Summary Of The Play Hamlet It’s a story of murder, betrail, hatred all rapped up in one astonishing play. An amazing play in fact, one of which I thought was the best Shakespear ever wrote. There are some many different themes in the book. It a play that I would suggest anyone to read if there looking for a great story! Brief Summary Hamlet is the son of the late King Hamlet (of Denmark), who died two months before the start of the play. After King Hamlet's death, his brother, Claudius, becomes king, and marries King Hamlet's widow, Gertrude (Queen of Denmark). Young Hamlet fears that Claudius killed his own brother (Hamlet's father)