Born: 1564 in Stratford- Upon- Avon
Died: 23 April 1616
Historical Contexts: Early Modern England- English Renaissance, The Golden Age, Renaissance Humanism, Humoural Theory, Theater Playhouses (indoor, outdoor, and liberty districts), Iambic Pentameter, and Blank Verse. [MJD]
Literary Contributions: Wrote many literary works and plays, such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet [Justin Time].
Shakespeare holds more citations in the Oxford Dctionary than any other writer. [Daniel Quinn]
Shakespeare inspired countless films, books, and other pieces of art. [Margaret Atwood]
Shakespeare father, John Shakespeae help official positions as alderman and baliff, an office resembling a mayor at the time. [Émile Durkheim]
Parents: Shakespeare was a son to John Shakespeare a glove-maker and Mary Arden [Madix]
Children ; Susanna born in 1583 and twins Hamnet and Judith born in 1585 [Madix]
An Elizebethan playhouse, called the Globe, was built in 1599, which Shakespeare wrote his original plays for. It was destoryed by a fire in 1613, rebuilt in 1614, and then finally demolished in 1644. This theater had the capacity to hold up to 3,000 spectators. This theater was lit by all natural lighting, so all plays were performed during daytime. It was located in Southwark, just outside of London. [Bronwyn]
Shakespeare is not a real person, and the name is a pseudonym. [Mark Twain]
Shakespeare was baptized when he was only 3 days old. [BRC]
Shakespeare played the role of the King Hamlet's Ghost in early performances. [BRC]
Shakespeare is not a single person, but a group of writers [MJD]
Shakespeare was born and died on the same date.
Shakespeare created hundreds of new words. [TM]
He was an uneducated middle-class man [Shepard H]
Shakespeare was famous and admired during his lifetime [Émile D]
Shakespeare was the face of the literary works and plays but it was actually a woman who wrote them all and could not publish them herself [ Justin Time]
Shakespeare's skull was stolen from his grave and sold [Hadi]
Shakespeare's plays are only for the elite [EA]
Shakespeare wrote in "Old English" when his plays are actually in Early Modern English which is far closer to what we speak today [Justin Time]
Shakespeare left his wife the "second best bed" in his will which left many to think he disliked her. [Dumb Lamb]
Shakespeare never travelled outside of England [EGN]
Shakespeare's work reflects his personal life [EGN]
Shakespeare wrote all his plays alone, without collaboration [C3N-N1N]
Shakespeare's manuscripts were carefully preserved [C3N-N1N]
Shakespeare was illiterate and could not sign his own name [JMD]
Shakespeare didn't exist, but rather was a fictional identity made up by the government [JMD]
It is rumored that the destruction of the original Shakespeare's Globe occured due to a prop cannon misfiring. [Bronwyn]
A rumor claims that he lost his eyesight and dictated his last plays , but theres no evidence to support this [Madix]
Shakespeare was buried standing upright [Hadi]
Shakespeare cursed his grave because he was deathly (lol) afraid of grave robbers [Hadi]
Shakespeare's play MacBeth was seen to be bad luck when performed in a theatre, also known as the "Scottish play curse" [LMW]
Which play written by Shakespeare is the most renowned? [Liery Darrsonich]
What are the three main types (genres) of plays he wrote? [ Margaret Atwood]
Why do people think Shakespeare didn't write his own plays? [Justin Time]
Why are so many of Shakespeare's tragedies filled with death? [Justin Time]
Which was Shakespeare's main influence to write plays? [Dumb Lamb]
What are some major themes that appear across Shakespeare’s works?[EGN]
How did Shakespeare's upbringing affect his works and the themes he conveyed through them? [JMD]
How was the mystery and mythical aspect of Shakespeare's life conveyed through media during his time? [JMD]
What did Shakeapeare do during the "lost years" (1585-1592)? [Acro Blue]
Did the layout of the Globe Theater in any way influence the details of Shakespear's plays? [Vic Von Frank]
What is the real story behind Shakespeare leaving his wife? [LMW]
Some lasting records disprove the theory that Shakespeare was not a real person, including his Will. [Mark Twain]
The three main genres that Shakespeare wrote included comedies, tragedies, and histories. Some examples (in order) are A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hamlet, and Richard III. [Margaret Atwood]
The most renowned Shakespeare plays include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. [Warren Peace]
People think that Shakespeare didn't write his plays because there is little documentation which leads to conspiracy theories [Justin Time]
Shakespeare's tragedies were filled with death becuase tragedy was a popular genre at the time [Justin Time]
Shakespeare's middle-class upbringing, classical education, and experience with family and social instability shaped his fascination with themes like power, social mobility, family conflict, and the fragility of social order. [JMD]
Some believe that William Shakespeare was an uneducated, middle-class man; this is actually not true. While he was considered middle-class, he was very educated for his age and time. It is widely believed that Shakespeare attended King’s New School, a prestigious grammar school in Stratford. [Shepherd H]
The first collection of all of Shakespeare's plays was published after his death. [MJD]
When Shakespeare was alive, Queen Elizabeth and King James I were in power in the English Renaissance and the Golden Age. [BRC]
Shakespeare usually wrote plays falling under either the tragedy, comedy, or history genre. [MJD]
Shakespeare invented/popularized many phrases that are commonly used even today, including "break the ice" when referring to the social context. [Mark Twain]
Shakespeare had a son named Hamnet who died of the plague at age 11. [Mark Twain]
Many of his plots were not original he adapted older stories and legends [Justin Time]
Women were not allowed on the stage so all the female roles were played by boys [Justin Time]
Shakespeare is responsible for making up over 1,700 words throughout his plays. [Dumb Lamb]
Shakespeare's original text had almost no stage directions [C3N-N1N]
Shakespeare was a part of a theatre company, Lord Chamberlain's Men, who preformed at a place called "The Theatre." [Liery Darrsonich]
Shakespeare retired to Stratford-upon-Avon around 1613, where he lived until his death in 1616.[ SR]
On Shakespeare's gravestone, there is a curse written on it: "...And cursed be he that moves my bones." [Liery Darrsonich]
William Shakespeare's father was a glove maker. Supposedly, this had a large influence on some of his later works, which included leather costumes and even mentioned leather gloves. [Shepherd H]
The longest word he used was "honorificabilitudinitatibus" in Henry V. [LMW]
The Lion King (1994) [TM]
Let the Devil Wear Black (1999) [TM]
Ophelia (2018) [EA]
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (1990) [Daniel Quinn]
Strange Brew (1983) [Daniel Quinn]
The Banquet (2006) [Émile Durkheim]
Zeffirelli's Hamlet (1990) [Mark Twain]
Hamlet (2000) [EA]
Son's of Anarachy (TV series 2008- 2014) [EGN]
Ophelia (1851-2) (a painting by John Millais) [Liery Darrsonich]
"The Fate of Ophelia" (2025) (a song by Taylor Swift) [Liery Darrsonich]
Haider (2014) [Acro Blue]
Ophelia (2018) [Acro Blue]
Grand Theft Hamlet (2024) [Bronwyn]
The Northman (2022) [Hadi]
Hamlet (2024) [SR]
"Murder of Gonzago" is a dumbshow used by Hamlet to prove Claudius's involvement in the murder of Hamlet's father. This is why "Murder of Gonzago" is referred to as "Mousetrap." [Warren Peace]
Hamlet and Fortinbras are literary foils because while they are in similar situations throughout the play, their contrasting qualities cause them to handle these situations differently. Hamlet is heavily influenced by Fortinbras's devotion throughout the play. [Warren Peace]
The New Variorum Shakespeare is currently in progress at Texas A&M! [MJD]
The original title was "The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark." [BRC]
In 2010, astronauts of the International Space Station celebrated Shakespeare’s birthday with a live reading of Hamlet. [BRC]
Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play. [Daniel Quinn]
Women have occasionally played the lead role of Hamlet. Sarah Siddons, who also played Lady Macbeth, played Hamlet nine times from 1775-1805. In 2000, Angela Winkler played Hamlet at the Edinburgh Festival. [Daniel Quinn]
Hamlet delays killing Claudius in Act III, Scene III because Claudius appears to be praying, which Hamlet believes would send Claudius’s soul to heaven.[SR]
I.i.
At Elsinore Castle in Denmark, guards Barnardo and Francisco are joined by Marcellus and Horatio, Prince Hamlet’s friend. They discuss a ghost that has appeared on earlier nights. The ghost soon appears again, looking exactly like the dead King Hamlet in armor. Horatio, though doubtful at first, sees it and admits it is real. He connects the appearance with Denmark’s tense situation: young Fortinbras of Norway plans to attack to recover lost lands. The ghost disappears without speaking, and the men decide to tell Prince Hamlet, hoping the spirit will reveal its purpose to him.
King Claudius addresses the court at Elsinore. He explains his recent marriage to Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, after the death of King Hamlet. Claudius then deals with state matters, sending messengers to Norway to stop Fortinbras’s planned attack. Laertes asks permission to return to France, which Claudius grants. Hamlet remains in deep mourning for his father and is bitter about his mother’s quick remarriage. Claudius criticises Hamlet’s grief as excessive and urges him to stay in Denmark rather than return to Wittenberg. Left alone, Hamlet laments his situation and condemns Gertrude’s hasty marriage. Horatio, Barnardo, and Marcellus enter to tell him about the ghost of his father. Shocked but eager, Hamlet agrees to join them that night to see the apparition himself. [GB]
In Polonius’s house, Laertes prepares to leave for France. He warns his sister Ophelia to be cautious with Hamlet’s affection, saying his love is likely fleeting and bound by duty. Ophelia agrees to be careful but tells him to follow his own advice. Their father Polonius enters, gives Laertes lengthy instructions on how to behave abroad and bids him farewell. Turning to Ophelia, Polonius orders her to break off contact with Hamlet, insisting his intentions are not serious and could damage her reputation. Ophelia promises to obey her father. [GB]
Hamlet joins Horatio and Marcellus on the castle battlements. From inside, they hear King Claudius drinking and celebrating, which Hamlet criticises as a Danish custom that harms the nation’s reputation. The ghost of Hamlet’s father then appears. It beckons Hamlet to follow, though Horatio and Marcellus try to stop him, fearing it may lead him to danger or madness. Hamlet insists on going after it, determined to learn why the spirit has appeared. He follows the ghost offstage, while his friends decide to pursue him. [GB]
The ghost reveals to Hamlet that he is the spirit of his dead father and explains that he was murdered, not killed by a snake as people believe. Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, poured poison into the king’s ear while he slept, seizing both crown and queen. The ghost commands Hamlet to seek revenge but warns him not to harm Gertrude, leaving her to heaven’s judgment. As dawn approaches, the ghost departs. Shaken and enraged, Hamlet swears to remember and obey. When Horatio and Marcellus rejoin him, he makes them swear secrecy on his sword, even as the ghost’s voice urges them to keep the vow. [GB]
Polonius meets with a servant of his named Reynaldo. Polonius instructs Reynaldo to deliver money and notes to Polonius’s son Laertes, who is in Paris. Polonius tells Reynaldo to find out what activities Laertes has been participating in. He suspects that Laertes, with the freedom of living away from home, has engaged in bad habits such as gambling, excessive drinking, and philandering. Ophelia then enters the room and tells her father Polonius that Hamlet had frightened her by invading her space. Polonius concludes that Hamlet is lovesick. [Warren Peace]
The King and Queen pay Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Hamlet’s childhood friends, to figure out why Hamlet has been acting so unusual. Polonius brings Voltemand and Cornelius to the King to inform him that King Norway will not let Denmark be threatened or invaded by Fortinbras. Polonius then explains to the King that he believes Hamlet has been acting so strange because his love for Ophelia has made him mad. He reads some love letters from Hamlet to Ophelia out loud for the King and Queen. Hamlet has a brief conversation with Polonius before meeting up with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern admit that they were sent by the King and Queen to investigate Hamlet. An acting group arrives at the castle and Hamlet requests that they perform “The Murder of Gonzago” the next day. Hamlet plans to use the play to watch the King’s reaction as a means to find out if Claudius killed Hamlet’s father because the play is similar to Hamlet’s situation with Hamlet’s added lines to the play. [Warren Peace]
Claudius and Polonius scheme to observe Hamlet with Ophelia to determine the cause of his madness, while Gertrude hopes her son’s troubles stem from love-sickness over Ophelia. Left alone, Hamlet delivers his “To be, or not to be” soliloquy, reflecting on action and inaction while grappling with the fear of the unknown that makes suffering bearable. When Ophelia approaches to return the poetic love letters that Hamlet wrote for her, he cruelly denies ever loving her and lashes out at women’s perceived deceit. He commands her to “get thee to a nunnery” and leaves Ophelia distraught as Claudius resolves to send Hamlet away. [GB]
III. ii
Hamlet is instructing his actors in their performance of the play-within-the-play, imploring them to take it seriously and emphasizing the importance of their understated performance. He wants them to be sure not to perform too flamboyantly, as this is a test being placed on King Claudius to evaluate his guilt. When the play gets to the poisoning scene, King Claudius stops the performance and storms out, which confirms his guilt in Hamlet's mind. Rozencrantz and Guildenstern approach Hamlet in an attempt to calm him, but he feels they are not his true friends and their words do not reach him. [Mark Twain]
Claudius asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to accompany Hamlet to England. Polonius enters and reminds the King of his plan to spy on Hamlet's interaction with Gertrude. Polonius then exits, and the King laments on his sins, saying that they "hath the primal eldest curse apon't." As he begins to pray for forgiveness, Hamlet sneaks in with his sword, intending to kill him and take revenge. However, he realizes that if he kills Claudius in prayer, it would not be fair. Instead, he decides to wait until Claudius is sinning again to kill him so that he will not go to heaven when he dies. Hamlet leaves, and the King finishes his prayer while lamenting that he was being insincere. [JMD]
Hamlet confronts his mother, and in doing so, frightens her. She calls for help, and Polonius reveals himself from his hiding place. Hamlet stabs and kills him under the false impression that he was actually Claudius. Hamlet then chastises his mother for her marriage to Claudius until the ghost reappears. The dead King instructs Hamlet to make amends with his mother and focus on his original task of killing Claudius. Hamlet then makes his mother promise not to tell Claudius that his feigned insanity was an act. She agrees and he leaves her, taking Polonius's body with him. [JMD]
Claudius walks in with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and sees that Gertrude is upset, he proceeds to ask her where Hamlet is. Gertrude asks Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to leave them for a bit, and then Gertrude explains what has happened. Gertrude says Hamlet is mad and he killed Polonius, thinking he was a spy. Claudius is frightened, thinking it could have easily been him who was killed, and is worried about everyone blaming them for not controlling Hamlet sooner. Gertrude tells Claudius that Hamlet took the body with him, she also says Hamlet was crying, he felt guilt. Claudius says Hamlet needs to be gone by the morning, and summons Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. He tells them what has happened and askes them to find Hamlet and bring him and the body to the chapel. Claudius tells Gertrude that they need to tell their most trusted advisors to derive a plan of what to do before any rumors spread. [MS]
Hamlet had safely finished hiding Polonius's body, when he heard Rosencrantz and Guildenstern calling his name. They ask Hamlet where the body is, he says that the body has been turned into dust, as we all will. Rozencrantz asked again about the body and Hamlet makes a comment that shes a sponge. Hamlet says that she is a sponge that soaks up all of the Kings approval and rewards and when the King is finished with her, he'll squeeze her dry and toss her to the side. Rosencrantz doesnt understand what Hamlet is saying, Hamlet responds saying shes too dull to understand sarcasm anyways. Rosencrantz insits that Hamlet reveals where the body is and comes with them to the King. Hamlet says Polonius is with the King is spirit and calls the King a meaningless nothing. Hamlet then says that the three of them can play hide and seek to find the body, making a joke of their situation. [MS]
Claudius enters with some of his attendants, he says it is dangerous for Hamlet to run free, but they cant just arrest him because the public loves him. Claudius says that this situation is an extreme and he wants Hamlet dead. Rosencrantz enters and tells Claudius that Hamlet did not reveal the location of the body. Hamlet is waiting outside, Claudius calls Hamlet inside and asks Hamlet again where the body is. Hamlet says he's at supper and Claudius is confused. Hamlet says Polonius is being eaten by worms. Hamlet mocks the Kings hierarchy, he says a man might fish with the worm that ate a king and then eat the fish that ate the worm. He is implying that life is full circle, Claudius doesnt need to flatter himself with titles. Claudius asks again where Polonius is and Hamlet says to follow his nose. Claudius orders his attendants to go find the body, he then tells Hamlet he is going to England immediately for his safety. Hamlet is sceptical of their intentions, but ultimately agrees. Claudius tells his attendants to follow Hamlet closely and get him on that ship immediately for he is leaving tonight. [MS]
Fortinbras and a caption enter with an army, Fortinbras orders his captain to go greet Claudius on his behalf. Fortinbras orders his soliders to leave, they all exit except the captain. Hamlet, Rosencrantz, and Guilderstern enter. Hamlet asks the captain whos army this was, captain responded saying it was Norway. Hamlet asks where they are going, the captain reveals to him that they are going to fight for a small part of Poland that holds little value, their just fighting for honor. Hamlet thanks the Captain and he leaves. Rosencrantz turns to Hamlet and asks him to go with them, Hamlet says he'll come in a moment but they can go ahead. The army passing through led Hamlet to have a realization. Hamlet says everything he sees remind him of how he has failed to act on behaf of his fathers murder. Hamlet wants to take revenge, he says he has the cause, will, and the means and if he doesn't act now, he may was well be an animal. He says, just look at the Fortinbras. Hes leading thousands of men into danger, risking everything for honor, and fortune. Hamlet is thinking if thousands of people can fight for a piece of land that wouldn't be able to bury them when their dead, then what about him? He says his thoughts will now be bloody or not worth thinking. [MS]
Gertrude and Horatio are talking about Ophelia. Ophelia wants to speak to the queen, Horatio is trying to convince the queen to speak to Ophelia because Ophelia has seemingly lost her mind. Ophelia comes in singing about death and a lost lover, showing ovbious signs of grief for her father and heartbreak over how Hamlet treated her. Claudius comes in and sees Ophelia in the state that shes in. He and Gertrude are concerned and asks Horatio to watch over her. Then a messenger comes in to let the king and queen know that Laertes is back in Denmark with a mob who is reffering to him as king. Laertes storms in and Claudius asks Laertes whats wrong. Laertes responds saying he wants to know what happened to his father and will kill any enemies to get revenge. Claudius takes this as an opportunity to tell Laertes that he didn't do it but he will help him find who did. Ophelia then returns again, still singing but this time shes's also handing out imaginary flowers, each flower meaning something different. Laertes says although Ophelia is acting out of madness, its all meaningful. Claudius calms Laertes down by assuring him that if he is guilty, Laertes can have throne and everything the King has, and if he is not guilty, justice will be brought to whoever killed Polonius. [MS]
Horatio receives letters from sailors sent by Hamlet. Hamlet explains that pirates attacked his ship on the way to England; he boarded their vessel and was taken prisoner, but they treated him well and returned him to Denmark. He asks Horatio to deliver letters to Claudius and to meet him quickly. The scene reveals Hamlet’s escape from Claudius’s plot and sets up his return for the final confrontation. [GB]
Claudius asking Laertes if he views them as friends since Hamlet killed Laertes's father and also tried to kill him. Laertes isnt understanding why Claudius has not taken any action against Hamlet since he is the king. Claudius says its for two reasons: his wife and the public. Laertes wants to get revenge against Hamlet, Claudius offers for them to work together to get rid of him. A messanger comes in bringing a letter from Hamlet addressed to the king. In this letter, Hamlet states that he is back in Denmark, unarmed. Claudius says it is now their chance to act, Laertes wants to make sure he is the one who kills Hamlet. Laertes is known for his skills as a fencer. Claudius proposes an idea of how to kill Hamlet, this is to have a friendly duel match between Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes will use a real sword with poison on the edge. They derive a backup plan of a poisoned-drink for Hamlet if he got thirsty during the match. The queen then enters the room with news. The queen reveals that she saw Ophelia making flower garlands and climbing a willow tree. The willow tree was above a stream, she fell in and drowned. Laertes is shocked by this news and he leaves. Claudius wants for him and Gertrude to follow Laertes to keep him from doing anything crazy. [MS]
Two gravediggers darkly joke about death while digging Ophelia’s grave, debating whether her apparent suicide deserves Christian burial while noting that gentility is in burial’s favour. Hamlet and Horatio arrive; Hamlet muses on the skulls, reflecting on mortality and the fate of great figures reduced to dust. He learns one skull belonged to Yorick, the court jester he knew as a child. The funeral procession enters, and Hamlet realises the grave is for Ophelia. Laertes leaps into the grave in grief; Hamlet follows, and the two clash, exposing their rival claims of love and escalating the conflict that will drive the final act.
Act V, scene 2 starts out with Hamlet and Horatio entering the scene. Hamlet discusses with Horatio on how he stole letters from Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. One of the letters was a letter addressed to the King of England from King Claudius. The letter contained details of a plan to murder Hamlet by cutting off his head. Hamlet hands the letter over to Horatio so he can look it over. He continues on narrating his story to Horatio by telling him of his scheme of rewriting the letter to the King of England. In the letter, pretending to be King Claudius, Hamlet wrote to the King of England saying that he hopes that peace and love would flourish between the two countries. He then instructs the King to kill the men who delivered the letter to him. Horatio then asks how he sealed the letter. Hamlet explains that he had his father’s ring that had a seal of Denmark on it and used that to seal the letter. Hamlet then replaced the letter with his new one. Hamlet’s new letter scheme will then result in the death of Guildenstern and Rosencrantz since they were the ones set to deliver the letter from the King. Hamlet says he doesn’t feel guilty for sending them to their deaths as he feels that they did this to themselves. Hamlet continues to talk to Horatio, justifying his plan to kill the King. Hamlet also says that he sees his cause of revenge reflected in Laertes and that he hopes that he can win Laertes over. Osric, a courtier, enters the scene. Osric welcomes Hamlet back into Denmark. Osric then relays a message from King Claudius. Osric states that the King has placed a bet on him, a bet of six Barbary horses, six French light swords and daggers, and three carriages. The King made the bet that in a dozen rounds, Hamlet wouldn’t be beat by more than three hits. Hamlet tells Osric that he will take a walk in the hall and that if the King is insistent on the fight and Laertes is willing to do it, then the foils (or swords) should be brought to him. Orsic leaves and a Lord enters. The Lord relays the question from the King whether or not Hamlet would like to fight with Laertes now or wait awhile longer. Hamlet says it's whatever the King prefers. The Lord replies that the King, Queen and everyone else are coming down to watch. The Lord then says that the Queen requests that Hamlet use gentle entertainment to Laertes before the match. The Lord then leaves. Horatio says to Hamlet that he will lose the bet. Hamlet rejects this idea saying that since Laertes left to France that he’s been practicing his swordsmanship and that he will win at the odds. However, he does state that he has a bad feeling in his heart. Horatio tells Hamlet that if his mind is making him doubt, then he should obey it. Hamlet tells Horatio that if he dies, he dies and to let the situation be. Claudius, Gertrude, Laertes, and other lords enter. Claudius asks Hamlet to shake the hand of Laertes. Hamlet asks Laertes for forgiveness, saying that he is being punished by insanity. Laertes says that he is satisfied with this, but will not accept his apology until he is certain that his reputation will remain unstained. Hamlet says he accepts this and asks for the foils. Hamlet then tries to fool Laertes by downplaying his skill. Claudius says that since Laertes is the better swordsman that the fight will be fought with odds. Claudius also says he will drink for Hamlet’s health and will throw a pearl into the cup. Hamlet and Laertes begin their duel. Claudius asks for some wine and throws the pearl in, telling Hamlet that the pearl is his and toasts to his health. Claudius wants to give Hamlet the cup, but Hamlet wants to finish the round and sets the wine down. Gertrude calls Hamlet fat and out of breath. She then drinks from the cup with the pearl. Claudius tries to warn her, but she drinks from the poisoned cup anyways. Gertrude goes to wipe Hamlet’s face as Laertes tells Claudius that he’s going to hit Hamlet now, although he secretly feels like it goes against his morals. Hamlet and Laertes return to fighting, which turns into an actual fight, causing Laertes to wound Hamlet and Hamlet to wound Laertes. Gertrude then collapses. Laertes says that he’s been killed by his own treachery and then collapses. Hamlet asks about Gertrude and Claudius says that she fainted from the blood. Gertrude speaks and says she’s been poisoned and dies. Hamlet says to find the traitor, however, Laertes reveals that it is him who is the traitor and that both he and Hamlet will also die soon. Laertes says Claudius is to blame. Hamlet uses the poisoned sword to wound Claudius. Hamlet also forces Claudius to drink from the poisoned wine and tells him to follow his mother. Laertes says to Hamlet that his death and his father’s death are not on Hamlet and Hamlet death is not on Laertes. Laertes dies soon after. Hamlet tells Horatio to tell his story to everyone. Horatio is tempted to drink from it, but Hamlet takes the cup away. A military march is then heard in the distance. Osric says that Fortinbras is returning from Poland and fires his cannons in greeting. Hamlet tells Horatio that he’s giving Fortinbras his dying vote for the Danish Crown and to tell him the story of what happened. Hamlet dies soon after this. Fortinbras and the English Ambassador come in to tell Claudius that Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are dead. Horatio tells them that he’ll recount the story of how everyone ended up dead. Fortinbras realizes he has a claim to the throne. Horatio urges everyone to hear the story now. Fortinbras wants Hamlet to be carried away like a soldier to the stage and says he likely would’ve been a good king. He says the sight of the room was fit for a battlefield, but in this setting shows that much has gone wrong. He then orders the soldiers to fire their cannons. [EA]