1. Hamlet Act V

2. Comic Relief  Gravedigger’s scene a respite but foreshadows tension of Ophelia’s funeral  Hamlet at ease with gravediggers as with players  Controlled punning = self control  Gravedigger’s scene a respite but foreshadows tension of Ophelia’s funeral  Hamlet at ease with gravediggers as with players  Controlled punning = self control

3. Memento mori  Death as the great equalizer  Man is a creature of dust as well as spirit  Jester, king, and courtier alike  Death as the great equalizer  Man is a creature of dust as well as spirit  Jester, king, and courtier alike

4. Ophelia’s Funeral  Another Claudius cover up?  Suicide or accident?  Soul in torment or soul at rest?  Another Claudius cover up?  Suicide or accident?  Soul in torment or soul at rest?

5. Ophelia’s Funeral  Laertes’ love for Ophelia = Hamlet’s  Hamlet reaches a moral low point = implicated in Ophelia’s death  Laertes’ love for Ophelia = Hamlet’s  Hamlet reaches a moral low point = implicated in Ophelia’s death

6. Providence and Divinity  Hamlet has resigned himself to Providence = “Let be”  Quiet maturity echoes in his comments  Hamlet has resigned himself to Providence = “Let be”  Quiet maturity echoes in his comments

7. Providence and Divinity  “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends” = higher power  How is man an agent of this divinity? Mystery.  Hamlet culpable in many deaths: Polonius, Ophelia, R&G  “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends” = higher power  How is man an agent of this divinity? Mystery.  Hamlet culpable in many deaths: Polonius, Ophelia, R&G

8. Providence and Divinity  With no plan of action, Hamlet is open to divinity  Sees his cause mirrored in Laertes  With no plan of action, Hamlet is open to divinity  Sees his cause mirrored in Laertes

9. Providence and Divinity  Greater plan seen in trap imagery  Woodcock/spring trap  “The Mousetrap” play  “Hoist with [one’s] own petard”  Greater plan seen in trap imagery  Woodcock/spring trap  “The Mousetrap” play  “Hoist with [one’s] own petard”

10. Nobility of Spirit  “Hamlet the Dane” assumes a noble identity  Nobly wishes to rid Denmark of its canker  “Hamlet the Dane” assumes a noble identity  Nobly wishes to rid Denmark of its canker

11. Nobility of Spirit  Hamlet transcends to spiritual heroism  Nobility recognized by Fortinbras  Final, universal justice that all die  Hamlet transcends to spiritual heroism  Nobility recognized by Fortinbras  Final, universal justice that all die

12. Nobility of Spirit  Stoic Horatio left to interpret for others  Fortinbras mirrors Hamlet’s royal spirit  Noble Fortinbras claims succession  Stoic Horatio left to interpret for others  Fortinbras mirrors Hamlet’s royal spirit  Noble Fortinbras claims succession