Hamlet Reading Response Act V
Summary:
Scene 1:
- The “clowns” (gravediggers) are discussing whether or not her burial can be
considered a Christian burial due to the circumstances of her death.
- Hamlet and Horatio are in awe of the gravedigger’s behavior and cannot
believe the nonchalant attitude toward the dead skeletons.
- Hamlet knows the funeral is for a woman, but doesn’t even consider the
possibility it is being held for Ophelia. This is an example of dramatic irony
within the play.
- Laertes, Gertrude, and Claudius enter the scene and Hamlet understands that
the procession marks Ophelia’s death. His return surprises all three of them.
- Hamlet’s insults toward the King and Laertes prompt Claudius and Laertes to
become allies against hamlet. They begin to plot their revenge.
Scene 2:
- Hamlet continuous telling his sea adventure to Horatio when Osric, a court
gentleman, enters and tells of the King’s proposition—a duel with Laertes.
- Hamlet, against Horatio’s wishes, agrees to the duel thinking that his fate rests
in God’s hands and that it is his duty to attempt to avenge his father’s death.
- Osric brings Hamlet to the King, Queen, and Laertes.
- Both Hamlet and Laertes choose their weapons in preparation for the duel.
Hamlet hits Laertes twice, winning the first two rounds.
- This is a surprise to the King and to Laertes, both which thought victory
would be theirs. Claudius, afraid that his plan will fail, prepares a toast for
Hamlet (the liquid Hamlet is to drink from is poisoned).
- The Queen, happy for Hamlet’s success, reaches out and takes Hamlet’s
goblet, drinking the poison.
- While she is toasting to Hamlet’s success, Laertes wounds Hamlet. There is a
scuffle and the weapons switch hands. Hamlet then wounds Laertes.
- The Queen falls dead, but not before crying out to Hamlet that Claudius was
responsible. Laertes then informs hamlet that his sword, tipped in the same
poison, was now within both of them. Both men make a dying peace.
- Hamlet, full of anger charges Claudius and kills him, then turns to Horatio as
life drains from him.
- Horatio wants to join his friend in the afterworld, but Hamlet asks for his story
to be remembered. Horatio then tells prince Fortinbras of Norway the entire
account.
- The play ends.
Questions:
-How exactly did the swords switch?
-The gravediggers pull out several skulls, were bodies often buried together?
-The King knew that there was going to be trouble when the Queen drank the
poisoned cup so why didn’t he do something to protect himself?
-How does Ophelia’s death play a role in Hamlet’s renewed vengeance?
Quote:
“He hat kill’d my King and whor’d my mother/ Popp’d in between the election and my
hopes,” (5.2.64-65. Hamlet).
Response:
The entire play of Hamlet revolves around the revenge of his father’s death and
the planning of Claudius’s death; however, the last scene did not focus on Claudius’s
death as much as was foreshadowed. He only appears to watch the duel and when Hamlet
finally stabs him. Claudius watched the Queen reach for the poisoned cup and even made
a remark under his breath, and yet, he did not move or make an attempt to shift the
attention. He simply let her fall dead, therefore exposing his guilt. After avoiding
Hamlet’s desires and setting Hamlet up for failure, after all of the elaborate planning for
hamlet’s death and manipulating Laertes into an ally against Hamlet, one would expect
Claudius’s quick wit and determination to help him escape the situation. Only after
Gertrude exposed the King did Hamlet call for the doors to lock, which would have given
him time to run out of the room. He could have thought that his leaving would be
noticeable, but he could have picked up a sword or ordered one of the court members
watching to come to his aid. Did Claudius want Hamlet to overcome him or, after all the
battles between Hamlet and himself, did he finally just surrender to the guilt?