Summary: Hamlet Act V Scene I and II

Summary: Act V, Scene i, opens up two gravediggers shoveling up a grave for Ophelia. While digging the hole the two grave men argue whether or not Ophelia should have a Christian burial since her passing seemed like a suicide, which was outlawed during that time. After the first gravedigger asks the second gravedigger a riddle, Hamlet and Horatio enter the scene watching the men dig up a grave. When looking at the men dig up the old grave for a new grave Hamlet deeply wonders what kind of career the skull had that was buried in the old gravesite “Why may not that be the skull of a lawyer? “(V.i.91). When Hamlet approaches one of the gravedigger he questions them about whose grave they are digging. At first the men lie to Hamlet and tell him it is there grave since they are digging it but then the men tell Hamlet it is neither for a living man or woman because the person living in the grave will be dead. At last the gravedigger admits to Hamlet that the grave will be for one “that was a woman sir; but, rest her soul, she’s dead” (V.i.146). When Hamlet asks the gravedigger how long he has been a gravedigger the man responds to him and tells him he has been digging up graves sing the late King Hamlet defeated the old Fortinbras in battle, which was the day the young Hamlet was born. Hamlet then picks up a skull that belonged to Yorick , the late King Hamlet’s jester, Hamlet then goes on to tell Horatio stories about what he and Yorick use to do when he was a child. Hamlet then realizes that all men even great men like Julius Cesar and Alexander Hamilton will eventually become dust use to patch up a wall. Suddenly, the funeral beginnings for Ophelia and Laertes, Claudius, Gertrude, and many mourning courtiers enter the scene. Hamlet wonders who has died and notices that the dead man or woman has killed them self. Horatio and Hamlet then hide as everyone else approaches the grave. At the same time, Laertes argues with the priest telling him that his sister should be given a proper Christian burial when he leaps into Ophelia’s grave to hold her one last time. Upset and angry Hamlet burst into the gravesite and declares his love for Ophelia saying that “forty thousand brothers / Could not, with all their quantity of love, / make up my sum” (V.i.254–256).Hamlet then cries telling Laertes he would anything for Ophelia that he himself would never do. Gertrude and Claudius declare that Hamlet is mad. Hamlet then exits the scene with Horatio to follow. At the end of scene the king urges Laertes to be patient and to remember there the plan made to kill Hamlet once and for all.

Summary: Act V, scene ii opens up with Hamlet and Horatio discussing how sometimes the failures that occur in life serve to teach lessons that are memorable and shape life (V.ii.10). Hamlet then tells Horatio of an order King Claudius had requested to the King of England to imprison and behead Hamlet as quickly as possible. Hamlet then explains to Horatio that Hamlet came up with a brilliant plan to create a letter just as the original ordering the King of England to kill Rosencrants and Guildenstern for delivering the first letter. Hamlet then seals the letters with his father's seal of state which he had on him which was a model of the Danish seal. Horatio then is so surprised by Claudius' behavior asks Hamlet “why what a king is this” (V.ii.67). Hamlet then justifies that if Claudius is killed it will only be fair since Claudius killed the king, whored his mother, and almost killed him. Osric then shows up on behalf of Laertes which has challenged Hamlet to a duel in which King Claudius knows Hamlet will win. Hamlet accepts the challenge and then Osric leaves and then a lord comes asking on behalf of Claudius if Hamlet would like more time Hamlet replies that he is ready at whatever time. As Claudius then walks in escorts Hamlet to the area of duel which all the preparations are being made for the duel. Hamlet asks Laertes for forgiveness of his actions in Ophelia's grave and explains it was the madness that killed Polonius but Laertes does not want to hear explanations. Osric then arrives with the swords as Claudius offers a drink to Hamlet which Hamlet then rejects. Gertrude unaware of the drink being poisoned by Claudius drinks the drink and allows Hamlet to fight Laertes. Laertes then wounds Hamlet with sword and tells him that it is poisoned as Laertes feels he is poisoned too. Gertrude screams she is dying and has been poisoned Hamlet screams to everybody to lock the doors to not let the king leave. Hamlet then kills Claudius with the poisoned sword. Laertes and Hamlet then forgive each other and as Hamlet dies Hamlet then tells Horatio to tell everybody the story of what occurred and that Fortinbras gets the crown to Denmark. Hamlet then dies ending Hamlet.