Good morning! Find your name to find your seat! Today, we’ll: Discuss the last words of characters who died in the play (If you were out yesterday, get someone in your group to give you a quick summary). I think you can see Shakespeare’s preferences from these scenes. Take the student voice survey at 9:25

Shakespeare is murderous. Famous last words Shakespeare is murderous.

Who said it? “O, I am slain!” (3.4.30).

Who is this? -Sings about death -Last stated words are, “God be/wi’ you” (4.5.223-224). -Queen Gertrude describes this person’s death in Act 4, scene 7. -Since this character dies off-stage, the audience does not hear her true last words.

Who is this? “No, no, the drink, the drink! O, my dear Hamlet!/ The drink, the drink! I am poisoned” (5.2.340-341).

Who is this? “O, yet defend me, friends! I am but hurt” (5.2.355). --The word “but” means “only” in this context.

Who is this? “He is justly served. It is a poison tempered by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me.” (5.2.359-363).

Who is this? After getting touched by poison, this character gives and receives forgiveness, avenges his father’s death, predicts and recommends the next king, ensures a friend will tell everyone the truth and stops the same friend from committing suicide. His last words are, “…the rest is silence./O, O, O, O!” (5.2.365-366).

Who is this? Hamlet alludes to their impending deaths in 5.1, but they do not die on stage. An ambassador comes in to announce their death officially at 5.2.409-411.