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Foreshadowing In Hamlet

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In “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, there is death from the very beginning. From the very first death mentioned--that of the late king--to that of the very last death, that of Hamlet himself, death is a constant theme and is always mentioned throughout the play. However, in the last two scenes of Act 5, the final act, death is very much present. With how Act 5, Scene 1, opens, some consider this a foreshadowing of all the death and pain that is to occur throughout the rest of the final act.

Act 5 of “Hamlet” starts by presenting two drunk gravediggers digging a grave to the audience, the very first sign of death to appear in the act. They jest as they dig Ophelia’s grave, wondering if she committed suicide like they’d heard, even though …show more content…

The first character to die is Queen Gertrude, who drank from the poisoned cup and reveals the king’s treachery by promptly announcing the wine was poisoned and then by dying. Laertes manages to strike Hamlet with the poisoned tip of his sword but then accidentally cuts himself. He declares it fitting that he die by his own sword’s treachery, and declares that the king was treacherous in his dealings, and that it was he who poisoned the cup and poisoned the sword. Hamlet finally exacts his revenge of his father’s death by stabbing Claudius with the poisoned sword tip and then forcing him to drink the rest of the poisoned wine. And, with the king and queen both dead, Laertes and Hamlet make amends just before Laertes draws his final breath. Hamlet follows the others into death soon thereafter, after making Horatio promise to tell the people what really happened.

In conclusion, “Hamlet” Act 5, Scenes 1-2, is littered with death, as is the rest of the play. By the end of the play, the total number of people who have perished is ten, if the late King Hamlet is counted. However, in just the final act alone, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Queen Gertrude, King Claudius, and Hamlet make up five of the deaths, while the deaths of Polonius and Ophelia are heavily mentioned and referenced in the final act. With how Act 5, Scene 1, opens, some consider this a foreshadowing of all the death and pain that is to occur throughout the rest of the final

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