Timeline of Hamlet

Old King Hamlet Dies

Sep 1, 1333

Old King Hamlet is poisoned by his brother Claudius.

Act 1: The Ghost of Old Hamlet appears

Nov 6, 1333

Old King Hamlet's ghost appears in front of Bernardo and Marcellus. They find Horatio and asked him to speak to the ghost. After this failed attempt they decide that they should tell Hamlet.

Act 1: Gertrude Remarries

Nov 7, 1333

After the death of Old King Hamlet, Queen Gertrude is remarried to King Claudius which is Old Hamlet's brother.

Act 1: Laertes Departure

Nov 7, 1333

After the wedding, Laertes asks permission from Claudius to depart back to France. Claudius asks if that is okay with his father Polonius and they allow him to leave. However, Hamlet asks to go back to college in Wittenberg he is denied and Claudius wants him to stay home with his family.

Act 1: Ophelia is Warned

Nov 7, 1333

Laertes before leaving Elsinore warns Ophelia to stay away from Hamlet. His father Polonius shows up to have a long talk about how to be a man. After Laertes departs Ophelia tells his father about what he said to her.

Act 1: Horatio Tells Hamlet Big News

Nov 7, 1333

After the wedding, Hamlet is in a terrible mood. He is upset because his mother married a couple of weeks after his father died. After him moping around for a while. Horatio comes up to him and claims he has seen his father. Hamlet decides to go with them to the watch tower to see if it is true.

Act 1: Hamlet Encounters the Ghost

Nov 8, 1333

Hamlet stands guard with Horatio and other guards. When the Old Hamlet appears he calls Hamlet to follow him. After following him he speaks to him and claimed he was murdered by none other than his brother the now King Claudius. He asks him to seek revenge for him and Hamlet agrees.

Time between Act 1 & Act 2

Period: Nov 8, 1333 to Jan 10, 1334

Act 2: Hamlet is Acting Crazy

Jan 11, 1334

Ophelia goes to her father with a problem. She tells Polonius that Hamlet's behavior is different. Polonius believe this madness is due to Ophelia rejecting him.

Act 2: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Arrive

Jan 14, 1334

King Claudius decides to get Hamlet's old friends to spy on him and find the source of his weird behavior.

Act 2: Is Hamlet Crazy?

Jan 14, 1334

Polonius finally tells the King that Hamlet has gone mad with love for Ophelia. Polonius offers up a plan to listen to a conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia.

Act 2: Players Come to Elsinore

Jan 20, 1334

Traveling actors show up and arrive to perform a play. Hamlet speaks with them and asks to perform "The Murder of Gonzago". This play recreates the murder of his father to show whether or not King Claudius is guilty.

Act 3: Hamlet's Famous Soliloquy

Jan 22, 1334

Hamlet recites his famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy. Before that King Claudius and Polonius hide behind the corner where the watch the conversation between the mad Hamlet and Ophelia. Hamlet proceeds to insult Ophelia and confuses her more.

Act 3: The Play Starts

Jan 24, 1334

Before the play Hamlet asks Horatio to watch King Claudius to see his reaction. However in the scene where the player poured the poison in the player king's ear, King Claudius stands up and demands for lights. With this reaction Hamlet is sure that he murdered his father.

Act 3: Claudius Confesses

Jan 24, 1334

After the play Hamlet finds King Claudius alone. This was the perfect chance to kill King Claudius. However Claudius is praying and decides not to kill him because he might go to heaven. After Hamlet leaves Claudius admits that he can not atone for this sin. Hamlet blows this perfect opportunity to kill King Claudius.

Act 3: Hamlet Kills Polonius

Jan 24, 1334

Hamlet was called to see his mother in her chambers. Hamlet threatens her and saying she is immoral. Gertrude who is scared for her life calls for help. Polonius happens to be behind the curtain cries for help as well. Hamlet thought it was King Claudius and stabs the curtain where Polonius is slain. Hamlet proceeds to trash his mother and then exits while dragging Polonius's dead body.

Act 4: Hamlet Departs to England

Jan 25, 1334

After Gertrude tells King Claudius that Hamlet has completely lost his mind. With this information King Claudius decides to call Hamlet in and let him know he is going off to England. They also try to locate Polonius's body where Hamlet provides a riddle to where it is. After this Rosencrantz and Guildenstern go with Hamlet to depart for England.

Act 4: Hamlet Encounters Fortinbras

Jan 25, 1334

Hamlet on his way to the boat and runs into the Army of Fortinbras. They are going to Poland to fight for some land. After he speaks with the captain of the army he leaves for England.

Act 4: Ophelia is crazy

Feb 4, 1334

Queen Gertrude encounters Ophelia acting crazy and she is singing sad songs as well speaking gibberish. They claim that this is just grief and that she is fine.

Act 4: Laertes Returns

Feb 10, 1334

Laertes returns from France. He finds out about Ophelia's madness and Polonius's death and is overcome with rage. King Claudius gets a letter about Hamlet saying that he is coming home. They plot to kill Hamlet using Laertes to kill him.

Act 4: Hamlet returns

Feb 12, 1334

In Hamlet's letter it claims he was attacked by pirates and treated nicely and they brought him back to Denmark. Laertes and King Claudius decided that they will ask Hamlet to duel and poison his drink and the tip of Laertes sword to finally kill Hamlet.

Act 4: Ophelia Dies

Feb 12, 1334

When Laertes and King Claudius were plotting Gertrude comes in with an urgent message. Ophelia drowned which just furthers Laertes's hatred for Hamlet now he is dead set on killing Hamlet.

Act 5: Gravediggers

Feb 13, 1334

Two gravediggers talk to each other about Ophelia's death. They talk about whether or not she should have a Christian burial because they believe it was suicide. Hamlet confronts them and thinks about death and finds his old caretakers skull Yorick.

Act 5: Ophelia's Funeral

Feb 13, 1334

The body of Ophelia is brought up and placed into the grave. Laertes then jumps into the grave to show his love for Ophelia. Hamlet who is watching in the distance gets jealous and runs over and jumps in as well claiming he loves her more. They fight for a little bit and they get separated.

Act 5: Laertes Challenges Hamlet

Feb 14, 1334

Hamlet tells Horatio how he escaped. He changed the letter that was supposed to have him sentenced to death to the names of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. A servant comes in with an invitation to fight Laertes. Hamlet takes on the challenge.

Act 5: Hamlet and Laertes Duel

Feb 15, 1334

Hamlet shows up at the King's chambers where before the duel Hamlet asks for forgiveness from Laertes for killing his father. The duel then starts and Hamlet gets the first two hits. Queen Gertrude what's to give Hamlet a break and offers him the drink King Claudius poisoned. Hamlet Denies and Queen Gertrude then drinks it and is fatally poisoned.

Act 5: Hamlet Dies and New King Crowned

Feb 15, 1334

Hamlet tells Horatio to live on and he then hears war drums. A servant comes in and says it is Fortinbras coming back from a big victory against the Polacks. Hamlet says he will not be alive to greet him and says to Horatio that Fortinbras should be the next king of Denmark. Fortinbras comes and says that Hamlet should have a soldier's burial and claims the free land of Denmark.

Act 5: Laertes, Gertrude and Claudius Die

Feb 15, 1334

After Queen Gertrude drinks the poisoned cup. The duel resumes Hamlet then gets hit with the poisoned sword. They get into a scuffle then Laertes loses the sword during the battle which ends up in Hamlet's hands. Hamlet hits Laertes with the sword. Queen Gertrude faints and dies. Laertes knowing he is going to die confesses to killing Hamlet and blames it all on the king and forgives Hamlet. Laertes dies and Hamlet stabs King Claudius and makes him drink the poison.