The Final Reckoning Hamlet Essay

The Final Reckoning: The Significance of Act 5, Scene 2 in Hamlet Submitted By: Happy Student Submitted to: Teacher Submitted on: Date Course: ENG4U1-23 The pursuit of revenge, when delayed and distorted by moral conflict, can lead not only to justice but to widespread tragedy. In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the final scene, Act 5, Scene 2, serves as a powerful culmination of the play’s central themes—justice, mortality, corruption, and the destructive power of betrayal. It is a moment of catharsis where Hamlet finally takes decisive action, the guilty are punished, and the political chaos of Denmark finds a path toward order. This concluding scene is crucial to the play’s impact, as it offers resolution to Hamlet’s long internal struggle, reveals the devastating cost of deceit and vengeance, and introduces Fortinbras as a symbol of restored stability. Hamlet’s act of finally killing Claudius marks the end of his torturous indecision and fulfills the revenge demanded by the ghost in the opening acts. After Laertes reveals the king’s treachery, Hamlet no longer hesitates: “The king—the king’s to blame” (5.2.315). This admission validates Hamlet’s suspicions and propels him into action. Unlike earlier scenes, Hamlet acts swiftly and without philosophical delay. He exacts justice with brutal precision: “Then, venom, to thy work” (5.2.321). Here, Hamlet uses the very poison Claudius intended for him, creating poetic justice. After Claudius dies, Hamlet offers a final judgment on the king’s fate: “He is justly served. / It is a poison temper’d by himself” (5.2.323–324). In these lines, the audience sees Hamlet assert moral clarity—his revenge is not only personal but just. This moment powerfully resolves the main conflict that has haunted the play since the ghost’s first appearance. The final scene also underscores the tragic consequences of the web of deceit spun throughout the play. Gertrude’s accidental death from the poisoned wine shows how innocent lives are lost due to others’ schemes: “The drink, the drink! I am poison’d” (5.2.310). Her death, though unintended, stems directly from Claudius’s plot, proving how farreaching betrayal can be. Laertes, too, becomes a victim of his own revenge when he is wounded by the very blade he helped poison: “I am justly kill’d with mine own treachery” (5.2.318). His acknowledgement reinforces the theme that schemes born from deceit often backfire. Hamlet’s own death, though he achieves his goal, is inevitable: “O, I die, Horatio. / The potent poison quite o’er-crows my spirit” (5.2.327–328). The deaths of all these characters stress that revenge and corruption do not go unpunished but often claim all involved. Therefore, the final scene becomes a devastating display of the moral fallout from ambition, betrayal, and delay. Despite the overwhelming tragedy, the arrival of Fortinbras at the end of the play suggests a new beginning for Denmark. Hamlet, recognizing his own end, names Fortinbras as his successor: “But I do prophesy th’ election lights / On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice” (5.2.339–340). Hamlet’s endorsement implies that Fortinbras possesses the qualities of a just ruler, contrasting sharply with Claudius’s corrupt reign. Upon witnessing the aftermath of the slaughter, Fortinbras is respectful and dignified: “This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death, / What feast is toward in thine eternal cell” (5.2.364–365). His reaction reveals a leader who values honor and recognizes the gravity of the events. In his final order—“Let four captains / Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage” (5.2.397–398)—Fortinbras ensures Hamlet is remembered with dignity, despite the bloodshed. This action closes the play on a note of restoration and order, reinforcing that moral clarity and justice can follow even the darkest tragedy. Act 5, Scene 2 of Hamlet is the heart of the play’s resolution. Hamlet’s long-awaited revenge, the unfolding of poetic justice through multiple tragic deaths, and the political restoration under Fortinbras bring closure to the play’s many conflicts. The scene reminds us that while justice can be achieved, it often comes at a heavy price. Shakespeare leaves the audience with a sobering message: revenge and corruption destroy all they touch, but honor and truth, when finally embraced, can light a path through even the deepest sorrow.