William Shakespeare · 1601 · sea

Shakespeare's tragedy, set at the Danish castle of Elsinore but shadowed by journeys reaching across Europe. Recalled from Wittenberg to a court where his father has been murdered, Prince Hamlet is later shipped toward England to be killed, taken by pirates, and returned to Denmark for a final reckoning, while Laertes watches from Paris and Fortinbras marches from Norway.

1. 1
   Wittenberg

   Prince Hamlet and his friend Horatio study at Wittenberg, until Hamlet is called home by his father's sudden death.

2. 2
   Lubeck

   The overland road from Wittenberg ends at the Hanseatic port of Lubeck, where Hamlet takes ship for Denmark; Elsinore sits on the island of Zealand and can only be reached across the water.

3. 3
   Elsinore

   At Kronborg the ghost of the murdered king appears; Hamlet feigns madness, stages a play, and kills Polonius.

4. 4
   The North Sea

   Shipped toward England and a secret death warrant, Hamlet is set upon by pirates and turned back to Denmark.

5. 5
   Elsinore

   He returns for the graveyard, the fencing match, and the poison that destroys the whole royal house at once.