Act 5 Questions

1) What do you feel is the point of the gravedigger’s riddles and song? How does it fit into the play?

He is singing about getting old and dying, and he is making a depressing song sound happy. He has been so surrounded by death that he no longer fears it, and as he digs a grave, he sings about death as if it is not that sad. Him singing about death is a foreshadow about Hamlets death which is to come. The riddles could also be comic relief in the play, and he is singing the songs as a way to mess with Hamlet.

2) In what ways do Hamlet’s reactions to the skulls in the graveyard seem to suggest a change in his outlook? Compare Hamlet’s attitude towards Yoric to Hamlet’s attitude to Ophelia or even his father? How is it different? How is it similar?

Hamlet is beginning to realize that people are equally dead, and seeing the skulls makes him calm down about death. When it comes to Ophelia and his father he has a very angry reaction to their death, but with Yoric he is much more relaxed and instead of getting angry he reminisces about the past that he had with Yoric.

3) How old is Hamlet? How do you know this?

30; the man says he has been a gravedigger since Hamlet was born which was 30 years ago.

4) What does the violent argument between Hamlet and Laertes add to the play?

It is the first time that Hamlet admits that he wants to be or is the king, and they are fighting over Ophelia as if they both want her. It also when we see Laertes madness unfold when they both jump in the grave and begin to wrestle.

5) What developments in Hamlet’s character are presented through the story of what happened on the boat? (V.ii 1-62). How has Hamlet changed?

He is willing to kill his own childhood friends in order to succeed his mission. Also he thinks that Betrayal is the absolute worst thing you can ever do so he had “the pawns” killed in order for them to pay for their Betrayal. This is when he starts taking action.

6) How do Hamlet’s motives in killing Claudius seem to have shifted according to his speech beginning “Does it not, think thee…” (V.ii.63)

Hamlet is finally saying that he wants to be king, and the Claudius stole his spot on the thrown and he wants to take it back from him.

7) What concerns of the play are reinforced in the Osric episode? (V.ii.80-170)

He is Polonius reincarnated. He sucks up to Hamlet the entire time, and he is supposed to tell Hamlet that the king wants him and Laertes to “play”. While doing this he talks in huge words complimenting Laertes, and by doing this he is actually making himself look ridiculous. The way he is acting is reinforcing the idea of prostitution; he is trying to impress Hamlet because he is in a position of power.

8) Why does Hamlet ‘defy augury’? (V.ii.192)

He believes that if he doesn’t go to “Play” with Laertes he will mess with the plan, and what is supposed to happen. So he refuses to hide out and not go through with it. He was told do avenge his father and must follow through with it.

9) What does Laertes say is his motive in still resenting Hamlet? How has already lost this? How does this contribute to the presentation of revenge in the play? (V.ii216-223)

He wants his honor protected, even though it has been diminished because of how Hamlet killed his father, and what he did with his sister. But his plan to kill Hamlet will also mess up his reputation. He is getting revenge for the way that his family was treated, and he doesn’t think about what he is doing he just acts.

10) How might the dying lines of Gertrude, Claudius and Laertes be viewed as typical of the way their characters have been presented throughout the play?

Gertrude’s last words are to hamlet, because she is saying goodbye to the one thing that is important. I believe that she knew that the drink was poisonous and she drank so Hamlet wouldn’t. Claudius is reaching out to a kingdom that truly never supported him, in order to survive he needs that support which he has to beg for. It wasn’t until Laertes died that he realized that what he has done is wrong, and that Claudius is actually to blame, not Hamlet.

11) Who “wins” in Hamlet? How and why do you think this?

Fortinbras, he is the only character who actually got their true revenge and survived in the end.