StudyNotes.ie

‘I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers

Could not with all their quantity of love

Make up my sum.’

Hamlet to Claudius

5.1

A declaration of love by the graveside.  Genuine?

‘He that hath killed my king and whored my

mother’

Hamlet to Horatio 5.2

A lucid and blunt analysis being revealed to his

friend - the madness seems to have gone?

‘… this canker of our nature’ Hamlet to Horatio 5.2

A metaphor describing Claudius as a disease of

humanity.

‘… I will gain nothing but my shame and the

odd hits.’

Hamlet to Osric 5.2

Dramatic irony in this prose.   The audience know

that Hamlet is bound to be killed.

‘You will lose, my lord’ Horatio to Hamlet 5.2

A knowing prophesy contrasting with Hamlet’s

belief that the fight will be a minor event.

‘Give me your pardon, sir, I’ve done you

wrong’

Hamlet to Laertes 5.2

He confesses his guilt to Laertes and asks for

forgiveness - gaining sympathy from the audience.

‘… I here proclaim was madness’ Hamlet to Laertes 5.2 Trying to excuse his actions.

‘I do receive your offered love like love,

And will not wrong it’

Laertes to Hamlet 5.2

A pretence at accepting Hamlet’s apology -

however, the audience know his intentions.

‘Our son shall win’ Claudius to Gertrude 5.2

Ironically suggesting that he cares about Hamlet,

although he has planned his murder.

‘Gertrude, do not drink!’ Claudius to Gertrude 5.2

A feeble attempt by a husband to prevent his wife

being poisoned.

‘I am justly killed with mine own treachery.’ Laertes to Osric 5.2

A dying Laertes acknowledges that he was morally

wrong.

‘… O my dear Hamlet! … I am poisoned’

Gertrude to Hamlet

5.2

Her dying words of affection and warning (?) are to

Hamlet - only now perhaps does she believe in

Claudius’ guilt.

‘… the King’s to blame’ Laertes to Court 5.2 Ensures that all know of his guilt.

‘… thou incestuous, murderous, damned

Dane / Drink off this potion.’

Hamlet to Claudius 5.2 The climax of Hamlet’s wrath against Claudius.
‘… the rest is silence.’ Hamlet to Horatio 5.2 Hamlet’s final words.   Ambiguity.

‘… Good night sweet prince,

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’

Horatio about Hamlet 5.2

A suitably poignant farewell from Hamlet’s closest

friend.  Sure to elicit tears from an audience.

‘Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage’ Fortinbras to Horatio 5.2

He insists that Hamlet is carried with due

ceremony.