In Act 5 Scene 1 of Hamlet by,Williams Shakespeare, Hamlet faces Yorick’s skull as a symbolism of death which leads to the epiphany that in order to develop life, the idea of death needs to be discovered. This scene enables Hamlet to confront the world he is living in Act 5 Scene 2. He once existed outside Claudius’s fake world and thought that he was above it ,but he cannot resist getting drawn into it. Hamlet’s readiness to accept the world he lives in and the fact that he must avenge his father’s unjustifiable death is inferred when he says, “There is <a>/ special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be/ <now> ‘tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be/ now; if it be not now, yet it <will> come. The/ readiness is all. Since no man of aught he leaves/ know, what is’t to leave bedtimes? Let be.”(5.2 233-238).The result of Hamlet’s death at the end of the play causes by his acceptance of the world he lives in. He is ultimately consumed by the play.
At the beginning of Act 5 Scene 2 Hamlet sends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to die by forging letters of how Claudius has requested for their deaths. This action is a result of him finding out that they are bearing a letter that demands for him to be killed as soon as he reaches England. Instead of simply tearing that letter and never acknowledging its presence, Hamlet chooses to go down the path of revenge, to fulfill his quest, which marks a significant change in Hamlet’s character. Hamlet’s actions in this situation are aligned with his previous characteristics as he is indirect. But, his dismissal towards their lives reveals how Hamlet has accepted the world he is living in and has started employing its tactics of cold-blooded murder. The calculation and premeditation that went into Hamlet’s plan to have Guildenstern and Rosencrantz murdered shocks Horatio. He says, “So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to’t”.(5.2 63) Horatio acts as Hamlet’s conscience in this situation as he see’s his friend spiraling out of control in this world where he doesn’t belong. He wants Hamlet to see that his decision to have Guildenstern and Rosencrantz murdered is harsh and not the person who he truly is. Hamlet responds to Horatio by saying, “Why, man, they did make love to this employment.>/ They are not near my conscience. Their defeat/ Does by their own insinuation grow./ ‘Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes/ Between the pass and fell incensèd points/ Of mighty opposites.”(5.2 64-69) Hamlet does not feel guilty about his actions, instead he thinks that they were asking for it. This alludes to the idea that Hamlet has grown action oriented towards his quest for revenge against Claudius. He will murder anyone who tries to intercept his ultimate goal, and is not afraid of the consequences.
In the middle of Act 5 Scene 2, Hamlet is introduced to Osric, who is one of Claudius’s pawns. He represents how Claudius’s reign has led to the demise of Denmark. The audience views his conversation with as humorous as they argue back and forth,
Osric: I think your Lordship; it is very hot
Hamlet: No believe me, ‘tis very cold; the wind is northerly
Osric: It is indifferent cold, my lord indeed.
Hamlet: But yet methinks it is very <sultry> and hot <for> my complexion.
Osric: Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry as ‘twere- I cannot tell how.(5.2 116-112) Hamlet indulges in talking to Osric as it will help him attain the quest of the play. His acceptance has helped him put everything on the line, and make avenging his father’s death his main goal. It is not that the play has blinded his power to previously decipher the line between being manipulated by Claudius and acts of kindness. He is still cautious about being manipulated by Claudius and his pawns, but is not afraid of their power. In Act 3 Scene 1 he struggled with the concept of death and afterlife when he says, “ But that the dread of something after death.”(3.1 86) But, now he is ready to sacrifice his life by participating in the duel. The previous Hamlet would not have been subject to have a duel against Laertes, as he would have been afraid to confront the possibility of death. At one point when talking to Horatio Hamlet does have a feeling that something bad will happen, but then dismisses it when he says, “ I shall win at the/ odds; <but> thou wouldst not think how ill all’s here/ about my heart. But it is no matter.” (5.2 225-227) Now Hamlet has priorities, and he wants to take action soon before it is too late. His decision to duel is the right one as it leads to Claudius’s death. Horatio also urges Hamlet to listen to his instinct when he says, “ If your mind dislike anything, obey it. I will/ forestall their repair hither and say you are not fit.”(231-232) He decides to go against his instinct and Horatio’s trustworthy advice by fighting in the duel that leads to his death, as he is not afraid of death anymore. He has finally confronted it head on.
Hamlet sees a version of himself in Laertes and comes to the conclusion that to release himself from living in a world where he wallows around in self hatred , he must forgive Laertes and be forgiven himself when he says, “Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong;/ But pardon ’t as you are a gentleman. This presence/ knows.”(5.2 240-242) This change in forgiving Laertes and wanting to be forgiven stems from Hamlets acceptance of the play that he is in and ultimately avenging his father’s death. Therefore it enables Hamlet to reconcile the conflicting aspects of his own nature, freeing himself from his conscience which was previously holding him back to take immediate action to fulfill his ultimate goal.
At the start of the duel Hamlet realizes that this duel is serious and entails the possibility of death, not just play. He stays focused and doesn’t let the looming idea of death faze him. After his acceptance of the play Hamlet sees Laertes as his last hurdle to overcome before finally killing Claudius, avenging his father’s death. He understands the direness of this situation and how winning the duel will enable him to make progress towards his quest. Therefore, when Claudius offers him wine he responds saying, “I’ll play this bout first. Set it by awhile./ Come. [They play.] Another hit.What say you?.”(5.2 309-310) Claudius doesn’t drink the wine as it might disorient him in a situation that needs his full concentration. He doesn’t want any distractions as it is critical for him to succeed in his quest. Laertes revelation “It is here Hamlet. Hamlet thou art slain./ No medicine in this world can do thee good./ In thee there is not half an hours life./ The treacherous instrument is in <thy> hand,/ Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice./ Hath turn’d itself on me. Lo here I lie,/ Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poison’d./ I can no more. The King, the King’s to blame”(5.2 344-351) pushes Hamlet to the edge, enabling him to finally conquer his long sought out quest.
At the end of the book Hamlet finally reaches his ultimate goal . After everything Claudius has put him through and says,“Here, thou incestuous, <murderous,> damnèd Dane,/Drink off this potion. Is <thy union> here?/Follow my mother.”(5.2 356-358) This is marked as Hamlet’s breaking point. He cannot hide from and ignore Gertrude and Laertes deaths which accelerate him into killing Claudius. He needed to see physical proof of Claudius’s immoral action instead of following the ghosts word blindly. His acceptance of the world that is decaying under the rule of Claudius enables him to murder him with a roused revenge, fulfilling his ultimate quest. Hamlet has squashed the root of manipulation, and cause of prevalent evil in Denmark.This liberates Hamlet as he is now free of being taken advantage of by Claudius.
Hamlet's death is the final of the numerous deaths in the scene. His death does not dominate the play as it is a mere product of fulfilling his quest. Hamlet is not afraid of death as he dies, but is afraid that the story of why he embarked on his quest will not be told. He dies peacefully as he gives Horatio the responsibility to be the conduit for his words as he says, “Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee.-/ I am dead, Horatio.- Wretched queen, adieu.-/ You that look pale and tremble at this chance,/ That are but mutes or audience to this act,/Had I but time(as fell sergeant, Death, Is strict in his arrest), O, I could tell you-/But let it be.- Horatio, I am dead./ Thou livest; report me and my cause aright/ To the unsatisfied.” ( 5.2 364-372) Hamlet feels redeemed in his life, and therefore is not condescending about the idea of death that succeeds his redemption
Overall Hamlet is a hero as he sacrifices himself for his father and country. He takes the responsibility to be the one to right all the poison Claudius spreads. Hamlet is finally a warrior. Like Achilles son Pyrrhus Hamlet has stopped living in denial, “So as a painted tyrant Pyrrhus stood/ <And> like a neutral to his will and matter,/ Did nothing.”(2.2 113) After halting Pyrrhus took revenge and killed King Priam aggressively. Hamlet has overcome his fear and killed Claudius. And just like Pyrrhus he will be respected in his afterlife by Horatio and Fortinbras defending his reputation. The numerous deaths in Act 5 Scene 2 cannot be attached to Hamlet as he was oblivious to the poison that Claudius had spread. Hamlet’s quest was moral, and he should be respected as a hero.