Student Question

How do characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet meet their end?

Quick answer:

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, King Hamlet is poisoned by Claudius. Polonius is stabbed by Hamlet, and Ophelia drowns, possibly by suicide. Gertrude drinks poison intended for Hamlet. Claudius is stabbed and poisoned by Hamlet. Laertes is killed by a poisoned sword, as is Hamlet himself. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are executed in England due to a note from Hamlet ordering their deaths.

Expert Answers

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King Hamlet (Hamlet Jr's father): Claudius (his brother and Hamlet Jr's uncle) kills him by pouring poison in his ear.


Polonius: Polonius is stabbed through a tapestry by Hamlet. 


Ophelia: Ophelia drowns after Hamlet seems to reject her while acting mad. It is implied that this is suicide.


Gertrude: Claudius attempts to poison Hamlet, but Gertrude drinks the poison instead.


Claudius: Claudius is stabbed with a poisonous sword, then is forced to drink the rest of the poison that Gertrude drank (the poison had been meant for Hamlet).

Laertes: Laertes is stabbed with a poisonous sword.

Hamlet: Hamlet is stabbed with a poisonous sword.

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: The two men are executed when they return to England. Hamlet gives them a note to deliver that actually orders their deaths by Claudius.  

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