Scene1- At the beginning of this scene, gravediggers are talking about Ophelia's death, and why they are having a christian burying. They are saying she shouldn't, and the only reason she is having one, is because she is rich. The gravediggers are singing while doing this, and Hamlet is very upset on how they are doing this. He thinks they are just throwing it around like Ophelia never meant anything. They begin to talk about how he became a gravedigger, and it is because of Hamlet. Then he says that Hamlet has gone crazy so now he is in England. Then Hamlet begins to remorse Ophelia's death. He is pretty upset by her death. The king and queen and Laertes enter. They are upset, and the priest won't perform because he believes she will go to hell. Hamlet introduces himself and Laertes attacks him. They fight, but then they finally break apart. Hamlet admits to loving Ophelia. He says he would do anything for Ophelia, and the queen believes he is just acting crazy. Hamlet exits, and Claudius reminds Laertes that he will have his chance, and he will take care of this problem.
Scene 2- The next day Hamlet goes and tells Horatio his plot to kill Claudius. He has posioned the letter, but instead Rosencrantz and Guildenstern open it and kill them. Hamlet doesn't feel bad about anything because those two were against him and working for Claudius. He does feel bad about what he has said to Laertes though, so he says he will be nice to him from now on. Osric comes in, who is all about agreeing with Hamlet. He comes to tell him that the king wants him to joust with Laertes, and the king actually put money on Hamlet winning.Then a lord enters and asks Hamlet if he is going to joust because the king and queen are waiting. Hamlet agrees to go and fight. Hamlet approaches Laertes and ask for forgiveness because he only killed his dad out of craziness. Laertes says he will not forgive, but he will accept his love. Before the joust, the king informs Hamlet no matter what he will get a cup of wine because they want to drink to either a victory or his health. The duel starts, and Hamlet wins against Laertes, but he will not take the drink because he wants to fight again. He again beats Laertes, and the queen takes a drink from the cup. The king tells her not to, but it is is too late. They fight again, and Laertes actually gets Hamlet this time. He is bleeding, but they managed to switch sword and Hamlet gets him with his own sword. The queen suddenly falls, and Laertes is poisoned by his own sword. Before Laertes dies, he tells Hamlet he is the one to blame for both of the queen and his death. Hamlet is very mad now and attacks Claudius with the poisoned sword and makes him drink the wine. Claudius then dies. Hamlet then begins to die and asks for more forgiveness from Laertes. Hamlet urges Horatio not to commit suicide, but he should tell the story and stay alive. He also says he wants Fortinbras to be the king of Denmark. Then Hamlet finally dies. Horatio agrees to Hamlet's words and goes off to tell the story while Hamlet is carried away like a noble.
Analysis- I knew that this play would end in a tragedy because it is Shakespeare. It is really ironic how the things that were supposed to kill Hamlet, actually killed two people that the king did not want dead. This can be looked at from a Marxism criticism because the whole thing that happened with the killings happened because Claudius wanted to stay in power and have a lot of money.
This can also be looked at from a psychological criticism because Hamlet doesn't seem as crazy anymore. I think he mellowed down after Ophelia died, and I think that is because he really cared about her. I am sure that he would've gotten even more crazy if he would've lived long though, but then again I don't know because Ophelia didn't die by getting murdered. I also think Hamlet's ego was telling him while he was dying that he needed to make amends before he died. That is why he wanted to make sure he was forgiven by Laertes before he died.
This play is a typical play written by Shakespeare. He always writes about tragedies and how the love for something makes the tragedy happen. Hamlet loved his dad and that is why he is very upset to find out his uncle killed him. There is also always a murderer in Shakespeare's work, so this play did not surprise me.
Good!
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