Act 5.2: Final Scene of Hamlet

   Act V, Scene II is the final scene of the play. So, as expected, it is very filled and very action-packed. It also contains a few unexpected deaths, pretty much every character dies in this final scene. The first deaths we find out about are the deaths of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. We find out that they were both executed in England, receiving the execution that was truly meant for Hamlet. Claudius sent a letter to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern telling them about the planned execution of Hamlet that he had set up. However, Hamlet intercepted the letter, and changed his name to instead read Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Therefore, the two of them were executed in England because of Hamlet (5.2.29-63).
   Then Osric, a courtier, enters the scene to tell Hamlet that Claudius wants him to fight him in a fencing match. Remember from reading previously that Claudius came up with a plan to kill Hamlet through a duel between him and Laertes. During the duel, the first person to die is surprisingly Queen Gertrude. She did not know that the wine that Claudius had in the cup was poisonous, therefore she drank it and died shortly after. As the two are still fighting, they drop their swords and manage to switch. Remember that Laertes sword has a poisonous oil on it that kills instantly, but now it is in the hands of Hamlet. Hamlet then gets a good shot at Laertes with his own sword. Before Laertes dies he says, "Lo, here I lie, never to rise again. Thy mother's poisoned. I can no more. The King, the King's to blame" (5.2.319-321). Laretes throws the Claudius under the bus and tells Hamlet that it was all the King's fault for the deaths. Hamlet, being so angry at this news, stabs Claudius with the poisonous sword, then makes him drink the rest of the poisoned wine. Hamlet finally got his revenge, and died quickly after. Then Fortinbras becomes the new King (5.2.322-391).
     I think the person most deserving of death was definitely Claudius. Claudius started everything. All of the drama and unnecessary anger and craziness, it all came from his deeds. Claudius started it when he killed Hamlet's father then married his wife. Claudius' sin initiated much more sin. It is wrong to say that someone deserves to die, because really, we all deserve to live because God gave us new life. However, if it's just to answer a question, then yes, Claudius was deserving of death. He was deceitful, mean, uncaring, selfish, and heartless. Even Laertes, as close to death as he was, when he saw Claudius die he was able to say, "He is justly served" (5.2.329). Laertes, who was once in agreement with Claudius, now says that he deserved his death. I was never a fan of Claudius either, so I am glad he died and I agree with Laertes, Claudius got what he deserved.