# Hamlet — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

- [Act I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i.md): Hamlet — Stage Lens: dramatic beats, line helps that follow your scroll, and stage picture. Read to understand, not to collect a closed thesis.
- [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i.md): On the battlements of Elsinore, the guards Bernardo, Marcellus, and Horatio witness the ghost of the late King Hamlet. Horatio explains the political context: the late king defeated Fortinbras of Norway in combat, and no
- [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii.md): In a state room, King Claudius addresses the court about his recent marriage to Gertrude and dispatches ambassadors to Norway to curb Fortinbras's aggression. He grants Laertes permission to return to France. Hamlet, sti
- [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii.md): Laertes bids farewell to Ophelia, warning her to be cautious of Hamlet's affections, which he considers fleeting and constrained by his royal position. Polonius then enters, echoes Laertes' warnings, and forbids Ophelia 
- [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv.md): On the cold platform of Elsinore, Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus await the ghost. Hamlet reflects on the king's heavy drinking and its effect on Denmark's reputation. The Ghost appears and beckons Hamlet to follow. Despi

> 21 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=hamlet_se_951kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v.md)
- [Act II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-ii.md)
- [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-i.md)
- [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii.md)
- [Act III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iii.md)
- [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i.md)
- [Scene II: The Mousetrap](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii.md)
- [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iii.md)
- [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv.md)
- [Act IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv.md)
- [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i.md)
- [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii.md)
- [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii.md)
- [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iv.md)
- [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-v.md)
- [Scene VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vi.md)
- [Scene VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-vii.md)
- [Act V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v.md)
- [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i.md)
- [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/hamlet_se/chapters