Hamlet Act V

Hamlet Act V

1. Irony

   • Hamlet didn't know that Ophelia had died and that it was her grave
   • Laertes has every reason to hate Hamlet, but Hamlet doesn't know that
   • We know what's going to happen to Hamlet in the fight

2. Themes

   • Action and Inaction
     • Hamlet can act when he doesn't have time to think
     • Hamlet can justify his revenge and took action
     • Hamlet is willing to fight Laertes
   • Appearance Vs Reality
     • No matter who you are, we all have the same fate which is death
     • Priest can't tell if Ophelia's death was suicide or not
     • Hamlet identifies with Laertes
     • Claudius is really supporting Laertes, not Hamlet
     • The drink in the cup was really poison
   • Women
     • Hamlet loves Ophelia after she dies
     • Ophelia was a woman and her death was considered an accident. She was given by the benefit of doubt
   • Revenge
     • Hamlet gets revenge on Guildenstern and Rosencrantz
     • Hamlet avenged his father when he stabbed Claudius
     • Laertes gets revenge on Hamlet
     • Fortinbras suceeds to the throne of Denmark
   • Corruption
     • Hamlet frees Denmark from corruption by killing the king and electing Fortinbras
   • Death
     • Everyone is treated the same in death
     • Hamlet accepts the fate of death
     • You can't escape when you are going to die
   • Politics
     • Political balance is restored by the end of the play - Fortinbras is the new leader
   • Love
     • Hamlet expresses his love for Ophelia
     • Laertes loved his sister

3. Language

   • Imagery and symbols
     • Death
     • Decay
     • Yorick's skull
   • Dramatic Expression
     • Use of language intensifies mystery
     • Hamlet uses words to reveal the truth
     • Words are Hamlet's weapon
     • Claudius's speech is stilted towards Hamlet
     • Written in blank verse
     • Use of verse and prose add to dramatic effect

4. Setting

   • Graveyard
   • Castle

5. Poetic Justice

   • Hamlet sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their death
   • Laertes is killed by his own treachery, stabbed by the knife with poison
   • Claudius is also killed by his own treachery, stabbed by kinife with poision, but also drank the poison