Hamlet Summary and Analysis of Act 1

Summary
Scene 1
The play opens during a bitterly cold night watch outside of the royal Danish palace.
There is a changing of the guards: Bernardo replaces Francisco. Soon two more
characters arrive, Horatio and Marcellus. We learn that Bernardo and Marcellus, two
soldiers, have witnessed an extraordinary sight on both of the previous nights
watches: the ghost of the former King of Denmark, Old Hamlet, has appeared before
them in full armor. On this third night, theyve welcomed Horatio, a scholar and a
skeptic who has just arrived in Denmark, to verify their ghost sighting. Horatio
initially expresses doubt that the ghost will appear. Suddenly, it does. The two
soldiers charge Horatio to speak to the ghost but he does not. The ghost disappears
just as suddenly as it arrived.
Soon after the ghosts disappearance, Marcellus asks the other two why there has
been such a massive mobilization of Danish war forces recently. Horatio answers,
saying that the Danish army is preparing for a possible invasion by Fortinbras,
Prince of Norway. We learn that Fortinbras father (also named Fortinbras), was
killed many years before in single combat with Old Hamlet, the now-deceased king
whose ghost we have just seen. Now that Old Hamlet has died, presumably
weakening the Danes, there is a rumor that Fortinbras plans to invade Denmark and
claim that lands that were forfeit after his fathers death.
After Horatio has finished explaining this political backstory, the ghost of Old Hamlet
appears once more. This time Horatio does try to speak to the ghost. When the
ghost remains silent, Horatio tells Marcellus and Bernardo to try to detain it; they
strike at the ghost with their spears but jab only air. A rooster crows just as the
ghost appears ready to reply to Horatio at last. This sound startles the ghost away.
Horatio decides to tell Prince Hamlet, Old Hamlets son, about the apparition, and
the others agree.
Scene 2
This scene begins at the court of Claudius and Gertrude, the King and Queen of
Denmark. They have just been married. This marriage has followed quickly after the
death of the former King of Denmark, Old Hamlet, Claudius brother. Claudius
addresses the quickness of the marriage, representing himself as in mourning for a
lost brother even as he is joyful for a new wife, his one-time sister. Claudius also
addresses the question of the young Fortinbras proposed invasion. He says that he
has spoken to Fortinbras uncle, the King of Norway, who has made Fortinbras
promise to halt any plans to invade Denmark. Claudius sends Cornelius and
Voltemand, two courtiers, to Norway to settle this business. Finally, Claudius turns
to Laertes, the son of his trusted counselor, Polonius. Laertes expresses a wish to
return to France and Claudius grants permission.

At this point, Prince Hamlet, who has been standing apart from the kings audience
this whole time, speaks the first of his many lines. Claudius asks Hamlet why he is
still so gloomy. Hamlets replies are evasive, cynical, and punning. He declares that
his grief upon losing his father still deeply affects him. Claudius goes into a speech
about the unnaturalness of prolonged grief; to lose ones father is painful but
common, he says, and Hamlet should accept this as natures course. He expresses a
wish that Hamlet remain with them in Denmark instead of returning to Wittenberg,
where he is a student, and when Gertrude seconds this wish, Hamlet agrees. The
king, queen, and all their retinue then exit the stage, leaving Hamlet alone.
In his first soliloquy, Hamlet expresses the depths of his melancholy and his disgust
at his mothers hastily marrying Claudius after the death of his father. He declares
his father to be many times Claudius superior as a man. After this soliloquy,
Horatio, Marcellus and Bernardo enter. At first, Hamlet is too aggrieved to recognize
Horatio, his old school friend, but finally he welcomes Horatio warmly. After chatting
about the state, Horatio tells Hamlet that he has seen his dead father recently the
night before. Hamlet asks him to explain, and Horatio tells the story of the
appearance of the ghost. Hamlet decides to attend the watch that very night in
hopes of seeing the ghost himself.
Scene 3
As the scene opens, Laertes is taking his leave of his sister, Ophelia. In the course of
their farewells, Laertes advises her about her relationship with Hamlet, with whom
she has been spending much of her time lately. He tells her to forget him because
he, as Prince of Denmark, is too much to hope for as a husband. He adds that she
should vigilantly guard her chastity, her most prized treasure as a woman. Ophelia
agrees to attend to his lesson. As Laertes is about to leave, his father, Polonius,
arrives. Polonius gives Laertes a blessing and a battery of advice before sending his
son on his way.
With Laertes gone, Polonius asks Ophelia what they had been talking about as he
arrived. Ophelia confesses that they had been talking about her relationship with
Hamlet. She tells Polonius that Hamlet has made many honorable declarations of
love to her. Polonius pooh-poohs these declarations, saying, much as Laertes did,
that Hamlet wants nothing more than to assail her chastity and then leave her. He
makes his daughter promise that she will spend no more time alone with Hamlet.
Ophelia says that she will obey.
Scene 4
At the night watch, Hamlet, Horatio and Marcellus await the reappearance of the
ghost. They hear cannons from the castle and Hamlet tells them that this is a sign
that Claudius is drinking pledges. Hamlet goes on a short tirade against the Danish
custom of drinking heavily. His speech is no sooner over than the ghost appears
again. Hamlet immediately addresses the ghost, imploring it to speak. The ghost
beckons for Hamlet to come away, apart from the others. Horatio and Marcellus
attempt to keep Hamlet from following the ghost, warning him of the many evils
that might befall him. Hamlet doesnt listen. He threatens to kill Horatio or Marcellus
if they detain him, and when they stay back he follows the ghost offstage. Horatio

and Marcellus determine to follow at a distance to make sure that no harm comes to
their friend.
Scene 5
Alone with Hamlet, the ghost finally speaks. He tells Hamlet that he has come on a
nightly walk from Purgatory, where his soul is under continual torment for the sins
of his life. The ghost then reveals that he was not killed by a viper, as officially
announced, but was murdered. Moreover, he reveals that his own brother, Claudius,
who now wears his crown and sleeps with his wife, was the murderer. The ghost
tells of how Claudius snuck into his garden while he was taking his accustomed
afternoon nap and poured poison into his ear, killing him most painfully and sending
his soul unpurified into the afterlife. The ghost demands vengeance, telling Hamlet
not to plot against his mother, whom he describes as merely weak and lustful, but
to focus the whole of his revenge on Claudius. The ghost then disappears.
Hamlet, overwhelmed and half-raving, swears that he will kill Claudius. After he has
made this vow, Horatio and Marcellus arrive. Hamlet does not tell them what the
ghost has revealed, but nevertheless insists that they swear not to speak of the
apparition to anyone. They agree. Hamlet then insists that they swear again on his
sword. They agree again, confused at these demands. The ghost of Old Hamlet,
meanwhile, can be heard under the stage, insisting along with his son that they
swear themselves to secrecy. Hamlet leads his friends to several different points on
stage, insisting that they swear over and over again. He then reveals,
parenthetically, that they might find his behavior in the next while to be strange
he might pretend to be mad and act otherwise unusually but that they must still
keep secret what they have seen. After this final agreement, Hamlet leads the
others offstage, uneasily determined to revenge his fathers murder.

Hamlet Summary and Analysis of Act 2

Summary
Scene 1
Act Two begins with Polonius speaking to one of his servants, Reynaldo, about his
son, Laertes, who has by this time returned to Paris. We see Polonius in the act of
sending Reynaldo after Laertes to inquire into his sons conduct. He instructs
Reynaldo very precisely in the method of obtaining this information. First, Reynaldo
is to find out from strangers in Paris about the prominent Danes in the city without
revealing that he has any particular attachment to Laertes. When Laertes name
comes up, Reynaldo is to pretend to have some distant knowledge of him, and is
further to suggest that he knows of Laertes as something of a happy-go-lucky youth
given to gambling, drinking, fencing, swearing, fighting, and whoring. By this path
of insinuation, Polonius explains, Reynaldo will hear from his hypothetical Parisian

interlocutor the unvarnished truth about Laertes conduct in France. Having thus
prepared Reynaldo to spy on his son, Polonius sends him off.
Ophelia enters, distraught. She tells her father that Hamlet has frightened her with
his wild, unkempt appearance and deranged manners. After Ophelia describes
Hamlets behavior, she further reveals that, as per Polonius orders, she has cut off
all contact with Hamlet and has refused his letters. Polonius reasons, thus, that
Hamlets madness is the result of Ophelias rejection. He had thought that Hamlet
was only trifling with her, but it turns out (he now declares) that Hamlet was indeed
deeply in love with Ophelia. Polonius hurries off to tell Claudius and Gertrude that
he has discovered the reason for their sons odd behavior.
Scene 2
King Claudius has made plans of his own to discover the reasons for Hamlets
supposed madness. He has summoned two of Hamlets school friends, Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern, both to comfort his nephew-cum-son and to try to discover the
reason for his distemper (so he says). The two scholars are only too happy to oblige
in this task.
After Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave the royal presence, Polonius rushes in,
announcing that he has found the reason for Hamlets madness. Before he reveals
his news, however, he entreats Claudius and Gertrude to hear from the two
ambassadors to Norway, Voltemand and Cornelius, who have just returned. They
report that the King of Norway, after looking into his nephew Fortinbras actions,
found out that he was indeed planning to invade Denmark. The King of Norway then
rebuked Fortinbras and ordered him to abandon his plan of Danish conquest, which
young Fortinbras agreed to do. Overjoyed at his nephews acquiescence, Norway
then rewarded Fortinbras with a generous annual allowance. Further, Norway
granted Fortinbras leave to levy war against the Polish. Finally, the ambassadors
report that Norway seeks Claudius permission to allow Fortinbras passage through
Denmark in this proposed campaign against Poland. Claudius declares his approval
of this message and says that he will consider its details anon.
Polonius steps forward to reveal his discovery. He tells the king and queen, in a very
roundabout way, that he has discovered Hamlets foiled love of Ophelia, and that he
believes this lost love to be the root cause of Hamlets madness. Claudius asks how
they might prove this to be the case. Polonius has a plan. He offers to loose Ophelia
on Hamlet while he is reading alone in the library. Meanwhile, he suggests, he and
Claudius could hide behind a tapestry and observe the meeting. Claudius agrees.
Just then, Hamlet enters, reading. Gertrude and Claudius exit while Polonius
attempts to speak to Hamlet. Hamlet plays with Polonius, mocking him, evading his
questions, and turning his language inside out. Nevertheless, Polonius reads

between the lines, as it were, and interprets Hamlets nonsensical replies as

motivated by a broken heart. Polonius leaves to contrive the proposed meeting
between Hamlet and his daughter.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, surprising their friend Hamlet. The three
friends banter philosophically for a good while before Hamlet asks the two why they
have come to Elsinore. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern try to dodge this question,
declaring that they have come for no other reason than to visit him. Hamlet,
though, wont let them off the hook, and makes them admit that the king and queen
sent for them. When they admit it, Hamlet also tells them why they were sent for
because he has been deeply melancholy, and has foregone his accustomed
behavior. He sinks deeply into a speech detailing this misery.
Rosencrantz changes the subject. He tells Hamlet that he and Guildenstern passed
a troop of players on their way to Elsinore. They gossip briefly about the city
theaters the troop had left before coming to Denmark (presumably those of
London). Soon the players arrive with a flourish. Polonius rushes back into the
scene, bearing the already stale news that the players have arrived. Hamlet banters
with Polonius in the same mocking vein as before until the players burst into court,
at which point Hamlet rushes up to welcome them.
Hamlet insists upon hearing a speech straight away, and in particular requests a
recitation based on a scene in Virgils Aeneid, as related by Aeneas to Dido,
recounting the death of Priam during the fall of Troy. Hamlet himself begins the
speech and then cedes the floor to one of the players, who recites a long and
fustian description of Priams death by Pyrrhus hand. The player goes on to speak
of the wild grief of Hecuba, Priams wife, after her husband has been killed. While
speaking of her agony, the player begins to weep and shake. Polonius finally cuts
him off and Hamlet agrees.
Before the players retire, however, Hamlet pulls the main player aside and asks him
whether the company knows a certain play, The Murder of Gonzago. The player
says that they do, and Hamlet commissions it for the following night, saying that he
will write some speeches of his own to be inserted into the play as written. The
player says that this would be fine and then takes his leave.
Left alone on stage, Hamlet muses about the strangeness of his situation. He asks
himself, How can this player be so filled with grief and rage over Priam and
Hecuba, imaginary figures whom he doesnt even know, while I, who have every
reason to rage and grieve and seek bloody revenge, am weak, uncertain, and
incapable of action? He curses himself and his indecisiveness before cursing his
murderous uncle in a rage. Having regained composure, Hamlet announces his plan
to make sure that the ghost of his father is genuine that the apparition was not
some evil spirit sent to lure his soul to damnation. He declares his intention to stage

a play exactly based on the murder of his father. While it is played he will observe
Claudius. If the king is guilty, Hamlet figures, surely he will show this guilt when
faced with the scene of the crime.
Hamlet Summary and Analysis of Act 3
Summary
Scene 1
An entourage consisting of the king and queen, Polonius and Ophelia, and
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enters to begin the Act. Claudius asks Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern what they have learned about Hamlets malady. The two reply that
they have not been able to find its cause. They do mention, however, that Hamlet
was very enthusiastic about the players performance that night, which prompts
Claudius to agree to attend the play. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern leave. Polonius
and Claudius then begin their plan to loose Ophelia on Hamlet and mark their
encounter, hoping to find the root of his madness. They instruct Ophelia to pretend
that she is simply reading a book and withdraw behind a tapestry.
Hamlet enters and delivers the most famous speech in literature, beginning, To be
or not to be. After this long meditation on the nature of being and death, Hamlet
catches sight of Ophelia. After a short conversation she attempts to return some of
the remembrances that Hamlet gave when courting her. Hamlet replies caustically,
questioning Ophelias honesty. He then berates Ophelia, telling her off sarcastically
and venomously, with the refrain, Get thee to a nunnery, or in other words, Go
become a nun to control your lust. After this tirade, Hamlet exists, leaving Ophelia
in shambles.
Claudius and Polonius step out of their hiding place. The king states that he does
not believe that Hamlet is mad because of his foiled love for Ophelia, or really mad
at all, but tormented for some hidden reason. He determines to send Hamlet on a
diplomatic mission to England before he can cause any serious trouble. Polonius
endorses this plan, but persists in his belief that Hamlets grief is the result of his
love for Ophelia. He consoles his daughter. Polonius suggests in parting that
Claudius arrange a private interview between Hamlet and his mother after the play
that evening and Claudius agrees.
Scene 2
Just as the play is about to begin, Hamlet instructs the players on the art of acting,
telling them to act naturally and to avoid bombast. He sets the players to their
preparations and then conferences with Horatio. After complimenting Horatio in the
most sterling terms, Hamlet asks his friend to assist him in watching the kings
response to the play they are about to see (apparently Hamlet has by this time told

Horatio what the ghost revealed). Horatio seats himself so as to view the king
properly. The royal entourage enters. Hamlet manically chatters with Claudius,
Polonius, Gertrude and Ophelia, reserving special attention for the latter, whom he
sits next to and teases.
The play begins with a Dumb Show, which is a pantomime of the drama to come.
On stage, the basic form of the alleged murder is repeated: a king and queen are
shown happily married; the king takes a nap; a poisoner enters and pours
something in the kings ear, killing him; the poisoner than takes possession of the
queen. Ophelia seems confused by this plot but Hamlet tells her to wait for the
speaker of the prologue to explain.
The prologue is a short little jingling rhyme. The player king and queen then
immediately enter the stage. The king mentions that they have been married thirty
years. The player queen expresses a hope that their love last as long over again.
The king encourages the queen to remarry if he dies. The queen protests against
this notion vehemently, swearing never to love another if were to she turn widow.
With this, the king falls asleep and the queen exits. Hamlet asks his mother,
Gertrude, how she likes the play, and Gertrude replies with the famous line, The
lady doth protest too much, methinks. Claudius is also outspokenly apprehensive
about the nature of the play. It continues, however, with the entrance of Lucianus,
the sleeping kings nephew. This evil character creeps up to the sleeping player king
and pours poison in his ear. Hamlet, unable to contain himself, erupts, telling
everyone that Lucianus will soon win the love of the kings over-protesting wife.
At this, Claudius rises and orders the play to end. He retreats with his retinue.
Hamlet and Horatio laugh together, certain now that the ghost was telling the truth.
After a short celebration, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter and tell Hamlet that
he has made Claudius very angry. They also say that Gertrude has ordered Hamlet
to meet her in her chamber. They then entreat Hamlet to tell the cause of his
distemper. Hamlet replies mockingly by saying that they are trying to play him like a
pipe and that he wont let them. Polonius enters and entreats Hamlet again to see
his mother. All exit but Hamlet. In a short soliloquy, Hamlet reflects that he will be
cruel to his mother, showing her the extent of her crime in marrying Claudius, but
will not actually hurt her.
Scene 3
Claudius gives Rosencrantz and Guildenstern a sealed envelope with orders to
convey Hamlet to England and give the envelope to the king there. In highly
flattering terms, they agree to do the kings bidding and exit. Polonius then enters,
saying that Hamlet is going to meet with his mother, and declaring his intention to
hide behind an arras and listen to their conversation. He exits. Alone, the king looks
into his soul. He is deeply disgusted by what he sees. He kneels to pray, hoping to

purge his guilt, but reflects that this penance will not be genuine because he will
still retain the prizes for which he committed murder in the first place, his crown and
his wife.
As Claudius is vainly attempting to pray, Hamlet comes up behind him. He reflects
that he now has an opportunity to kill his uncle and revenge his father, but pauses,
considering that because Claudius is in the act of prayer he would likely go straight
to heaven if killed. Hamlet resolves to kill Claudius later, when he is in the middle of
some sinful act. He continues on to his mothers chamber.
Scene 4
In the chamber, awaiting Hamlets arrival, Polonius hides himself behind one of
Gertrudes curtains. Hamlet enters. Gertrude attempts to be firm and chastising, but
Hamlet comes right back at her, saying that she has sinned mightily in marrying her
husbands brother. He pulls his mother in front of a mirror, saying that he will reveal
her inmost part, and Gertrude momentarily misinterprets this, thinking that Hamlet
may attempt to murder her. She cries for help. Polonius, hidden from view, also
cries out for help. Hamlet thinks that the hidden voice belongs to Claudius. He stabs
Polonius through the curtain, killing him. When he sees that he has killed Polonius,
Hamlet declares the old man to be a rash, intruding fool.
Quickly forgetting about this death, Hamlet seats his mother down and presents her
with two portraits, one of her first husband and the other of Claudius. He describes
the two as opposites, the one all nobility and virtue, the other all deformity and
vice. Gertrude is deeply affected by this comparison and seems to comprehend the
enormity of her sin. Hamlet continues to berate her and describe Claudius in the
most foul and hurtful language. While in the middle of this harangue, Old Hamlets
ghost appears once more, telling Hamlet to stop torturing his mother and to
remember his duty to kill Claudius. At the ghosts command, Hamlet consoles his
mother. Gertrude, unable to see the ghost, sees Hamlet talking to thin air and
resolves that he is indeed insane. The ghost exits.
Hamlet tells his mother that he is not in fact insane. He reiterates that she should
repent her marriage to Claudius and tells her in particular to stay away from their
shared bed for the night. After describing the importance of this abstinence in the
most colorful terms, Hamlet reminds his mother that he is ordered to England.
Hamlet says that although he will go to England, he will not trust Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern. He exits his mothers bedroom, dragging the body of Polonius behind
him.
Hamlet Summary and Analysis of Act 4
Summary

Scene 1
Immediately after Hamlet exits, dragging Polonius body, we see Claudius asking
Gertrude to explain what has happened. She tells him of Hamlets accidental killing
of Polonius and Claudius realizes that he could have just as easily been slain.
Claudius asks where Hamlet has gone and Gertrude says that he has taken the body
away. The king orders Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to find Hamlet and discover
where he has taken Polonius corpse.
Scene 2
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern question Hamlet about Polonius whereabouts.
Hamlet evades their questions playfully, accusing his former friends of sycophancy
to the king and leading them on a wild goose chase.
Scene 3
Claudius is greatly distracted by the death of Polonius and the attempt to find the
body. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter with Hamlet. Claudius questions Hamlet
as to where he has taken Polonius. After some morbidly humorous replies, Hamlet
reveals that he hid Polonius up the stairs into the lobby. The king sends
attendants to find the body. Claudius then tells Hamlet that he is to depart
immediately for England, as planned. Hamlet mockingly departs, leaving Claudius to
reflect on his plans for Hamlet. He has prepared letters asking the English king,
whom Denmark has recently defeated in war, to kill Hamlet as part of the duties
owed by right of conquest.
Scene 4
Next we see Fortinbras Norwegian army. They are at the borders of Denmark.
Fortinbras sends one of his captains to the court of Claudius to ask permission to
cross Denmark in the course of their march to Poland. The captain travels on and
Fortinbras and the rest of the army exit.
The captain meets with Hamlet, who is being conveyed by Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern to the ship to England. Hamlet asks the captain about his army and his
purpose in going to Poland. The captain says that in Poland there is a little patch of
ground which Norway claims as her own. He describes this land as perfectly
worthless and small. Hamlet suggests that the Poles will not likely defend such a
piece of land, but the captain sets him straight, saying that Poland is already
garrisoned and ready for their dispute. Hamlet wraps up his conversation with the
captain. He hangs back from the others marching to the ship and delivers a long
soliloquy on the irony of this occasion these men are off to risk their lives for a
worthless piece of land, while he, who has every reason to risk his life in the cause
of revenge, delays and fails to act. Hamlet resolves to recast his mind to bloody

thoughts. Ironically, however, just after making this resolution he continues on

toward England, leaving Denmark behind him.
Scene 5
Back in the court of Denmark, we see Gertrude speaking with a gentleman who
explains that Ophelia has gone mad. She is rambling nonsensically about her father
and insisting on seeing Gertrude. The queen reluctantly admits Ophelia, who
proceeds to sing a number of simple and haunting songs, some of them quite
bawdy. The king enters and witnesses her madness. Ophelia then speaks openly of
her fathers untimely demise and hasty, unofficial burial. She threatens, My brother
shall know of it, and exits. Claudius reflects on the difficulty of their situation,
admitting that their decision to cover up Hamlets deed and bury Polonius so
covertly has gone against them. He says that Laertes has come from France, egged
on by people who see the court as responsible for Polonius death.
On cue, a messenger arrives with word that Laertes has come to court with a mob
of followers who wish to depose Claudius and make Laertes king. Laertes bursts in
and tells his followers to wait outside. In a half-crazed state he insists that Claudius
give him Polonius. Claudius attempts to calm Laertes and tells Gertrude to keep out
of their talk and let Laertes question him to his hearts content. Claudius tells
Laertes that Polonius is dead. He also insinuates that he and Laertes are on the
same side that he has been injured by Polonius death too.
Just as Claudius is about to explain what he means, Ophelia enters again, bearing a
bundle of flowers. The sight of his insane sister deeply grieves Laertes. Ophelia
handles all those present gifts of flowers, each symbolizing a reproach to the
receiver. She sings another song about her dead father and exits abruptly. As she
leaves Claudius tells Laertes to inquire into the matter as deeply as he wishes,
confident that he will find himself aligned with Claudius against Hamlet. Laertes
agrees.
Scene 6
A messenger approaches Horatio, saying that some sailors have news for him.
Horatio receives from these sailors a letter from Hamlet. He reads the letter aloud. It
recounts an amazing turn of events: on his way to England, pirates attacked
Hamlets ship. During the fray, Hamlet boarded the pirate vessel. The two ships
parted with Hamlet still aboard. The pirates treated Hamlet like thieves of mercy,
promising to return Hamlet to Denmark in return for some favors. Hamlet also
alludes to a startling development having to do with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
but says that he must delay telling of this until they meet. He tells Horatio to follow
the sailors to where he is hiding. Horatio says that he will help to deliver the rest of
their letters, one of which is addressed to the king, and then go with them to see
Hamlet.

Scene 7
Claudius and Laertes are in conference. The king seems to have explained the
strange occasion of Polonius death to Laertes satisfaction. He says that he did not
try Hamlet for two reasons, first, because his mother loves him so much, and
second, because the people of Denmark are supporters of Hamlet. A messenger
arrives and delivers a letter to Claudius, who is greatly surprised to learn that the
letter comes from Hamlet. The letter announces Hamlets imminent return to court.
With this in mind, Claudius and Laertes plot to find a means of killing Hamlet
without upsetting Gertrude or the people. They propose to arrange a duel between
Hamlet and Laertes, both of whom are accomplished swordsmen, though Laertes is
the more reputed. Claudius suggests that Laertes be given a sharp sword while
Hamlets remains blunt. Laertes does him one better, saying that he will dip his
sword in poison so that the least scratch will kill Hamlet. Claudius says that on top
of this he will prepare a poisoned cup and give it to Hamlet during the fight.
Gertrude enters with yet more tragic news. She says that Ophelia has drowned. She
was watching Ophelia play in the branches of a willow by the water when she fell in.
Gertrude says that Ophelia seemed ignorant of danger and went to her death
slowly, singing songs. This news reignites Laertes rage and Claudius goes to
console him.
Hamlet Summary and Analysis of Act 5
Summary
Scene 1
The final Act begins with a conversation between two gravediggers as they dig
Ophelias grave. They repeat a rumor that Ophelia committed suicide and wonder
whether she ought to be buried in hallowed ground. We learn that the king has
overridden the objections of the clergy and provided for her burial. After some witty
and macabre banter on the nature of gravedigging, Hamlet and Horatio enter. The
main gravedigger sends his partner off for a cup of liquor and then commences to
dig, singing songs all the while. Hamlet appears fascinated by the gravediggers
indifference to the gravity of his profession. As the gravediggers throws various
skulls out of the grave, Hamlet wonders whom they might have belonged to in life
whether a courtier or a lawyer.
Hamlet approaches the gravedigger and exchanges witticisms about this morbid
work. The gravedigger informs Hamlet about the length of time it takes bodies to
decay in the ground. He then produces a skull from the grave that he says has been
lying there for twenty-three years. The gravedigger says that this is the skull of
Yorick, the old kings jester. Hamlet is amazed he knew Yorick and loved him as a

child. He takes up the skull and speaks about Yorick, a topic that leads him to
consider the nature of mortality more generally.
A procession interrupts Hamlets reveries Claudius, Gertrude, and Laertes march
toward the grave along with a priest and an entourage bearing a body. Hamlet
notices that the burial is less elaborate than usual, signifying that the deceased was
a suicide. He and Horatio stand aside while Laertes argues with the priest about the
paltriness of the burial rites. In the course of his arguing with the priest, Laertes
reveals to Hamlet that the dead body is that of Ophelia. Gertrude steps forward to
say farewell to Ophelia. Laertes follows. In his intense grief, Laertes leaps into his
sisters grave to hold her body again and orders the gravediggers to bury him alive.
Provoked by this show of grief, Hamlet then reveals himself. After grappling with
Laertes, Hamlet declares that he loved Ophelia more than forty thousand brothers
could. The king and queen dismiss his avowal as madness. Hamlet then exits and
Horatio follows him. After they have left, Claudius reminds Laertes of their plan to
take care of Hamlet.
Scene 2
Hamlet explains to Horatio what happened on his journey to England. He says that
he strongly suspected Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of foul play, and so decided to
apprehend their letter to England. In the letter he found an order for his death.
Hamlet then devised a substitute letter asking for the deaths of Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern. He happened to have a signet ring in the shape of the seal of
Denmark, and so sealed the letter. Hamlet then replaced the letter while
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were asleep. At this point, pirates attacked the
vessel, as related previously.
A courtier, Osric, interrupts Hamlet and Horatio. In very ornate and silly language,
Osric declares to Hamlet that Claudius has proposed a contest of swordsmanship
between Laertes and he. Hamlet and Horatio mock Osrics pompous and artificial
mannerisms. Eventually Hamlet agrees to enter the contest. When Horatio worries
that Laertes is better at swordplay than he, Hamlet declares that he has been in
continual practice for some time.
A table is prepared and the king, queen and other figures of state gather to watch
the swordfight. Hamlet begs Laertes pardon both for his outburst at Ophelias grave
and for his rash killing of Polonius. Laertes appears to accept this apology but
declares that his honor will not be satisfied until they have had their contest.
Hamlet and Laertes choose their swords. Laertes nonchalantly chooses the
unblunted sword with the envenomed blade. As they prepare to fight, Claudius
proposes a drink to Hamlet.

The fight begins with Osric as referee. Hamlet wins the first point and the king offers
him a drink to refresh himself, dropping a poisoned pearl in the wine just before he
hands it over. Hamlet declines to take the drink for the time being. They play
another round and Hamlet again wins a point. After this second pass, Gertrude
toasts to Hamlets health. She takes up the poisoned chalice and has a drink despite
Claudius protestations. Hamlet and Laertes have a third pass which ends in a draw.
After this pass, while Hamlet is unguarded, Laertes wounds Hamlet with the
poisoned rapier. They scuffle and Hamlet ends up with Laertes poisoned sword. He
wounds Laertes with it. Just then, the queen collapses. She declares that she has
been poisoned by the drink and then dies. Hamlet asks for the treachery to be
found out and Laertes confesses the plan hatched by the king and he. He says that
they are both inevitably going to die, having been wounded by the poisoned blade.
Hamlet takes the envenomed sword and wounds Claudius, then forces the king to
drink from his poisoned cup. Claudius dies. Laertes asks Hamlets forgiveness and
then also dies. Hamlet, knowing that he is about to die also, asks Horatio to explain
this bloody spectacle to the confused onlookers. Horatio, on the contrary, wishes to
die with his friend, but Hamlet convinces him to live a while and clear his name.
Hamlet declares that Fortinbras should become King of Denmark. He then dies
the rest is silence.
A flourish is heard and Osric brings news that Fortinbras has arrived from his victory
in Poland with ambassadors from England. Fortinbras enters the court only to find
four noble bodies sprawled out on the floor. The ambassadors from England enter
with news that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been killed. Horatio explains that
Claudius would not have welcomed this news even if he had been living to receive
it. He orders that the royal bodies be taken up. Horatio further promises to explain
the story behind the deaths, a story full of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts; / Of
accidental judgments, casual slaughters; / Of deaths put on by cunning and forced
cause. In short, he promises to tell the story of Hamlet. Fortinbras agrees to hear it.
He adds that, given the death of the Danish royalty, he will now pursue his own
claims to the throne. Finally, Fortinbras declares that Hamlet shall receive a soldiers
burial. Some soldiers take up his body and bear it from the stage.