Act 5 Scene 2

In the beginning of the final scene of the play, Hamlet tell Horatio about how he managed to find a way to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. While on the ship for England, Hamlet searched R&G's room and found the letter from Claudius that ordered his execution by beheading. Hamlet then proceeded to forge a letter from Claudius that ordered for the execution of R & G instead. Upon Horatio's reaction (of horror or indifference, it would be left up to the actor) Hamlet dismisses R & G as nothing more than mere instruments of Claudius, and he seems to show no remorse for what he has done. Hamlet goes on to justify his (hopefully) soon to be killing of Claudius, and he compares himself to Laertes, seeming to regret the fact that he has to fight against a fellow avenger. This passage in particular suggests that Hamlet liked Laertes, and may have even been friends with him before the play started. Osric, a courtier who doesn't really seem to have much purpose aside from being mocked by Hamlet and delivering a message, enters the scene. He uses absurdly flamboyant and fancy language, even for Shakespeare, and Hamlet mocks him throughout the scene by responding in kind. Osric praises Laertes for being the epitome of a gentleman, and he tells Hamlet that Claudius bets that in a fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet, Hamlet would win. Osric exits (while Hamlet and Horatio make fun of him) and another Lord enters, asking Hamlet if he would like to go ahead and battle Laertes. Hamlet agrees, even though Horatio warns him that he will lose. Laertes and others (including Claudius and Gertrude) enter, and Hamlet apologizes, claiming that his madness was to blame for the death of Polonius. Laertes seems to accept Hamlet's apology, although not without reservations. The two prepare to fight, and Claudius claims that he will order a celebratory feast if Hamlet wins. The fight begins, and Hamlet makes two first hits against Laertes. Claudius offers him a drink from the poisoned cup, but Hamlet refuses. Hamlet scores another hit against Laertes, and Gertrude toasts to Hamlet, but drinks from the poisoned cup. Claudius and Hamlet try to stop her, but to no avail. Hamlet turns away from his mother and the two seem to begin to fight beyond the formalities of a royal fencing match, and Hamlet is injured with the poisoned sword. The two fall down, and swords are switched in the scuffle to get back up. This time, Laertes is wounded by the poisoned sword. Gertrude falls from the affect of the poison, cries out, and dies. Hamlet is enraged, and Laertes falls on the floor, telling Hamlet that the both of them have been stabbed by the poison sword, and he blames Claudius for the poisoning of Gertrude. Hamlet takes the poisoned sword and hurts Claudius. He then forces Claudius to drink from the poisoned cup, telling him to follow his mother (supposedly to hell). Claudius dies. Laertes forgives Hamlet for the death of Polonius, and then dies as well. Hamlet claims that he is already dead, and drinks from the poisoned cup as well, preventing Horatio from doing so himself and committing suicide. He asks Horatio to tell his story and declares that Fortinbras shall succeed him as king. And with that, Hamlet dies. Horatio mourns his friend's death, and he hears the army of Fortinbras entering. The army enters with the news that R&G are dead, and Horatio asks for the bodies of the dead nobility to be put on display so that their story could be told. Fortinbras claims the throne of Denmark, but speaks highly of Hamlet and commands that his body be preserved with great ceremony. And thus, the play ends.

Hamlet, why do you agree to have a sword fight with Laertes? You know that Claudius must be on to you, so why to you agree to a sword fight that was his idea? Also, you seem to know that the cup that Claudius offers you is poison, because you tell your mother no to drink it. Are you just acting off of your suspicions or have you somehow found out about what's going on? Also, why do you decide to name Fortinbras as your heir? Is it because you realized his potential for great leadership back in Act 4?

I enjoy how Horatio is the only character left standing at the end of the play. He has a purpose at the end, so unlike Hamlet, he does not die. Horatio is responsible for telling the story of how all of the royal deaths occurred, and he seems determined to make sure that everyone knows. It makes sense that he is the only one left standing, but I was surprised that he wanted to commit suicide. It was funny to me that Hamlet, a character who has acted purely on emotion from the beginning of the play, prevents Horatio from killing himself. To me, Horatio's survival is another one of Shakespeare's omage to storytelling and the message that great stories should live on for ages after they occur.