Keyword Guide · study-guide
The ending of Hamlet is dramatic, violent, and packed with meaning. Understanding the final scene helps you explain the play’s themes, character arcs, and Shakespeare’s message about power and revenge.
The play ends with a fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes, arranged by King Claudius. The duel quickly turns deadly due to a poisoned weapon and poisoned drink. One by one, major characters are fatally wounded, revealing the consequences of revenge and deception.
Before he dies, Hamlet finally acts decisively. He exposes Claudius’s guilt and kills him, completing his revenge. Hamlet also forgives Laertes, showing personal growth and a clearer moral understanding at the end of his life.
As the royal family is wiped out, Prince Fortinbras of Norway arrives. Hamlet supports Fortinbras as the next king, signaling a transfer of power. This ending suggests political order may return, but only after great loss.
The conclusion reinforces key themes such as the cost of revenge, the inevitability of death, and the dangers of corruption. Nearly every main character dies, emphasizing that violence spreads and rarely stays controlled.
Yes. Hamlet is fatally wounded during the duel and dies shortly after ensuring Claudius is punished and Denmark’s future is settled.
Most major characters die. Fortinbras and Horatio survive, with Horatio left to tell Hamlet’s story.
The multiple deaths highlight the destructive nature of revenge and corruption, showing how one immoral act can lead to widespread ruin.
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