Context of the advice of Polonius to his son Laertes: A Summary of Hamlet
The Murder and the Ghost: In the court of Elsinore, Denmark, Prince Hamlet is deep in grief following the sudden death of his father, King Hamlet. His distress turns to disgust when his mother, Queen Gertrude, swiftly marries his uncle Claudius, who has claimed the throne. The ghost of King Hamlet appears on the battlements and reveals to Prince Hamlet that Claudius murdered him by pouring poison into his ear, demanding that Hamlet avenge the foul deed.
The Feigned Madness: To investigate and confirm Claudius’s guilt without raising alarm, Hamlet decides to feign madness ("antic disposition"). His erratic behavior alarms Claudius and Gertrude, who enlist his university friends (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) and his Lord Chamberlain, Polonius, to uncover the source of his madness. Polonius becomes convinced that Hamlet’s affliction is merely lovesickness for his daughter, Ophelia.
The Play within a Play: A troupe of traveling actors arrives at court. Hamlet arranges for them to perform The Murder of Gonzago, modifying the scene to mirror the ghost’s description of King Hamlet’s murder. When the scene plays out, Claudius reacts with acute guilt and flees the room, confirming the ghost’s story to Hamlet.
The Turning Point and Downfall: Hamlet is summoned to Gertrude’s chamber to account for his conduct. Polonius hides behind an arras (tapestry) to eavesdrop. When Gertrude cries out in alarm, Polonius stirs, and Hamlet—mistaking the figure behind the curtain for Claudius—thrusts his rapier through the cloth, killing Polonius instantly.
The Tragic Climax: Polonius’s death drives Ophelia mad with grief, and she subsequently drowns. Laertes rushes back from France burning for vengeance. Claudius manipulates Laertes’ anger, orchestrating a rigged fencing duel between Hamlet and Laertes using an unblunted, poisoned foil and a cup of poisoned wine. During the duel, Gertrude unwittingly drinks the poisoned chalice and dies; both Hamlet and Laertes wound each other with the poisoned sword. Before dying, Laertes confesses the king’s treacherous plot. In his final moments, Hamlet slays Claudius and passes the rule of Denmark to Prince Fortinbras of Norway.
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