Hamlet Notes ~ Act V Scene II

Scene II:

• (Hamlet tells about how he escaped and is now back) > found Claudius' commissionaire (the one that told the English to kill Hamlet) and forged a new one
• New commissionaire > instead of killing Hamlet, kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern > "He should the bearers put to sudden death."
• Hamlet finally realizes the distress, his once friend, Laertes must be under > wants to explain the situation to him > Hamlet does not know how far off Laertes is
• Osric > hat situation > stuck between showing respect for Hamlet as prince, or following orders from Hamlet as prince ~> REAL MISSION: invite Hamlet to his death, to the fencing match
• Hamlet agrees, casually, knowing that Claudius has placed a bet on him> then has second thoughts knowing that his relationship with Laertes is not good at this time > Horatio wants to say Hamlet is sick > Hamlet tells him to "let it gooo"
• King, Queen, attendants come in with Laertes
• Hamlet shakes hands with Laertes and apologizes, blames his "madness" for his action > Laertes accepts but says he wants to defend his honor
• Hamlet does not check the protection on the swords, accepting any, while Laertes makes sure he gets the correct one > Claudius setting up the backup plan: says he will drink to Hamlet
• They battle, Hamlet being a better fencer > Claudius throws the poisoned pearl in Hamlet's cup and tells him to drink for the two matches he has won, Hamlet refuses and instead Gertrude drinks
• Claudius did not intend to stop Gertrude from drinking, allowed her to swallow her death
• Laertes takes advantage of the moment that Gertrude wipes Hamlet's brow to stab him > Hamlet takes his sword and repays him the cut
• Gertrude collapses and admits it was the drink > Laertes also confesses about the poisoned sword, blaming the King
• Hamlet attacks the King, wounds him and forces him to drink the poison
• In their final minutes Laertes and Hamlet forgive each other
• Hamlet stops Horatio from drinking the poison (BRAVE, unlike Claudius), and tells him that he wants his story to be told
• Fortinbras returning from his victory in Poland > Hamlet says he will probably (should be) King
• Horatio is to tell Fortinbras what occurred
• Horatio tells Fortinbras to put the bodies high on a stage > Fortinbras agrees to pay Hamlet the highest tribute, that of a soldier, cannons to be shot off