Act 5, Scene 1 Summary

The scene opens with two gravediggers hard at work and discussing whether the corpse deserves a burial since it’s not a case of natural death. They share opinions about the cause of her death and finally lament the privileges that the nobility enjoys. Their banter makes it clear that the woman they are talking about is Ophelia. One of them leaves to fetch some liquor and the other merrily continues to dig the grave. The gravedigger throws out a skull from the grave he is digging. Hamlet and Horatio enter the scene and are surprised by the carefree attitude of the gravedigger. Hamlet picks up the skull and tries to imagine what the person must have been like when alive. He also talks about the role of death in finally erasing people’s identities and accomplishments. Hamlet and the gravedigger indulge in a witty exchange of words and the gravedigger refuses to directly answer Hamlet’s question about the gender of the person whose grave is being dug.

Hamlet then picks up a particular skull, and the gravedigger tells him that it belongs to the court jester Yorick. Hamlet is overwhelmed with emotions as he had known Yorick and he laments that all that is left of that cordial man is a skull.

Horatio and Hamlet hide as a coffin approaches the grave. Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes, and some courtiers are accompanying the coffin. He observes that the priest is hesitant to perform the rituals. The priest insists that a woman who has committed suicide should be buried with a mass. Laertes, enraged by this, insults the priest.

Hamlet cries out in pain as he realizes that the coffin contains Ophelia’s body. A distraught Laertes jumps into Ophelia’s grave as he is overwhelmed by emotions and weeps. Hamlet comes forward and asserts that his grief is deeper than Laertes’. The two men begin to fight only to be stopped by the courtiers. Claudius urges Laertes to be patient for his chance to exact vengeance.

Act 5, Scene 1 Analysis

Shakespeare begins this tragic scene with comical elements using the gravediggers. In this penultimate scene, we hear the commoners’ and the masses’ voices through the characters of the gravediggers. They consider the nobility hypocritical and foolhardy. They point out that the rules, in this case, those of burial, are altered when it is the powerful who are affected. Hamlet’s disconnect with the reality of death is foregrounded when he believes that gravediggers might have no reason to enjoy their lives. He is tremendously moved when he comes across the jester’s skull. The fact that the Yorick he knew was dead and what was left behind was just a skull bereft of any personal markers leaves a deep impression on him. The witty banter between Hamlet and one of the gravediggers highlights that social class does not necessarily have a bearing on the intellectual capability of a person.

The priest is displeased with the suggestion that all rituals be followed for Ophelia’s burial. He believes that someone who has taken their life should not be afforded a burial.

The fight between Laertes and Hamlet symbolizes Hamlet’s internal struggles concerning his inability to act. Hamlet struggles to prove his love for Ophelia, but now he wants to claim that which he believes is rightfully his.

Act 5, Scene 2 Summary

Hamlet recounts to Horatio the events that led to his escape from the ship. He shares that he was suspicious and opened the letter that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were carrying and found out about Claudius’ plan to have him killed. To save himself, he throws that letter away and writes another one requesting the king of England to kill the pair carrying the letters. After their encounter with the pirates, he jumps and escapes from the ship while sending the childhood friends to their death. Horatio is stunned by Claudius’ wickedness and evil nature and urges Hamlet to take revenge at the earliest, especially since it won’t be long before the news of Rosencrantz’s and Guildenstern’s death reaches the king. A young member of Claudius’ court, Osric, enters with a message. He tells them that Claudius has bet on Hamlet in a fencing duel against Laertes and goes on to describe the latter’s skill in exaggerated terms. Hamlet accepts the challenge and ridicules Osric for his florid and descriptive language. Hamlet admits to Horatio that he has a bad premonition about the outcome of the wager. Hamlet decides to go ahead with it even as Horatio requests him to forego the challenge. The court is ready to witness the duel, and Hamlet and Laertes shake hands. In that instant, Hamlet apologizes to Laertes for the pain and loss caused to Laertes because of Hamlet’s actions. He also requests Laertes to not hold Hamlet accountable for Polonius’ death since he (Hamlet) had acted in a state of madness. Laertes promises to not wrong him and pretends to accept the apology.

Both receive their swords from Osric, and Claudius promises the winner some wonderful wine. Hamlet hits Laertes in the first two rounds and refuses the wine that Claudius tries to hand him over in celebration. The wine is poisoned and is mistakenly drunk by Gertrude in a flurry of excitement as a toast to her son. Claudius laments the queen’s death in an aside.

The feud continues, and both of them drop their swords. In a scuffle, the swords get interchanged. After this, Hamlet hits Laertes with Laertes’ own poisoned sword. To everybody’s horror, Gertrude collapses; soon Laertes also collapses. Following this, Gertrude states that the poisoned drink is what has made her fall. Hamlet asks for the doors to be closed so the king cannot escape. Laertes also informs Hamlet about the plan behind the poisoned sword. Hamlet stabs Claudius and makes him drink the poisoned wine. Before dying, Laertes exclaims that he has forgiven Hamlet and is happy that Claudius has received the end he deserved.

As Hamlet falls to his death, Horatio attempts to drink the poisoned wine to follow Hamlet in death. However, Hamlet urges Horatio to not do so. He wants Horatio to document his story. The sounds of Fortinbras’ victory over Poland comes through the doors, and Hamlet announces that Fortinbras should inherit the Danish crown. He notes that the “rest is silence” and dies. Horatio bids his prince good night in Hamlet’s death.

Fortinbras and the English ambassador, who have come to announce Rosencrantz and Guildenstern’s death, are confused by the bloody scene at the court. Horatio promises to tell them the entire story and Fortinbras agrees to take up the throne. Horatio lends his support to Fortinbras, who orders that Hamlet be given military honors. He gets the others to clean the rest of the bodies and restore the castle to its original splendor.

Act 5, Scene 2 Analysis

Hamlet’s story of escape from the ship shows the changes he has undergone as a character. He chooses vile tactics to escape death and to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern murdered. The audience also sees Hamlet acting on his anger and taking control of the situation.

Claudius’ hypocrisy and evil nature is highlighted as he does not even save his queen. Instead, he wishes to carry out his devious plan of murdering Hamlet by manipulating Laertes.

Laertes remarks before his death can be seen as a moment of true redemption for Hamlet, since now the court is able to see Claudius for the evil man he is.

Hamlet ponders at the swiftness of his death and seems surprised. This is ironic as Hamlet has spent a majority of the play meditating on death and suicide. He declares that Fortinbras should be the rightful king. The eventual death of all characters shows that it is time for a new regime in Denmark, taking it away from corruption and ill-willed political strategies. This is also symbolized in Fortinbras’ command to clear the court of the bodies.