As they talk, a messenger from Norway arrives to inform Claudius that the King of Norway has censured Prince Fortinbras for trying to re-fight his father's battles and agitate against Denmark. Gertrude asks the students to find out why Hamlet seems to be losing his mind. However, he cannot inform them straight away as he plans to because when he arrives at court the King and Queen are welcoming two friends of Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to Elsinore. Polonius believes it is heartsickness and love for his daughter that is causing Hamlet to behave this way and decides to tell Gertrude and Claudius about the incident. Hamlet arrives at Polonius' door behaving in a very erratic manner. Hamlet comes up with a plan he will pretend to have gone mad and he swears Horatio to secrecy, but he is secretly worried that the ghost might not be giving him reliable information. Hamlet agrees immediately and the ghost vanishes. The ghost of King Hamlet appears to the prince that evening on the rampart he tells his son that he was murdered by Claudius, and he asks his son to avenge his death. Laertes orders her to rebuff any advances that the prince might make. Polonius' son, Laertes, has received permission from Claudius to go to school in France, but before he leaves his sister Ophelia tells him that she has feelings for Hamlet. He learns from Horatio that whilst at the castle of Elsinore, his father's ghost had appeared to them, and he vows to see the ghost himself. Hamlet is in despair and feels his mother has betrayed both his father and himself. He refuses to allow him to return to school in Wittenberg. The court gathers the next day and King Claudius chastises Hamlet for continuing to grieve for his father.

Prince Fortinbras, the dead king's son, is rumored to be planning an attack. The death of the monarch has come at a time of great fear in Denmark King Hamlet had defeated King Fortinbras of Norway in battle some years ago, but the countries were rarely at peace and a Norwegian invasion was a constant threat. He is not coping well with his father's death. Prince Hamlet's father, King Hamlet of Denmark, has recently passed away and the throne taken by Hamlet's uncle, Claudius, who has also married his dead brother's wife, Gertrude, with a speed that has deeply upset Hamlet.

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Hamlet full movie 1996