Scene 1 of Act V shows Hamlet and Horatio encountering gravediggers and witnessing Ophelia's funeral procession. Hamlet and Laertes fight in Ophelia's grave. Scene 2 reveals Hamlet killed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. A duel is arranged between Hamlet and Laertes where Gertrude drinks poisoned wine meant for Hamlet. Both Laertes and Hamlet are wounded, and all die except Horatio and Fortinbras arrives to become king of Denmark.

1. HAMLET
Act V
Annie Carew, Carolyn Caggia, Joan
Koh, Kelsey Lowden, Saran Allen

2. Summary: Scene 1
• Hamlet and Horation
find two gravediggers
• Skulls (Yorick)
• Ophelia’s funeral
procession (suicide?)
• Hamlet and Laertes fight
in Ophelia’s grave

3. Scene 1 Study Questions
• What was the significance of the various skulls
the gravedigger digs up during this scene?
How do they contribute to the evolution of
Hamlet’s understanding of death?
• How does the entrance of Ophelia’s funeral
procession continue this evolution?
• What does Laertes and Hamlet’s fight in
Ophelia’s grave foreshadow?

4. Scene 1 Study Questions
• Why is this scene in prose?
• How do Hamlet and the gravedigger view the
sociological implications of death
differently?

5. Summary: Scene 2
• Hamlet explains incident with letters and
pirates to Horatio
• Interrupted by Osric: there is
to be a duel
• Hamlet wins first point,
offered a drink, declines

6. Summary: Scene 2
• Gertrude drinks the
poison, Laertes wounds
Hamlet, Hamlet wounds
Laertes
• Hamlet kills Claudius and
they all die
• Fortinbras arrives and
becomes king

7. Scene 2 Study Questions
• What does Horatio learn about the real
purpose for the trip to England?
• What is ironic about
Rosencrantz's and
Guildenstern's approaching
deaths?
• How does Shakespeare
establish that Hamlet
is indeed a noble
gentleman?

8. Scene 2 Study Questions
• How does the
impending duel with
Laertes complete Hamlet's concept of death
that has been developing through the play?
• Why does Hamlet apologize to Laertes
• Explain how each character dies in the end.

9. Scene 2 Study Questions
• Why does the play end
with such bloodshed and
death?
• What is significant about the
fact that Fortinbras delivers the
last lines of the play?

10. Literary Criticism: Feminism
• Weak women
– Ophelia is rumored to have committed suicide
– “Is she to be buried in Christian burial, when she
willfully seeks her own salvation?” (5.1.1)
• Women should always obey men
– Gertrude drinks against Claudius’ orders and dies

11. Literary Criticism: Psychoanalytic
• Incest between Laertes and Ophelia
– “Hold off the earth awhile, Till I have caught her
once more in mine arms.” (5.1.261-2)
• Incest between Hamlet and Gertrude
– Gertrude’s last cry is to Hamlet
– “Oh, my dear Hamlet!” (5.2.340)

12. Literary Criticism:

13. Literary Criticism:

14. Literary Criticism:

15. Quotes
• “Custom hath made it in him a
property of easiness.” (5.1.69)
– Hamlet is talking to Horatio while
watching the gravedigger sing
over his work
– Not everyone takes death
seriously

16. Quotes
• “Alexander died, Alexander was buried,
Alexander returneth to dust; the dust is earth;
of earth we make loam; and why of that loam
whereto he was converted might they not
stop a beer bottle?” (5.1.216-9)
– Hamlet is talking to Horatio about the skulls
– Great men die and their remains are used by
commoners

17. Quotes
• “It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of
gaingiving as would perhaps trouble a
woman.” (5.2.229-30)
– Hamlet scoffs at Horatio’s concerns about the duel
– Women are weak and are more easily perturbed

18. Quotes
• “Gertrude, do not drink.” “I will, my lord; I
pray you pardon me.” (5.2.178-8)
– Claudius and Gertrude speaking for the last time
at the duel
– Gertrude’s last action is to disobey Claudius in
favor of her son

19. Quotes
• “He is justly served. It is a poison tempered
by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me,
noble Hamlet. Mine and my father’s death
come not upon thee, Nor thine on me.”
(5.2.359-63)
– Laertes’ last words (to Hamlet)
– Hamlet’s death could be viewed as payback for
Polonius, but Laertes forgives him

20. Allusions
• Adam’s Profession (5.1.32)
• Cain (5.1.79)
• Alexander the Great (5.1.204)
• Caesar (5.1.220)
• Pelion/Olympus/Ossa (5.1.265)
• Hercules (5.1.310)
• Barbary Horses (5.2.174)

21. Symbols
• Yorick’s Skull

22. Major Themes