Hamlet
Hamlet general
overview
Shakespeare’s Hamlet
is widely known as a revenge play, and the story line has been used in popular
culture many times; Disney’s Lion King
has the same main story line with a few changes. You are probably familiar with
the basics: the ghost of Hamlet’s father appears to Hamlet and reveals that his
brother, Claudius, killed him and it is up to Hamlet to expose the murder and
get revenge. Meanwhile, Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, has married Claudius making
his the new King of Denmark. In order to expose Claudius, Hamlet asks a
traveling group of actors to perform a play with some minor changes that way he
can see if Claudius really did kill his father. The play ends with the deaths
of Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, and Laertes. (Ophelia and Polonius die as well,
but that happens in the middle of the play).
Hamlet is a play
with surviving notes and revisions, but that actually makes it a more difficult
play to study because of the differences. (Total number of printings according
to the Bedford edition of the play: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, and F1. This overview
doesn’t address Q3-5 since most printings today follow Q2, F1, or some
combination of the two).The brief overview above provides a few main points
that are present in the different printings of the play, but some of the story
differs between the different printings. If you have a printed copy of the play
with an editor there is most likely a note telling you which printing(s) your
copy is using for the text you have. The first printing of Hamlet is Q1 in 1603, but it is shorter than Q2 and F1, and it
contains an additional scene not found in Q2 or F1. In classes I’ve learned
that Q1 is generally referred to as a “bad” copy. Q2 was printed in 1604/1605.
F1 was printed in 1623. There are plenty of theories addressing the differences
between the printings you can research. As you read the play, note that none of
the act/scene divisions were present until F1. While there are hundreds of
little differences, I’ve tried to note cases where scenes have been added,
deleted, or are vastly different from Q1.
The play is mainly set in Denmark at Hamlet’s castle.
1.1
The play begins at midnight outside the castle in Denmark
where the guards keep watch; one guard, Barnardo, comes to relieve another,
Francisco, of his post guarding the castle. Francisco leaves. Horatio and
Marcellus come and Horatio asks Barnardo if he has seen the “thing” yet by
which he means the Ghost. Barnardo says he hasn’t seen it yet, but shortly
after it briefly appears to the three men and then disappears without saying
anything though they try to make it speak. The three men then talk about how
much the Ghost resembles the late King of Denmark, Hamlet senior, when he was
in his armor fighting Fortinbras of Norway. Horatio recalls that Hamlet senior
killed Fortinbras during a battle and gained control of all of Fortinbras’
land. However, now that Hamlet senior is dead, young Fortinbras (Fortinbras’
son) wants to dispute the ownership of land his father lost. Horatio thinks the
materialization of the Ghost of Hamlet senior is a sign that they took the land
from Fortinbras too soon (even though Hamlet senior won the wager between
them).
The Ghost enters again and exits without speaking again. The
three men believe the Ghost was about to speak before the rooster crowed
(signaling day coming). The idea here is the Ghost, since it is not of this
world, cannot be seen in daylight or the light of the heavens. The men believe
that if anyone can get the Ghost to speak it is Hamlet.
1.2
The next morning, King Claudius makes an announcement in the
castle to Gertrude, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and others. Claudius says a few
words of sorrow for Hamlet senior (his brother), accepts his position as King,
acknowledges his marriage to Gertrude, and tells them about the battle over the
land young Fortinbras wants. He assures them the land legally belongs to
Denmark because his father lost it in the war (between Hamlet senior and
Fortinbras). Additionally, Claudius tells them he has contacted the ruler of
Norway (young Fortinbras’ uncle) about the situation and the uncle has said he
will put a stop to young Fortinbras’ actions. Nonetheless, young Fortinbras is
still planning to come to Denmark to discuss it. Laertes asks to return to
France, and Claudius says yes.
**Marrying your
brother’s sister may seem odd now, but Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of
Aragon (of Spain), was the widow of his older brother, Arthur.
The exchange between Hamlet, Gertrude, and Claudius in act
one, scene two relies heavily on word play. One well quoted line is Hamlet
says; “I am too much in the sun” to mean he does not like being referred to as
Claudius’s son and to mean sunny disposition. Hamlet expresses his discontent
with the marriage between Gertrude and Claudius, especially because he feels it
happened too quickly after his father’s funeral. He doesn’t believe anyone has
properly mourned the loss of his father, their former king. Claudius underplays
the death of Hamlet senior by saying everyone eventually dies; since it is a
natural occurrence, he continues, it is nothing to cry over. Also, he mentions
crying is “unmanly.” Claudius tells Hamlet that he may not return to school
like he wants, but Claudius makes it sound as if he will not let Hamlet leave
because his presence makes him and Gertrude happy.
Hamlet has his first soliloquy: “O that this too too
[sallied/sullied/solid*]] flesh would melt.” (*Depending on your edition). Hamlet
reveals that he held his father in the highest regards as King, husband, and
father. We learn his father has been dead for less than two months, and he
blames Gertrude for being so weak that she married Claudius so soon. Hamlet
returns to the fact that there wasn’t enough time in between the funeral and
the wedding several times in the play. He refers to their marital bed as a form of
incest. Horatio, Marcellus, and Barnardo enter and tell Hamlet about the Ghost;
Hamlet says he will go with them tonight and look for the Ghost. After everyone
has left, Hamlet reveals he believes the Ghost of his father means there was
foul play surrounding his death.
1.3
In Polonius’ section of the castle, Laertes is preparing to
leave and talking to his sister, Ophelia. Laertes tells Ophelia to beware of
Hamlet’s actions and emotions because Hamlet is next in line for the throne
which means he will have more responsibility. Laertes tells her this
responsibility to the country of Denmark will take precedent over his
relationship with Ophelia. He also insinuates that Hamlet will lie to her or
charm her in any way he can in order to have sex with her, so she needs to be prepared
and not cave. Laertes reminds her to place her virtue (her virginity) above
everything else and to fear men being unfaithful. Laertes is giving Ophelia
advice because he cares for her, but he also highlights proper female behavior.
Their father, Polonius, enters and gives Laertes advice for
his upcoming return to France. Polonius warns Laertes to not judge others, to
choose his clothes wisely (because others know the state of a man by his
clothes), and to neither borrow nor lend money to anyone. Laertes leaves.
Polonius then tells Ophelia to beware what Hamlet tells her and protect her
virginity because Hamlet wouldn’t be able to marry her anyway since she is not
royalty. He echoes what Laertes has told her.
1.4
It is now late that night; Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus
are waiting for the Ghost to appear in the guard area. Hamlet tells the other
men that Claudius is known to drink a lot which will cause other nations to
look down upon people from Denmark as drunks. The Ghost appears and waves
Hamlet forward to him. Horatio warns the Ghost may cause him to go mad (which
is a reference to one of the main themes of the play), but Hamlet goes anyway
and then the other two men follow.
1.5
Hamlet and the Ghost are in another part of the castle
alone. The Ghost tells Hamlet to remember what he is about to say since it is
very important. The Ghost reveals he is his father, he was murdered, and that
Hamlet needs to avenge his murder. Then the Ghost tells Hamlet that while he
was sleeping in the orchard, Claudius came to him and dripped poison in his ear
which killed him. The Ghost is also upset that Gertrude has married Claudius,
but he tells Hamlet not to punish her because Heaven will. Then the Ghost
leaves and Hamlet promises to avenge his father’s death. Horatio and Marcellus
finally catch up to Hamlet; Hamlet tells them what happened and swears them to
secrecy. It is clear Hamlet truly believes that the Ghost really is his father
and that it is telling the truth about the murder, but the others are
skeptical. The voice of the Ghost is heard telling Horatio and Marcellus to
swear secrecy again to Hamlet, so they do.
2.1
In Polonius’ room in the castle, Polonius tells his man,
Reynaldo, to go to Paris to keep an eye on Laertes, but also to spread a rumor
that Laertes is a bit wild. Polonius doesn’t want Reynaldo to say anything too bad
that will destroy his reputation, but small things like an enjoyment in
drinking or swearing. Polonius reasons that the man Reynaldo is speaking to
will either agree that Laertes is wild or dispute his wildness, so that way
Polonius will know how others receive Laertes without Reynaldo asking directly.
It is Polonius’ way of spying on his son. Reynaldo leaves; Ophelia enters.
Ophelia tells Polonius that Hamlet just came into her room
partially dressed and acting crazy. Polonius decides they need to report this
to Claudius.
2.2
Claudius and Gertrude want to employ Hamlet’s friends,
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to spy on Hamlet and report back to them.
Claudius says he wants to know what is bothering Hamlet besides his father’s
death, if anything. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern agree. Polonius enters and
tells Claudius he knows why Hamlet is acting crazy (referred to as mad in the text); he leaves and returns
with Voltemand and Cornelius, the ambassadors. Voltemand reports that young
Fortinbras has agreed to stop his quest for reclaiming the land he felt his
father lost illegally. Remember, young Fortinbras is only the Prince of Norway;
after his father died, his uncle took over as ruler of Norway. (Just like in
Denmark). The ambassadors exit. After extremely praising Claudius, Polonius
says Hamlet is crazy is because he is in love with Ophelia and produces a love
note Hamlet wrote to Ophelia as proof. Polonius believes that because Ophelia
has been ignoring Hamlet, per his instructions, Hamlet is depressed; he even
offers Claudius the ability to behead him if that is not the case. In order to
prove his theory, Polonius says they should spy on Hamlet’s next encounter with
Ophelia. Claudius agrees.
Hamlet enters, Claudius and Gertrude leave. Hamlet and Polonius
talk, and Polonius feels like Hamlet has confirmed his theory that he is crazy because
of his love of Ophelia. Hamlet begins by talking about honesty and its
importance. Hamlet does the thing where he twists words and meanings in order
to appear confused or make a pun. (Just like he said he was “too much in the
sun” in 1.2). Rosencrantz and Guildenstern enter, Polonius leaves.
In their conversation, Hamlet tells Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern that “Denmark’s a prison.” His reasoning is that everyone has an
opinion about their current life situation, and he feels unhappy in Denmark.
Basically it’s not that Denmark is good or bad, but simply that he doesn’t like
it. Then Hamlet questions why they are there in Denmark and whether or not they
have been sent for or if they have come of their own accord. Then he reveals he
knows they were sent for and gets them to tell him that Claudius and Gertrude
wanted them to spy on him. Rosencrantz informs Hamlet that there is a troupe of
travelling actors coming to the palace and Hamlet gets excited about this news.
Polonius enters, the actors (referred to as players
in the text) enter. Hamlet greets the players, compliments them, and then asks
if they remember a specific speech he had heard them say once. Hamlet and the first
player go back and forth quoting from the scene. The scene Hamlet recounts is
about the death of a Lord and a tyrant. After this, Polonius exits. Hamlet asks
if they can play The Murther (murder) of Gonzalo with an extra speech he
provides them and they agree. This is the set up for the play within the play
scene.
Everyone but Hamlet exits and Hamlet begins his next
soliloquy: “O what a rouge and peasant slave am I!” He questions if he is a
coward because he has yet to avenge his father. Then he recounts the frailty of
women again because women just open themselves up (yes, he means this sexually
and it is a reference to his mother marrying his uncle). He admits he is
depressed and questions if the Ghost is real and telling the truth. He decides
to wait for the outcome of the play tomorrow night. He believes that based on
Claudius’s reaction to the play it will reveal if he truly did murder his
brother as the Ghost says.
3.1* [*The opening conversation between Claudius, Gertrude,
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is quite different in Q1. The main ideas are the
same: how goes the spying on Hamlet? Also, Hamlet’s soliloquy was written
differently in Q1. It was also delivered as a monologue not a soliloquy]
Claudius and Ophelia ask for an update from Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern, but they don’t say much. Polonius says it is time to enact his
plan to spy on Hamlet’s interaction with Ophelia. Everyone exits except for
Claudius, Polonius, and Ophelia. Ophelia is instructed to sit and read and wait
for Hamlet. Claudius and Polonius hear Hamlet coming and hide.
Hamlet begins his “To be or not to be” soliloquy where he
questions how much one should suffer before one dies. He comments on death
being a relief to the sadness and pain in life. He doesn’t feel his life is
working out at the moment. Then he brings up the question: what happens after
we die? He claims that not knowing what is waiting for us after death makes us
afraid to die. Then he sees Ophelia and begins to talk to her.
Ophelia asks Hamlet to tell her again how much he loves her,
but he refuses, claims he doesn’t love her anymore, and tells her she shouldn’t
have believed his love in the first place. Then he tells her to abstain from
all men. He tells her if she must marry to marry a fool because a fool will be
ignorant of her cheating on him. Hamlet exits. Ophelia laments Hamlet’s current
state because he has fallen from someone great to someone crazy. Then Ophelia
feels bad that she ever believed Hamlet’s love in the first place. Ophelia
exits.
Claudius and Polonius enter and reveal they have heard the
entire conversation between Hamlet and Ophelia. They both believe Hamlet to be
mad over Ophelia based on his conversation and agree they need to keep a close
eye on him.
3.2
Hamlet meets with some of the players and gives them
detailed directions on how to play the added scene he has given them. Horatio
enters and Hamlet tells him what a great man he is. Then Hamlet tells him there
will be a play that night and asks Horatio to keep an eye on Claudius to see
how Claudius reacts to the play this way they will know if the Ghost is telling
the truth or if the Ghost is an evil spirit.
Everyone comes onstage to watch the players. Hamlet makes a
few puns and another comment about how soon his mother got married. Hamlet
makes several sex puns with Claudius and Ophelia. A dumb show (A dumb show is a
short introduction where the players do a few things before the play starts.
There are no lines spoken. It is all about watching the characters because
something secretive is usually revealed) portrays the story the Ghost told
Hamlet about his death. The play within the play begins. The players (one to
portray Claudius and one to portray Gertrude) make comments about the quick
marriage and about the new king being the murderer. After the play within the
play Horatio and Hamlet agree to believe the Ghost. Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern tell Hamlet Claudius is angry because of the play and Gertrude
wants to see him in her room. Polonius enters and tells Hamlet Gertrude wants
to see him. Alone, Hamlet tells himself he will be mean to his mother but he
will not hurt her physically.
3.3* [*Q1 begins with Claudius’s soliloquy and doesn’t
mention anything that takes place beforehand]
In another room in the castle, Claudius tells Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern that Hamlet’s behavior is too much and that he must send him
to England. He instructs them to accompany him to England. They agree to do
what the king wants and exit. Polonius enters and reveals his plan to Claudius
to hide behind a curtain in Gertrude’s room to listen to Hamlet. He exits.
Claudius has a soliloquy where he expresses some guilt over
killing his brother. He believes he should pray for forgiveness. Hamlet comes
upon Claudius while Claudius is kneeling. Hamlet doesn’t want to take this
opportunity to kill Claudius because if he kills Claudius while Claudius is
repenting for his sins then Claudius will go to heaven, so he leaves. Claudius
admits that his thoughts were still sinful, so they weren’t honest and they
didn’t count. Basically, he failed to be able to pray for forgiveness.
3.4
Gertrude is in her room with Polonius who hides behind a
curtain when they hear Hamlet coming. Hamlet enters her room and makes another
comment about her marriage to Claudius. He insults her a few times and Gertrude
makes a comment that she is afraid Hamlet will murder her which causes Polonius
to call out from behind the curtain which alerts Hamlet that someone is in the
room. Hamlet stabs the curtain because he thinks it is Claudius and kills
Polonius; while Hamlet admits this is terrible, he claims it is as terrible as the
marriage between Claudius and Gertrude. He then reveals to Gertrude he believes
Claudius killed his father. Hamlet goes on a long rant to his mother and hurts
her feelings, so the Ghost appears to Hamlet and tells him to stay on track and
remember to leave Gertrude’s offences to Heaven. Gertrude cannot see the Ghost
so she thinks Hamlet has truly gone crazy. The Ghost leaves. Hamlet apologizes
to Gertrude, but tells her to pray for forgiveness for her actions. He tells
her not to have sex with Claudius again and tells her must go to England
(because Claudius wants him to). Hamlet reveals he does not trust Rosencrantz
and Guildenstern. Hamlet leaves dragging Polonius’s dead body.
*In a slightly alternate version in Q1, Hamlet asks Gertrude
for help carrying out his revenge plan and she agrees.
4.1
Gertrude immediately tells Claudius what happened with
Hamlet, so Claudius convinces Gertrude that they need to send Hamlet away
immediately. Claudius then tells Rosencrantz and Guildenstern about Polonius
and orders then to find the body and bring it to the chapel.
4.2
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ask Hamlet for the body, but
Hamlet refuses to tell them where it is hidden, but he does tell them all they
want is to get on the king’s good side.
4.3
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern tell Claudius they can’t find
the body. Hamlet enters and when Claudius asks him where Polonius’ body is
Hamlet replies, “At supper.” Hamlet uses a play on words to mean Polonius is
worm food and continues to say that everyone will eventually be worm food.
Further still, Hamlet says if a king dies and a worm eats his rotting flesh
then that same worm may be used as bait to catch a fish by a poor man. Thus,
when the poor man eats the fish (which ate the worm that ate the king) he is
also eating the king. In order words, everyone can be reduced to nothing. Then
Hamlet twists language in order to call Claudius his mother. Hamlet prepares to
leave for England and exits. Claudius reveals that the reason he wants Hamlet
to go to England is because he has arranged for Hamlet to be killed there.
4.4
Now the scene is on the Danish coast near the castle where
Fortinbras and his army are waiting. The Captain of the army greets Hamlet and
they talk about land and an upcoming battle. In a soliloquy Hamlet says God
gave man reason so it would be used. He’s still mad at himself that he has yet
to get his revenge on Claudius. He decides it is time to take action.
4.5
Back in the castle, a Guard (Gentleman or other title
depending on your version) informs Gertrude and Horatio that Ophelia has gone
crazy after the death of her father. All she does is speak nonsense. Ophelia
enters and sings a song that no one can make sense of, but it is a reference to
the death of her father. Claudius enters. Ophelia keeps singing songs that have
no bearing on anything and leaves. Claudius says they need to watch her
closely.
A messenger enters and says Laertes has returned with an
army that believes he should be king. Laertes enters having returned from
France and Claudius tells him his father is dead. Laertes vows to kills whoever
killed his father for revenge. Ophelia enters and she is still singing. Then
she hands out different types of flowers out to Claudius, Gertrude, and
Laertes. No one knows what to make of Ophelia’s actions.
4.6
Horatio gets a letter from Hamlet delivered by two sailors
explaining he has been taken prisoner on a ship by pirates and asks him to make
sure that the letters he has sent for Claudius make it to Claudius. Then he
writes that the sailors will bring Horatio to him. Lastly, he writes
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are set still for England. (If we remember is
where Claudius thinks Hamlet is going which is important because he is setting
Hamlet up to be murdered).
**In Q1 there is an alternate scene. Horatio goes to
Gertrude and tells her about the letter he received so she knows Hamlet is safe
in Denmark. Horatio tells Gertrude that Hamlet read the letter from Claudius to
England that would have condemned him to death, but luckily Hamlet had is
father’s seal with him and as able to alter the letters to make it look like
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were meant to be murdered. (The reveal is similar
to the reveal between Hamlet and Horatio in 5.2 below). Gertrude is very
grateful to Horatio.
4.7
Claudius is talking to Laertes about how Hamlet killed his
father. Laertes wonders why Claudius has yet to do anything about Hamlet’s
actions especially since he is a danger to Claudius. Claudius explains 1) he
has to think of Gertrude’s feelings, and 2) everyone seems to love Hamlet so if
Claudius did something he is expecting backlash. Laertes vows to get revenge.
A messenger enters with letter from Hamlet; one for Claudius
and one for Gertrude. The messenger leaves and Claudius reads the letter out
loud to Laertes. The letter explains Hamlet is coming back so Claudius must
make an announcement saying he is to return and that he is innocent of
Polonius’ death (this way Hamlet is not disobeying the king publically and it
makes it appear as though it was Claudius’s idea). This gives Claudius the idea
to kill him on his return and make it look like an accident so no one will
blame him. Laertes likes this idea and wants to be involved. Claudius decides
to use Laertes’s good rapier skills. He plans for Laertes to challenge Hamlet
to a fight which he believes will be justified since people will believe
Laertes is doing it to show the love he had for his father. Claudius also
thinks Hamlet will trust his friendship with Laertes too much to properly
defend himself. Laertes agrees and says he will put poison on his sword so all
he has to do is cut Hamlet once and the poison will do the rest of the work.
Claudius likes this plan, but says they need a backup plan. He decides to offer
Hamlet a poisoned glass to drink from if Laertes misses.
Gertrude enters to tell them Ophelia has drowned. She was
found in a brook with flower garlands in her hair; Gertrude reports that there
is a broken branch near where she was found and that the branch must have
broken and caused Ophelia to be submerged. Laertes begins to cry and calls the
tears “woman” to mean a sign of weakness. Laertes exits and Claudius and
Gertrude run after him because they don’t know what he will do now.
5.1
Two gravediggers (your version may say clowns or rustics)
are in a churchyard digging a grave for Ophelia. One asks if she will have a
traditional Christian burial even though she killed herself and the second
replies that she will because the “crowner” (coroner, aka person who inspects
dead bodies) has looked at her and decided there will be a Christian burial. In
other words, her death was officially declared accidental, but it appears not
everyone believes that to be true. The two of them then discuss how she
probably did kill herself and that if she was a woman of lower standing, i.e.
not in Claudius’s good graces, then she probably would not have a Christian
burial.
One makes a comment that gravedigger is an old and noble
profession. The second adds to the humor of the conversation by saying that a
gallows maker (the place where people were hanged to death) makes the strongest
structures.
**Hangings were open to the public and were attended by men,
women, and children. There are records available scholars have found where
attendees recorded what happened and what they saw. During these hanging people
also brought their carts and sold food for the people watching. Others sold
pamphlets describing the crimes of the person to be hanged. In other words,
these hangings were quite social.
Horatio and Hamlet enter the churchyard and see the
gravediggers. One of the gravediggers is singing a tune and Hamlet asks Horatio
how anyone can be in a mood marry enough to sing while digging a grave. Horatio
explains that these men dig graves so often that it no longer fazes them. As
the gravediggers dig, one tosses up a skull with the pile of dirt (meaning
someone was buried in the spot where Ophelia will be buried). Hamlet picks up
the skull and talks about how this skull once belonged to a living person. He
finds sadness in the skull being tossed aside so carelessly by the gravedigger.
Then another skull gets tossed up with the dirt; Hamlet makes the comment that
no matter what statue you held in life, everyone is the same in death (which
relates back to the speech he had with Claudius about the worm and the fish in
4.3). Hamlet engages in some word play with the gravediggers, and since they
are so nonchalant about death he wants to know how long they have been in this
morbid job. Then Hamlet talks to them about Hamlet (indicating they have no
clue who they are talking to) and how Hamlet has gone mad. Then Hamlet wants to
know how long it takes a body to decompose in the ground.
Hamlet learns one of the skulls belonged to Yorick, Hamlet
senior’s jester. Now, Hamlet feels even closer to the skull because he knew
Yorick when he was alive. Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes, and a doctor with
Ophelia’s corpse enter with other attendees. Hamlet notices they are following
a strict ceremony (of a funeral), and because they are curious they hide to
watch what is going on. Hamlet learns it is Ophelia. Gertrude scatters flowers
for her (which is fitting when you recall the many flower garlands she had been
making the last few times she appeared). Laertes, in his grief, leaps into the
grave after Ophelia and then Hamlet reveals himself because he cannot believe
Laertes’ actions. Hamlet then leaps into the grave to get to Laertes and the
two of them fight in the grave for a bit before they are separated. Hamlet
reveals he truly did love Ophelia. He storms off and Claudius reminds Laertes
to be patient because they have a plan.
5.2
Back in the castle Hamlet and Horatio talk; Hamlet reveals
he believes he will be beheaded for his actions because he knows he has been
acting crazy and rash and making Claudius angry. Hamlet tells Horatio that the
letters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were carrying were orders for their own
death. They looked like orders from the king of Denmark because Hamlet had his
father’s old signet (meaning signet ring: a ring with a design cut into it)
with the design of the Danish Seal. He took the letter he wrote and replaced it
with the letter Claudius had written, so instead of a letter instructing the
reader to kill Hamlet, the letter instructed the reader to kill Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern.
A courtier, Osric, comes and tells Hamlet Claudius wants
him. It is clear Hamlet has a low opinion of Osric by the way Hamlet talks to
him. After some time Osric finally tells Hamlet and Horatio that Claudius has
laid a wager that Laertes will best Hamlet in a rapier match. Another Lord
comes to retrieve Hamlet. As Hamlet prepares to go Horatio says he is worried
that Hamlet will lose, but Hamlet says he’s been practicing and has faith he
will win.
Horatio and Hamlet go into the room where the duel will take
place and it is decorated. Gertrude and Claudius are there, of course. Hamlet partially apologizes to Laertes for
killing Polonius, but eventually blames it on his madness. The duel begins:
Hamlet hits Laertes a few times. Claudius offers Hamlet the drink, but Hamlet
refuses. Gertrude takes the cup instead; Claudius tries to stop her but she
drinks from it anyway. The duel continues: Laertes hits Hamlet and cuts him,
but then they fumble a bit and unknowingly exchange rapiers in the process.
Then Hamlet hits and cuts Laertes. Gertrude falls over and dies from the poison
she drank. Laertes comes clean and tells Hamlet he is poisoned, but that
Claudius is to blame for poisoning his mother. Hamlet takes the poisoned rapier
and stabs Claudius. Claudius dies. Laertes asks for forgiveness from Hamlet and
then dies. Hamlet forgives him. Right before Hamlet dies he gets news that
Fortinbras and some English Ambassadors are there. With Hamlet dead Horatio is
left to talk to Fortinbras. One of Fortinbras’ men reveals Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are dead just like Hamlet asked. Horatio assures Fortinbras that
Hamlet is grateful. Horatio tells Fortinbras to put the bodies on a stage and
display them, and then he will explain what happened to everyone. Horatio
specifies that Hamlet’s body should be displayed like a solider because it
matches his royal status.
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