Hamlet, Act V

William Shakespear

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Dr. Mohammed Fahmy Raiyah

ACT V

ACT V

Both Hamlet and Laertes appear as Ophelia is being buried. Both are grief-stricken and both leap into Ophelia’s grave. Hamlet declares his love for Ophelia and that his love must exceed the love of thousands of brothers. They fight.

Hamlet tells Horatio that he found the letter that the king gave to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to the English king, asking him to kill Hamlet. Hamlet tells him how he changed the letter and wrote instead that the bearers of the letter are to be killed.

Hamlet accepts the duel with Laertes. He asks Laertes for forgiveness, saying that he murdered Polonius in his madness. As the fencing begins, the king gives Hamlet the poisoned cup but Hamlet does not drink and the queen drinks it. Hamlet is wounded with the poisoned sword. In the middle of the fight, they exchange swords, and Hamlet wounds Laertes. Laertes tells Hamlet that the king is to blame for the poisoned sword and the poison in the cup. Hamlet stabs the king and forces him to drink from the cup.

Fortinbras, the king of Norway, arrives with his army to conquer Denmark. Hamlet urges Horatio tell his real story after he dies. He says that he wishes Fortinbras to be made King of Denmark; then he dies.

Fortinbras orders for Hamlet to be carried away like a brave soldier.

The Graveyard

The gravedigger

Ophelia’s Funeral

The Conspiracy

THE DUEL

BRIEF SUMMARY of ACT V• Hamlet and Horatio are at the graveyard.• A funeral comes and Hamlet discovers that it is Ophelia’s

coffin.• Hamlet and Laertes fight.• Hamlet accepts the fencing contest with Laertes.• The king offers Hamlet the poisoned drink, but he does not

take it. The Queen drinks it.• Hamlet is wounded with the poisoned sword, and Hamlet

wounds Laertes with the same sword. • As Laertes is dying, he tells Hamlet that the king is to blame

for the poisoned sword and the poison in the cup. Hamlet stabs the king and forces him to drink from the cup.

• Fortinbras, the king of Norway, arrives with his army to conquer Denmark.

• Hamlet urges Horatio to tell his story. He says that he wishes Fortinbras to be made King of Denmark; then he dies.

• Fortinbras orders for Hamlet to be carried away like a brave soldier.