ACT V, 1: THE FUNERAL
After Hamlet has completed his philosophical views that were stimulated by finding the skull of Yorick, the mourners for the funeral appear. King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, a priest, and others enter. Servants carrying the coffin of Ophelia enter as well. Hamlet and Horatio stand aside so that they are not seen by Laertes and the others.
Some religious commentary or criticism also appears at this point. The priest expresses his doubts about allowing Ophelia, a suicide victim, to be buried on church property (lines 209-21). But Laertes angrily criticizes the priest and tells him that Ophelia will be an angel in heaven while the priest will end up in hell after his death (lines 223-25). Although Laertes is angry and speaks emotionally, he is also making a subtle point. Many ministers or priests were hypocrites who acted in a manner that was unreligious. But such ministers still felt or believed that they were morally or spiritually superior to others. Shakespeare is suggesting that a virtuous girl like Ophelia, even if she did kill herself, is far more likely to end up in heaven than a sinful minister who confesses his sins just before his death. Shakespeare takes a more pragmatic (practical or sensible) view in contrast to that of Catholic belief. What is important to Shakespeare is not how one acted in the final minutes before his death but how he has acted over the entire course of his lifetime.
As the body of Ophelia is being laid in the grave, Laertes becomes extremely emotional and even leaps into the grave to say farewell to Ophelia one last time (line 235). Hamlet, who is perhaps envious that Laertes is displaying such a strong emotion upon the death of a family member, leaps into the grave with Laertes. Hamlet here does take an action based on his emotions (rather than his thoughts). But the action is ill-timed. Laertes, who blames Hamlet for the death of Polonius and wants vengeance, grabs Hamlet by the throat (line 245). The two angry men struggle until some guards separate them. Hamlet also makes an emotional and angry speech in which he declares his sorrow for Ophelia (259-69). Hamlet indicates that he can be and will be far more emotional than Laertes on this occasion.
King Claudius dismisses Hamlet’s emotional words as another indication of his madness. And the king informs Laertes to hold his wrath until the fencing match takes place.
ACT V, 2: OF ROSENCRANTZ AND
GUILDENSTERN
The final scene of the play begins with a conversation between Hamlet and Horatio. Hamlet tells Horatio about what had happened on board the ship that was going to England. On one particular night, Hamlet was troubled and could not sleep. He got up from his cot or bed and went to the bag belonging to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. From it Hamlet took the commission (the document or letter) written by King Claudius to the King of England. And there Hamlet read that King Claudius demanded that the King of England should immediately sentence Hamlet to death and cut off his head (line 26).
Hamlet quickly seized the king’s commission
and wrote up a new one, a forgery, to put in its place. In this fake document King Claudius demands that the King of England put the bearers (those who are bearing or carrying the message) to an immediate death (line 47). Obviously, the bearers of that message are none other than Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet thus gets an appropriate vengeance against his former schoolfellows who were attempting to lead him to his own death. Of course, Hamlet still has not taken his revenge against Claudius. Yet Hamlet still sees revenge as the proper course of action: “is’t not perfect conscience to quit him with this arm?” (68-69). The word quit here stands for requite. And requite here means to pay Claudius back for what he has done. It means to get revenge.