Act V, Scene 1 Summary and Analysis

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A gravedigger and a laborer enter and begin digging Ophelia’s grave. They discuss whether or not it is proper that Ophelia is getting a Christian burial given that she appears to have taken her own life (according to religious doctrine, those who commit suicide may not be afforded Christian burials). The laborer remarks that it’s a pity that the rich and powerful are forgiven for killing themselves, while their fellow Christians are not. The two men joke with one another as Hamlet and Horatio watch from a distance.

Observing the gravedigger carelessly tossing skulls aside, Hamlet wonders who these skeletons were in life. Hamlet approaches the gravedigger and asks whose grave he is digging. The gravedigger engages in wordplay with Hamlet, first telling him that, as he is the one digging it, the grave is his own. He then says that the grave belongs to neither a man nor a woman, as men and women are living, and the grave is for a member of the dead. The gravedigger, who does not recognize Hamlet, says that he has been working since Old Hamlet killed King Fortinbras thirty years ago—incidentally, the same day that Prince Hamlet was born. Hamlet asks how long dead bodies take to rot, and the gravedigger points out a nearby skull that is twenty-three years old, belonging to Yorick, the former king’s court jester. Recalling fond childhood memories of playing with Yorick, Hamlet is dismayed by the sight of his skull. This disturbing image prompts Hamlet to realize that all men must eventually die and turn to dust, and he speculates that even famous men such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar may have ended up as clay used to plug up a barrel of beer or fill in a hole in a wall.

Just then, the queen and king enter, followed by a priest, Laertes, and Ophelia’s coffin. Hamlet and Horatio hide to watch the procession. Observing the “maimed” funeral rites, Hamlet tells Horatio that the high-ranking person in the coffin must have committed suicide. Laertes urges the priest to perform the complete burial ceremonies (which would include the singing of a funeral dirge) and is angered when the priest claims that he has already bent the rules for Ophelia’s burial and refuses to “profane the service of the dead” further by giving full funeral rites to someone who has killed themselves. Overhearing this exchange, Hamlet is shocked when he finally realizes that the person being buried is Ophelia. Full of anger and grief, Laertes jumps into Ophelia’s grave and tells those assembled to bury him with his beloved sister. Enraged by Laertes’s ostentatious show of grief, Hamlet comes out of hiding and, after briefly scuffling with Laertes, declares that he loved Ophelia more than “forty thousand brothers” ever could. The two young men are forcibly separated, and the king and queen urge Laertes to ignore Hamlet’s mad ravings about the things he would do for Ophelia, such as drink vinegar or eat a crocodile. Claudius asks Laertes to be patient, urging him to remember their plan for revenge.

Analysis:

The two peasants’ irreverent approach to death sharply contrasts with Hamlet’s serious and philosophical reflection on the subject. It is through the gravedigger and the laborer that we learn that Ophelia’s death can be—and likely has been—interpreted by the rest of the court as a suicide rather than an accident. Hamlet imagines a nearby skull to be the skull of a lawyer, wondering, “Where be his quiddities now, his quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks?” In other words, Hamlet is dismayed by the thought that in death, the qualities that make one unique are lost. Hamlet expands upon this idea when he sees the skull of someone he truly did know: Yorick, the late court jester (“Where be your gibes / now, your gambols, your songs, your flashes of merriment"). Perhaps overcome by the physical evidence of death that surrounds him, Hamlet is crippled by the realization that even the most noble and great men end up as nothing more than dust: “may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till he / find it stopping a bung-hole?” This scene's focus on the somber reality of death sets the stage for the series of deaths that will occur in the final scene of the play.

Hamlet’s reaction to the news that Ophelia is dead brings up several questions. Though Hamlet earlier acted disgusted with Ophelia—and, indeed, with all women—he appears to be filled with genuine grief at the news of her passing, suggesting that perhaps he really did love her. However, the poignancy of Hamlet’s feelings is somewhat overshadowed by his actions in this scene as he rudely interrupts Ophelia’s funeral and fights with Laertes over who is more grieved by her death: “Forty thousand brothers / Could not with all their quantity of love / Make up my sum.” While Hamlet’s sorrow may certainly be real, he demonstrates hypocrisy in criticizing Laertes’s ostentatious show of sadness right before making a scene himself.

For his part, Laertes is obviously distraught over Ophelia’s death, declaring that she will be a “minist’ring angel” compared to the priest who refuses to give her full burial rites. Some scholars believe that Laertes’s relationship with Ophelia has incestual undertones, in large part due to his frequent references to her virginity and his extreme reaction to her death. Hamlet and Laertes’s oddly competitive argument over Ophelia’s coffin seems to lend credence to that interpretation. Hamlet never seems to consider his own role in Ophelia’s demise, making his behavior at her grave appear all the more insensitive. Ultimately, Hamlet’s outburst in this scene highlights his tendencies toward egocentricity and arrogance. By simultaneously making Ophelia’s funeral about himself and discounting the legitimacy of others’ grief altogether, Hamlet leaves the audience with little sympathy for him.

Expert Q&A

What is the meaning of Hamlet's quote from act 5, scene 1?

"Hear you, sir; What is the reason that you use me thus? I lov’d you ever: but it is no matter; Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew, and dog will have his day"

Hamlet's quote from act 5, scene 1, means that even someone as strong as Hercules cannot alter fate. Hamlet directs this at Laertes during Ophelia's funeral to indicate that Laertes' actions, no matter how dramatic, will not bring Ophelia back. It also suggests that Hamlet remains committed to his goal of avenging his father's murder, despite the tragic events.

What is significant about Hamlet calling himself "Hamlet the Dane" in act 5, scene 1?

Hamlet calling himself "Hamlet the Dane" in act 5, scene 1 signifies his claim to the throne, asserting himself as the rightful king of Denmark. This declaration, driven by rage at Laertes, contrasts with his earlier philosophical musings on life and status. It raises questions about Hamlet's motivations, suggesting his desire for kingship may have influenced his actions against Claudius.

Why do two clowns trade jokes in Act 5, Scene 1 of Hamlet? Do their jokes make sense within the play's context?

The clowns in Act 5, Scene 1 of Hamlet provide comic relief after the somber events of Act 4, offering the audience a respite and preparing them for more drama ahead. Their jokes critique social inequality and the privileging of Ophelia's Christian burial despite her presumed suicide, highlighting themes of class disparity. Additionally, their discourse mocks intellectualism and Hamlet's philosophical musings, playfully undermining serious existential questions with humor.

What is the significance of the quote "If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial" in Hamlet, Act 5, Scene 1?

The quote "If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o' Christian burial" signifies that Ophelia received a Christian burial due to her social status, not the nature of her death. The Gravediggers suggest that if she had not been wealthy, she would not have been afforded this privilege, highlighting the influence of socio-economic status over religious principles.

Why does Act 5, Scene 1 of Hamlet begin with two clowns?

Act 5, Scene 1 of Hamlet begins with two clowns to provide comic relief and to inform the audience about Ophelia's death. Their conversation clarifies that Ophelia will receive a Christian burial despite suspicions of suicide. The scene lightens the mood after the intense events of Act 4, while also allowing Hamlet to explore the theme of death through humorous banter.

What literary devices are used in this excerpt from act 5, scene 1, of Shakespeare's Hamlet?

Imperious Caesar, dead and turn’d to clay,

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away

O that that earth which kept the world in awe

Should patch a wall to expel the winter’s flaw.

In this excerpt, Shakespeare employs several literary devices. Apostrophe is used as Hamlet addresses the dead, reflecting on the inevitability of death. Personification is evident as the earth is said to "keep the world in awe" and winter is described with a "flaw." Alliteration appears in the repetition of the "w" sound in words like "which," "world," "wind," and "away." Lastly, metaphor is used by comparing Caesar to clay that might plug a hole.

How does Queen Gertrude describe Hamlet's madness in Act 5, Scene 1?

In Act 5, Scene 1, Queen Gertrude describes Hamlet's madness as temporary, suggesting it will pass soon. She observes his erratic behavior during his confrontation with Laertes at Ophelia's grave, but believes his "fit" of madness will subside, comparing him to a patient dove. Unlike Claudius and Laertes, Gertrude is sympathetic and defends Hamlet, indicating her belief that he will return to a calmer state after some reflection.

Analyze Horatio's statement "Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness" from Hamlet, act 5, scene 1.

Horatio's statement "Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness" suggests that the gravedigger is so accustomed to his work that he feels no emotion while performing it. This reflects the theme of death's inevitability and the desensitization to it over time. Hamlet's encounter with Yorick's skull further deepens his understanding that all life, regardless of status, ends in death, aiding him in accepting his own fate and pursuit of revenge.

Why does Shakespeare begin and end Hamlet's act 5, scene 1 in the graveyard?

Shakespeare begins and ends Act 5, Scene 1 of Hamlet in a graveyard to emphasize the theme of death and foreshadow the play's tragic ending. The setting reflects on mortality, highlights past deaths, particularly Ophelia's, and introduces humor through the gravediggers. It provides a dramatic backdrop for Hamlet and Laertes' confrontation, allows Hamlet to reminisce about Yorick, and sets the stage for the final act by gathering key characters.

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