Hamlet Act 5

|Summary| Famous Quotes|Interpretaions|Quiz| Journal|Creative Writing|Illustraion|Bibliography|

 

Summary

By Dorothy Cao

Act V Summary

 Hamlet returns to England and passing through Ophelia's graveyard. Hamlet is aghast and melancholy toward his lover's death. A lord asks whether Hamlet will come to the duel that establishes by Claudius or not. Hamlet consents and perceives there must be one of them, Hamlet or Laertes, to die in order to end the vendetta. Hamlet thought Laertes is a mirror of himself since both of them want to retaliate for their fathers: “” (Act V, Scene 1) In the march, Laertes changes the fake sword to real and Claudius put venom into the wine. When Hamlet wins the first and second hit, Claudius asks Hamlet to drink the win to celebrate his success in the beginning. However, Gertrude drinks the poisoned wine for Hamlet: “The queen carouses to thy fortune, / Hamlet.” (Act IV, Scene 2) In this moment, Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poisoned sword, and in scuffling, Hamlet gets the poisoned sword accidentally and he wounds Laertes all. While, Gertrude dies because of the wine and Laertes dies because of his poisoned sword. During Laertes' death, he exposes that Claudius is the person who plan this murder trick. Although Hamlet also wounds by the poisoned sword, he comes to Claudius with the sword and forces him to drink the rest of the poisoned wine that Gertrude left. Claudius dies in torture. Hamlet asks Horatio not to commit suicide, but instead tell his story to the people: “As thou'rt a man, / give me the cup: / let go; / by heaven, / I'll have't. / O good Horatio, / what a wounded name, / things standing thus unknown, / shall live behind me! / If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart absent thee from felicity awhile, / and in this

harsh world draw thy breath in pain, / to tell my story.” (Act V, Scene2) At the end, Fortinbras come to Denmark with English ambassador, Hamlet hopes Fortinbras can be the King of Denmark and asks Horatio to tell his story to Fortinbras also. Fortinbras, after Hamlet's death, announces Hamlet will be buried as a soldier.

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Famous Quotes

” Conjures the wandering stars, and makes them stand like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I, Hamlet the Dane.” by Hamlet (Act V, Scene 1)

"Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy." by Hamlet (Act V, Scene 1)

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Interpretation

By Hang Chun Ke

Interpretation, Act 5 Scene 1

What does Shakespeare hope to accomplish by introducing two clown grave diggers in a graveyard? (To heighten the tragic grief of Hamlet, Laertes, and Gertrude.)

Shakespeare hopes to accomplish the meaningless and worthless of death by introducing two clown grave diggers in a graveyard. Death to these two clown grave diggers is common they don't even feel sad or scare when they are digging graves for a dead person. Also, we can realize that everyone's life and death is the same no matter how great you were when you were alive. When dead bodies are decayed their intelligence, thinking, and contributions are no longer being remembered by people who are still alive.

However, in this case Shakespeare tries to introduce these two clown grave diggers in order to heighten the tragic grief of Hamlet, Laertes, and Gertrude. When Hamlet notices that the dead person is Ophelia his heart is spilt into two species. Base on Hamlet's reaction of Ophelia‘s death we can realize that a person's death cannot end all people's suffering. Ophelia's brother, Laertes is fallen into depression of losing his sister Ophelia. He is furious at Hamlet. Gertrude spread flowers on Ophelia's grave makes readers feel bad because it is a pity for a young and beautiful lady to be dead in her early age.

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Journal

by Hang Chun Ke

Journal, Act 5, Scene 2

3. Why is so much of the world's great literature written in a tragic vein? Is life itself generally more tragic than comic? Why? Why not? Discuss.

In fact, life means happiness and peace. However, we cannot forget that the nature of human beings is fragile. The negative side of the nature of human beings makes the tragedy keeps happening in the world because overcoming one's weakness is quite difficult. It is true to say that much of the world's great literature is written in a tragic vein. Human beings' avarice makes them to be dishonest and violated. Their violence and dishonesty is the major root of tragedy. Actually, life itself dose not generally more tragic than comic. We can say that tragedy destroys comedy.

In other words, people who have consciousness are always harmed by those people who are always tried to achieve their purpose by ugly techniques and methods.

Hamlet is a great example of tragedy. In my own opinion, I think Hamlet is a sane and intelligent gentleman. He hates his mother and his uncle because he notices that the thing they do is unmoral. His reaction reflects that he is an honest and loyal person. He dose not prefer to see others are doing something unmoral. Also, he is inflexible in love. He thinks that his mother betrays his father, the old Hamlet by marrying with his uncle after two months of his father's death.

I think life has equal amount of tragedy and comedy. It is always depends on one's choice. We can leave the tragic side and tend to the comic side.

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Creative Writing

By Hang Chun Ke

Creative Writing, Act 5, Scene 3

Imagine that you are Horatio as an old man. Write a brief memoir in which you describe your friendship with Hamlet, express your thoughts about the tragedy surrounding his life, and speculate on what might have prevented his death.

I am old now. Time goes fast and my hair has turned into gray gradually. All the things happened in my life has been gone. My Hamlet how are you now. I am always missing you. Can you see me now? Your stance has not been gone in my mind since I met you. Today, I am glad that I have been friend with you without regret. Each time when I am thinking of you, you're sane and courageous. However, the moment of death has tormented me.

You are a tragic hero. Your life was surrounding by tragedy. I am so sad that I cannot help as a friend. Your beloved mother and Ophelia left the world before you left the world. I can feel and understand your pain as a son and lover. Hamlet, actually, all the things happened around you could be changed into the positive side. However, you are too stubborn and inflexible. Your inflexible loyalty and honesty drew you into a negative position. As a friend I hoped you can listen to my advices and take consideration on them.

Hamlet, do you think your death is worthy or worthless? If I could release your anger and hate you may not died. I should give more suggestions at a million times until you are listened to me. I need to prevent you from the death as a friend. No one can escape death. It comes to people at every moment without notice. Oh! My friend, Hamlet when can I see you again?

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Illustrations

Act 5, Scene 1, Grave Yard Scene by Hang Chun Ke

Act 5, Scene 2, Duel by Jeffrey Aikens

Bibliography

These image sources were used for the Hamlet Duel Illustration

http://www.mninter.net/~short/crown%20jewels%20edwards%20crown.jpg

http://didier.huard.free.fr/Dior-poison.jpg

http://www.nitroplus.co.jp/pc/ranking/gunimage/rapier.jpg

http://www.clevelandart.org/kids/armor/images/rapier.jpg

http://dhein.no-ip.org/Photo/Macro/Drops.jpg

http://www.eos.ubc.ca/research/pcigr/images/Fun%20Pictures/New_leaking_hood.JPG

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