Hamlet

In his production of Hamlet, choreographer Kevin O’Day used as his starting point the idea that sons have, for better or worse, a "genetic imprint" from their fathers from which they can't free themselves, and that a father's influence and his expectations shape the thoughts and actions of the son.

It is no coincidence that Shakespeare names Hamlet after his father. The ghost of Hamlet Senior commands Hamlet to avenge his death but Shakespeare makes it very clear that, if left to himself, Hamlet would do no such thing. Shakespeare also makes very clear that Hamlet and his father had very little in common: King Hamlet was a warrior king, forever off fighting battles, a man of action. Hamlet is the exact opposite: a thinker, an observer, a wit, an intellectual whose mental capacity is so enormous that he is an isolated, lonely figure towering above the other characters. Hamlet may have admired his father; he certainly didn't love him.

And so Hamlet faces a dilemma: to act or not to act; to avenge his father's death or not. In confronting his father's mortality, he confronts his own; in trying to fulfill his father's expectations of him, he must ultimately ask himself who he is and what he believes in. In the end, he goes into the duel knowing it has been rigged and that he will die. By doing this he defies his father's expectations because he will not live to kill Claudius and take back the throne. Ironically, Hamlet does end up killing Claudius, but in a fit of rage because Claudius, in trying to kill Hamlet, has brought about the deaths of Gertrude and Laertes.

In this way, Hamlet does fulfill his father's expectations but through impulse rather than premeditated action. No matter how much a son tries to free himself of his father or believes that he is free of his influence, the father will always appear in some part of the son's actions or thoughts.

Hamlet Synopsis

Act I 

Hamlet's father King Hamlet is dead, murdered by his own brother – Hamlet's treacherous uncle Claudius – in Hamlet's absence. Claudius has claimed the throne and married Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother.

Hamlet mourns at his father's grave; memories of his father return to him. He knows that his father would expect him to avenge his death. Hamlet's friend Horatio and the sentinels seek Hamlet out; they believe to have seen Hamlet's dead father.

At court, Claudius is celebrating his marriage to Gertrude. Hamlet's boyhood friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern welcome him back. Claudius' councillor Polonius is also present, with his son Laertes and his daughter Ophelia, Hamlet's secret love. Hamlet observes the court and is disgusted by their behaviour and the entire situation.

Laertes receives permission from the King and Queen to travel abroad. Ophelia is warned by her father Polonius and her brother Laertes not to respond to Hamlet's wooing; being a prince, he is destined to marry someone else. Laertes bids farewell to his father and his beloved sister Ophelia and departs.

Hamlet seeks Ophelia out in order to give her a love letter. Although she knows that she should avoid Hamlet, Ophelia gives in and accepts the letter. Hamlet seeks comfort in Ophelia's arms but Ophelia knows she is being watched by her father.

To discover what Hamlet's intentions are, Claudius sends Polonius as well as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to feel him out. Getting no results, Claudius tries to provoke Hamlet by openly flaunting his new relationship with Hamlet's mother.

Hamlet finds himself more and more isolated. His thoughts circle continuously around his father and whether he can – or even wants to – avenge his death. Exhausted, he meets Ophelia who has been sent by Claudius and her father to spy on Hamlet. Hamlet, who feels betrayed by all around him, brutally rejects Ophelia.

Hamlet knows that he must make a decision: to act or not to act. He returns to his father's grave.

Act II 

Wishing to expose Claudius, Hamlet invites the court to a party which Claudius and Gertrude also attend. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have supplied Hamlet with two travelling dancers whom Hamlet instructs to imitate the murder of his father by Claudius. Claudius realizes that Hamlet is accusing him, abruptly ends the party and dismisses the court.

Claudius wrestles with his guilt. Hamlet, finding Claudius alone, intends to use the moment to avenge his father but is interrupted by Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

In the meantime, Polonius has convinced Gertrude to speak to Hamlet while he eavesdrops on the conversation. Hamlet comes to his mother; they argue and Polonius, who has hidden himself, believes Hamlet will hurt the Queen. He intervenes and is killed by Hamlet who has mistaken him for Claudius. Over his dead body, Hamlet confronts his mother about her behaviour. Gertrude realizes that it is impossible to be loyal to Hamlet and Claudius at the same time; mother and son reconcile.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, sent by Claudius, discover Polonius' body and try to detain Hamlet. He eliminates them both. Horatio removes Hamlet from the scene of the crime.

Due to Hamlet's rejection and his murder of her father, Ophelia has lost her mind. Gertrude and Claudius attempt to help her, but she is beyond their reach. Gertrude cannot bear the sight of the deranged girl. Left alone, Ophelia commits suicide.

Unsuspecting, Laertes returns home from his travels. He finds first Ophelia's, then his father's body. Claudius informs him that Hamlet is responsible for their deaths and conspires with Laertes to avenge them.

Hamlet and Horatio, on their way back to court, meet a gravedigger who is digging a grave. A funeral procession interrupts their conversation; Hamlet realizes that the corpse is Ophelia's. Laertes wants to avenge his father's and sister's deaths immediately, but Claudius holds him back. Hamlet mourns Ophelia.

Claudius calls for a duel between Hamlet and Laertes. He has prepared Laertes’ foil with poison so that even a slight wound will kill Hamlet. Horatio attempts to dissuade Hamlet from fighting.

Claudius offers the winner of the duel a pearl of great value. Hamlet makes the first hit. Claudius urges him to drink from a goblet of poisoned wine, which Hamlet declines. When Hamlet makes the second hit, Claudius again offers him the wine. Gertrude, who has become suspicious, drinks the wine while toasting Hamlet. Horrified, Claudius attempts to stop her. Laertes, knowing that Claudius' treachery will soon be uncovered, attacks Hamlet from behind and wounds him with the poisoned sword. Enraged, Hamlet fights back and in the thick of the fight, Laertes drops his sword and picks up Hamlet's. Hamlet notices Gertrude's distress and tries to go to her but is forced by Laertes to keep fighting. Grabbing Laertes’ poisoned sword, he stabs him with it. Gertrude dies and Laertes accuses Claudius. Hamlet kills Claudius. As he dies, Laertes absolves Hamlet of Ophelia's and Polonius' death. Hamlet begs Horatio to remember his story for posterity and dies.