In William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," the setting plays a pivotal role in shaping the narrative's intricate themes of treachery, revenge, and the pursuit of truth. The play unfolds primarily within the confines of Elsinore Castle, a fictionalized version of the real Kronborg Castle in modern-day Denmark. Shakespeare's depiction of this fortress, along with a few exterior locations, becomes a complex character in its own right.

Elsinore Castle, a thirteenth-century Danish stronghold, serves as the primary stage for the drama's unfolding events. Despite its basis in reality, Shakespeare crafts Elsinore not as a historical re-creation but as a symbolic backdrop for a play fraught with espionage and moral ambiguity. The castle's labyrinthine corridors and twisting passageways facilitate the many acts of spying that drive the plot. Here, characters like King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Polonius and his daughter Ophelia, and Prince Hamlet navigate a web of intrigue. Hamlet's university friends, Horatio, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern, find temporary residence in its walls, as does the acting troupe performing "The Mousetrap." Only the Norwegian Prince Fortinbras remains an outsider, waging war from beyond the castle's confines.

The castle's architecture mirrors the play's themes, with each twist and turn of its halls echoing the characters' quest for truth. Questions about the ghost's revelations, Claudius's culpability, Gertrude's role, and Hamlet's mental state persist throughout the play, and the answers they yield are as elusive as the castle's concealed rooms.

While "Hamlet" primarily unfolds within Elsinore's oppressive walls, two notable scenes occur outdoors. On the Danish coast, Hamlet observes Fortinbras's army, reflecting on his own hesitance in contrast to Fortinbras's decisive actions. The other outdoor scene, a graveyard, marks a turning point for Hamlet as he contemplates mortality during Ophelia's funeral. This confrontation with life's inevitable end galvanizes Hamlet, clarifying his destiny and propelling him toward vengeance.

The battlements of Elsinore Castle serve as a dramatic setting for some of the play's most gripping moments. Clad in armor, the ghost of Hamlet's father appears to the watchmen and later to Hamlet, evoking the military power he once wielded. These walls, once a defense against external threats, now witness the call for an internal battle—a demand for Hamlet to avenge his father's death.

Wittenberg, the German university where Hamlet studied, contrasts sharply with the intrigues of Elsinore. Known for its association with Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation, Wittenberg symbolizes intellectual pursuit and philosophical thought, standing in opposition to Paris's temptations where Laertes studies. Although Shakespeare does not delve into Hamlet's religious studies, the university's reputation adds depth to his character, emphasizing a world beyond the castle's confines.

The broader setting of Denmark provides a historical and cultural context for "Hamlet." Shakespeare's depiction draws loosely from Danish folklore, yet the play is set in a timeless past, enriched with early modern elements. At the time, Denmark's naval power and political influence were on par with England's, adding layers of irony when Claudius portrays England as subservient to Danish will—a detail likely to amuse contemporary audiences. The reputation of the Danish court for excessive revelry, noted by Hamlet, underscores the play's exploration of decadence and moral decay.