Act 5 Summary

GravediggersGertrudeClaudiusHamlet HoratioLaertes

Act 5.1 Character List

Scene 1 DetailsHamlet and Horatio enter churchyard where

two men are digging a grave

Hamlet reflects on how death is the great equalizer: brings everyone down to the same level

Hamlet questions gravediggers about the “mad prince” and recognizes Yorick’s skull (the King’s jester)

Hamlet and Horatio step aside to observe the funeral procession

Scene 1 detailsLaertes is upset that Ophelia doesn’t get full

funeral rites b/c her death is suspect

Leaps into her grave and curses Hamlet

Hamlet reveals himself; declares his love for Ophelia:

He would fast, eat a crocodile, and be buried alive for her; what would her brother do for her?

Laertes and Hamlet fight; both are pulled apart

Claudius reminds Laertes of his plan and to be patient

HamletHoratioLaertesGertrudeClaudiusOsricYoung FortinbrasAmbassador

Act 5.2 Character List

Hamlet explains to Horatio how he got back to Denmark:

He had a gut feeling that something wasn’t right Discovered a letter from King to English to have Hamlet

beheadedGives letter to HoratioHamlet rewrites orders to have R & G executed instead;

seals it with his dad’s royal seal to make officialHamlet doesn’t feel bad at all about it; he believes they

deserved it; he feels justified

Hamlet recognizes need to make peace with Laertes; he will “court his favor”

Osric comes in to deliver the duel challenge to Hamlet; Claudius believes Hamlet can beat Laertes in the duel; Hamlet accepts challenge

Horatio has a bad feeling Hamlet will lose

Hamlet is willing to accept whatever will happen; his death will come sooner or later

Scene 2 Details

Hamlet and Laertes meet in front of King, Queen and court

Hamlet asks for Laertes’s forgiveness; he blames his madness for the death of Polonius

Laertes accepts the apology with reservation

They get ready to duel; Claudius says it is the best of three hits; he will put a “jewel” into a cup for each hit Hamlet gets (it’s really poison).

Scene 2 Details

Hamlet gets first and second hit

Claudius offers poison cup; Hamlet declines

Gertrude is excited that Hamlet will win; dotes on Hamlet and drinks from cup despite Claudius’s reaction (She’s will soon be a goner!)

Laertes needs to get Hamlet (though Claudius is doubtful); Laertes now second guesses himeself: “and yet is almost against my conscience” (5.2.303).

Scene 2 Details

Scene 2 Details

Laertes wounds Hamlet with poisoned sword; their swords get exchanged; Hamlet wounds Laertes with poisoned sword

Laertes will die by his own treachery

Queen collapes; King tries to cover it up; she admits she was poisoned

Hamlet seeks out treachery; Laertes blames King and tells Hamlet he will soon die because of the poisoned sword

Hamlet goes after Claudius and kills him with his own poison (after Claudius calls out for help…no one comes to his aide!)

Before he dies, Laertes asks for Hamlet’s forgiveness; releases Hamlet from any blame for his or his father’s death

Hamlet begins to fade; Horatio wants to die with him; but Hamlet asks Horatio to “tell my story”

As Hamlet dies, Fortinbras advances on castle; Hamlet gives his “dying voice” for Fortinbras to be king of Denmark

Hamlet dies

Scene 2 Details

Scene 2 detailsFortinbras enters ready to take over only to be

greeted by a massacre; wants to know what has happened

Ambassador from England comes in to report R & G are dead

Horatio will report to everyone what has happened here and also give Hamlet’s voice to support Fortinbras’s take over.

Fortinbras takes over “with sorrow” and asks that Hamlet be buried like a soldier

The end!

1. King Hamlet Poison Act 12. Polonius Stabbed by Hamlet

Act 33. Ophelia Drowned Act 44. Gertrude Poison Act 55. Laertes Poison Act 56. Hamlet Poison Act 57. Claudius Poison Act 58. Rosencrantz Beheaded Act 59. Guildenstern Beheaded Act 5

Who died and how?