Hamlet Act 5 Scene 1 & 2

Act V, scene i begins with two gravediggers shoveling out a grave for Ophelia. However, the two contemplate Ophelia's death by saying that she simply does not deserve a Christian burial because of her apparent suicide. Horatio and Hamlet shortly appear in the graveyard and Hamlet curiously asks whose grave it is that is being dug. It is obvious that the gravedigger is unaware of who Hamlet is as he begins to gossip about Hamlet, while also saying that he has been a gravedigger since "the very day that young Hamlet was born" (V.i. 123-124).

Soon enough, Horatio and Hamlet witness the funeral procession for Ophelia, as Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes, and others enter the churchyard. It takes Hamlet some time to realize who it is who has died, but once he sees Laertes leaping into her grave to hold her in his arms one last time, he is assured that it is Ophelia's burial. This is when Hamlet declares his love for Ophelia as he says "I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers could not with all their quantity of love make up my sum." (V. i. 235-236).

Conflict arises in the churchyard among Laertes and Hamlet, and the following day, Claudius sends Osric to tell Hamlet that he would like Laertes to fence with Hamlet. Hamlet agrees to fight and from here, all is doomed. Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup, Laertes is poisoned by his own sword, Claudius is forced to drink the remains left in the cup, while Hamlet also manages to die. Soon after, Fortinbras appears to tell Horatio that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have been executed. Talk about a gruesome ending!