Act 5
Hamlet and Horatio spy on a gravedigger preparing a burial ground for Ophelia. Hamlet picks up a skull and in this moment realizes that all men turn to dust. (The skull was said to be that of his father’s old jester whom Hamlet had known as a boy.) Hamlet and Horatio hide nearby as the funeral procession approaches the grave site. Hamlet recognizes that this is Ophelia’s funeral. Laertes, angry at the priest, (who says the funeral shouldn’t be done on account that Ophelia committed suicide) jumps into the grave with Ophelia to hold her in his arms. Hamlet then appears at the scene to confess his love for Ophelia. The two get into a tiff and are pulled apart. The king and queen declare Hamlet mad and Hamlet runs off, Horatio following. Claudius reminds Laertes of their “plan” for revenge to calm Laertes down.
Hamlet tells Horatio how he replaced the letter that was being sent to England to have he (Hamlet) executed with a new letter to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern executed instead. Hamlet doesn’t really feel bad about this because the two of them merely catered to Claudius. Hamlet does feel bad, however, about his behavior toward Laertes. Laertes desires to avenge his father’s death, which is exactly what Hamlet aspires to do. Hamlet wants to be on good terms with Laertes. Osric (a courtier) comes to summon Hamlet to a fencing match against Laertes. Hamlet agrees to fight, although Horatio advises him not to. Hamlet seeks Laertes’ forgiveness, but Laertes will only accept Hamlet’s offer of love in the meantime. The two begin the fencing match. Hamlet strikes Laertes. Again, he hits Laertes. Gertrude raises a cup to Hamlet and drinks from it although Claudius warns her not to. It was the poisoned cup of wine meant for Hamlet. Laertes then strikes and hits Hamlet with the poisoned sword. The two get a hold of each others’ swords, and Hamlet strikes Laertes again, this time with the poisoned sword. The queen realizes she’s been poisoned and dies. Laertes, upon dying, says the king is to blame for the poisoned sword and for the poisoned wine. Hamlet, enraged, stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword and makes him drink the poisoned wine. Claudius dies. Hamlet is dying and asks Laertes again or for forgiveness. Laertes forgives him, and then dies. Hamlet, dying, tells Horatio to live on and tell his story. He also asks that Fortinbras be made king of Denmark. Hamlet then dies. Fortinbras enters this sad scene, and Horatio says that he will explain all that has happened. Fortinbras has Hamlet taken away honorably, like a soldier.
Hamlet tells Horatio how he replaced the letter that was being sent to England to have he (Hamlet) executed with a new letter to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern executed instead. Hamlet doesn’t really feel bad about this because the two of them merely catered to Claudius. Hamlet does feel bad, however, about his behavior toward Laertes. Laertes desires to avenge his father’s death, which is exactly what Hamlet aspires to do. Hamlet wants to be on good terms with Laertes. Osric (a courtier) comes to summon Hamlet to a fencing match against Laertes. Hamlet agrees to fight, although Horatio advises him not to. Hamlet seeks Laertes’ forgiveness, but Laertes will only accept Hamlet’s offer of love in the meantime. The two begin the fencing match. Hamlet strikes Laertes. Again, he hits Laertes. Gertrude raises a cup to Hamlet and drinks from it although Claudius warns her not to. It was the poisoned cup of wine meant for Hamlet. Laertes then strikes and hits Hamlet with the poisoned sword. The two get a hold of each others’ swords, and Hamlet strikes Laertes again, this time with the poisoned sword. The queen realizes she’s been poisoned and dies. Laertes, upon dying, says the king is to blame for the poisoned sword and for the poisoned wine. Hamlet, enraged, stabs Claudius with the poisoned sword and makes him drink the poisoned wine. Claudius dies. Hamlet is dying and asks Laertes again or for forgiveness. Laertes forgives him, and then dies. Hamlet, dying, tells Horatio to live on and tell his story. He also asks that Fortinbras be made king of Denmark. Hamlet then dies. Fortinbras enters this sad scene, and Horatio says that he will explain all that has happened. Fortinbras has Hamlet taken away honorably, like a soldier.
No comments:
Post a Comment