curtain, and then realizes that it is Polonius. This event can be tied to the theme of madness and shows how Hamlet may truly be mad. The scene before Hamlet struggled with acting upon killing Claudius but now one scene later he murders without even thinking about it. Afterwards Hamlet sees the ghost of his father and the ghost tells him to remember that he needs to avenge him. The problem is that Gertrude could not see the ghost which shows that the ghost may be a hallucination furthering the idea of Hamlet being mad.
Sent to England: In act 4 scene 3 Hamlet is sent to England and everyone is told that he is going there for his own well being. Claudius has actually sent Hamlet there to be killed when he got there right away. Yet Hamlet saw through this deceiving and changed the words on the letter to have his two childhood friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern be the ones killed. This event shows the themes of deceiving and power because of how well Claudius can deceive everyone into believing that Hamlet is okay and the power that it would take to do so.
Laertes' Return: Laertes returns in act 4 scene 5 and he is furious about his father's death. He storms the castle and tries to claim the throne for his own. The king however blames everything that has occurred on Hamlet and strikes a deal with Leatres. They both plan to kill Hamlet during a duel and make it seem that he died of a natural cause. This reveals the theme of deceiving and how much power Claudius has, by how well Claudius can shift the blame over to someone else and make it seem like nothing was his fault. He can also convince Laertes that it is a good thought to kill Hamlet instead of having him face his crimes.
Return to funeral: In this scene the reader receives the theme of questioning life and love. Hamlet questions life while he is holding the skull of “poor Yorick.” Hamlet ponders the thoughts of what is the point of life and should we forget about the people who die. Then a funeral starts and Hamlet realizes that it is Ophelia's. Laertes and him then fight over which one of them loved her more, while in her grave, showing the theme of love and that Hamlet truly did care for Ophelia.
Fencing Match: The fencing match is the catastrophe, the disastrous final scene where almost everyone dies. Hamlet and Laertes are fighting at the king’s request, but Laertes’ sword is secretly poisoned. Hamlet is gains the upper hand in the duel and is able to get Laertes’ sword without knowing that it is poisoned. He injures Laertes and recieves an injury in return, rendering them both poisoned. Laertes admits to Hamlet their plan for killing him but it is too late because Gertrude has drank the poisoned wine (Claudius’s backup plan for Hamlet) and falls down dead. In the end Hamlet kills Claudius by forcing him to drink the poisoned wine and four bodies lay dead in the courtroom. The only thing left for Hamlet to do is tell Horatio to spread the word and tell his story as he lays dying.