Final answer:
The turning point in Shakespeare's 'Hamlet' occurs in Act IV, noted by Hamlet's change in perspective after encountering Fortinbras's army and the graveyard scene with Yorick's skull, which propel him toward decisive action against Claudius.
Step-by-step explanation:
The turning point in Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet can be identified by the change in Hamlet's disposition towards action and his eventual decision to avenge his father's murder. While the play does not explicitly mark the turning point in the same way more modern narratives might, there are indications in Act IV that suggest a shift in Hamlet's approach to his situation. One key example is when Hamlet, on his way to England, encounters Fortinbras's army and is struck by the decisiveness and willingness of others to act for far less significant reasons than his own (Hamlet's epiphany).
Another critical moment is Hamlet's realization during the scene in which he encounters the skull of Yorick, the dead court jester (graveyard scene). This moment underscores Hamlet's reflections on mortality and the ultimate futility of life, which further pushes him towards taking decisive action. The actual excerpts from Act IV that spotlight these turning points can be found in the dialogues that follow these events, where Hamlet's contemplative nature is replaced with a more resolved tone indicative of a readiness to confront the corrupt king, Claudius, and fulfill his quest for vengeance. Hamlet's intensified resolve is a product of his internal conflict and his disgust with his mother's actions, which fuels his complicated emotions towards taking action.