Tragedy in Hamlet: Act 5

Scene 1
This scene starts off with two grave digger (clowns) who are set there to bring a sense of comic relief  after such a serious moment. The conversation does have serious elements though... for instance they're debating whether Ophelia truly deserves a christian burial when she has sinned, although it has been approved by the priest they share their views on this."Is she to be buried in a christian burial when she wilfully seeks her own salvation?". They then share banter to relax the tone of the play.

Hamlet then appears in the graveyard from pure coincidence; he doesn't know Ophelia is dead and being buried.He then has a small conversation with the clowns ( they don't know who he is) and he says "There's another.Why may not that be the skull of a lawyer?" meaning once dead we are all equal, all the same no matter what rank in society we're from.Hamlet constantly reflects on death and the point of life.

Grave digger then makes reference to the disease in Denmark and relates it to the dead.Even in death the bodies are riddled with disease (recently the bodies are rotting quickly,much quicker than usual)hamlet again reflects on death and how short life is.People are no different in death and people are used no matter how great "Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust; dust is earth, of earth we make loam and why of loam whereto he was converted might they not stop a beer barrel?" which means even Alexander the great may be reused, it doesn't matter how powerful you are.

Procession then appears with Ophelia's corpse,Hamlet realises whose body they are about to bury.Tragedy for Ophelia in death as the queen says there would have been no objection of hers and hamlets marriage- she was warned off and heartbroken  because of this.

Leartes and hamlet then fight in her grave (Leartes had jumped in to hold her one last time and Hamlet followed so he could fight him).After they are pulled apart Hamlet declares he loved her more than Leartes loved her (more than any amount of brothers could have) Both are grief stricken, Leartes has lost his last family member and Hamlet has lost the love of his life.Once Hamlet leaves the grave the king tells Claudius to be patient; they will carry out their plan soon.He's worried Leartes will lose it like Ophelia had.

Hamlet has recently acted sane but once he finds out about Ophelia's death he is so grief stricken he shows mad love, declares love and fights brother. It's a genuine moment of regret. He shows his raw emotions of love for her and now it's too late to do anything about it (intense moment).We finally see his realisation on what he has done, his guilt, anguish and remorse. (rite-of-passage from prince to king... reaches maturity level needed)

Scene 2
Hamlet now shows true remorse, he seems weak with grief, no signs of madness.He regrets his previous actions and can see what wrong he caused others, he then describes to Horatio how he changed the message that Claudius wrote for England and made it so that Rosencratz and Guildenstern will be sent to death on arrival .In a way this is his confession, he must know that something is to happen so he's confessing his sins before it's too late.He's seen how his pent up revenge has caused and destroyed so much.

Osrick then enters and says "Your lordship is right, welcome back to Denmark" (dramatic irony). Osrick serves as a comic character aswell as a narrative device; he helps explain what will happen next... the duel.There is a bet placed on Leartes to win and Hamlet is suspicious of the duel and its importance. Hamlet is aware the duel could be the deciding factor of his future (everyone is there to witness it).

Hamlet and Leartes have words before the fight.Hamlet apologises and says he has done great wrong and offers his sorrow.He's trying to repent for his sins and make amends and Leartes accepts the apology but still wants revenge. Both show bravery and signs of nobility here. Hamlet does because he accepts the duel without any question (bravery) unlike his previous moments in the play which can be interpreted as if he is a coward.Leartes does because he  accepts Hamlets apology even though he blames Hamlet for the death of his family.This shows that Leartes is a good man, although he still wants revenge he isn't petty or stubborn he is gracious respects others enough to forgive them even when they cause much hurt. (both showing maturity and especially with Hamlet since he has realised not to run, he accepts the consequences and takes the punishment).

They then fight and it's both on equal standing to they take a break (Leartes has the  poisoned sword).....  hamlet is offered a drink (the drink that has poison in) but he turns it down. Instead the queen drinks from it (oncoming tragedy for Hamlet and Claudius also dramatic irony) . Hamlet is then wounded by the poisoned sword (tragedy for Gertrude,Horatio also the kingdom since they still like Hamlet and dramatic irony). In scuffling and confusion they both then swap swords and Hamlet wounds Leartes ( 3 are now poisoned, more Tragedy!!).

The queen then falls and Claudius attempts to cover it by saying " She swoons to see them bleed" meaning that she has fainted because she can't stand to see them fight but in the queens last breath she says it was the drink "No, no, the drink, the drink! O my dear Hamlet! the drink, the drink, i am poisoned.".Hamlet then shouts treachery and seeks who caused the villainous act; Leartes then admits that the culprit was Claudius and that there is no cure, the sword and drink are poisoned so Hamlet wounds Claudius and forces him to drink the rest of the poisoned drink. ( dramatic irony as Claudius has died the way he killed Hamlets dad, his mother and effectively Leartes and Hamlet....you could say it was his own doings that killed him) Now major tragedy for all, they have no king or queen, Hamlet has lost all his family like Leartes and Denmark shall now have no ruler since all royalty or nobles are poisoned.It also means that they all achieved revenge even if it results in the death of each other.


In Leartes final words he ask Hamlet to forgive him and that he fully forgives Hamlet "He is justly served ( talking about the death of Claudius) It is poisoned tempered by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me noble Hamlet. Mine and my father's death come not upon thee nor thine on me!" It's not Hamlets fault for his death and his father's....full forgiveness.

Fortinbras then arrives in Elsinore with his army (told by a messenger), at this point Horatio says to Hamlet that he wants to die too, he doesn't want to live when everyone else has dies but Hamlet basically tells him it will be alright and not to make a foolish move (tragedy for Horatio, he has lost his best friend and would rather join him in death than lose him).... Hamlet also tells Horatio to leave Denmark to Fortinbras because he knows it will be in capable hands that way. Hamlet then dies.

Two things then simultaneously happen then... Fortinbras enters the hall and See's what has happened; then asking Horatio so he can find out. Also an ambassador arrives and reports that Rosencratz and Guildenstern are dead (pretty much everyone is dead) Horatio then fills in Fortinbras and the tragic event that have occurred in the past few months and that the throne has been left to him ( Fortinbras has succeeded in his mission without having to do anything). Fortinbras then finishes the play by saying that he believes that Hamlet would have made a most royal king and that he deserves a true burial so people collect the bodies and give Hamlet a royal send off.

Even though everyone has died it may now be better for Denmark since this is a fresh start and it may now redeem its former state before the death of Hamlet Sr. Hamlet did infact want Denmark to return to its former self so even though he has given his life to achieve this he has done good.