Characters & Foils
How does Laertes’s final confession change his role as Hamlet’s foil?
He moves from deceptive avenger to truth teller, matching Hamlet’s moral clarity
Who says “The readiness is all”?
Hamlet
How do the sword and cup together reinforce the motif of corruption?
They show corruption infecting both combat and ceremony
What event takes place at the start of Act 5 Scene 2?
Hamlet explains how he escaped the ship to England
What final message does the scene present about responsibility and power?
Individuals who abuse power are ultimately responsible for the destruction they cause
How does Laertes function as a foil to Hamlet in this scene?
He acts quickly and impulsively where Hamlet once hesitated
What does Hamlet mean by “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends”?
A higher power controls outcomes beyond human planning
What does the poisoned cup symbolize in the scene?
Hidden deception beneath public celebration
What mistake causes Claudius’s plan to begin failing?
Gertrude drinks from the poisoned cup
How is dramatic irony used during the duel?
The audience knows about the poison while Hamlet does not
Who fights Hamlet in the duel?
Laertes
How does “The readiness is all” resolve Hamlet’s earlier soliloquies about action?
It shows he has accepted action without needing absolute certainty
What object is poisoned to kill Hamlet during the duel?
Laertes’s sword
Why does Hamlet force Claudius to drink the poison publicly?
To expose his guilt and assign responsibility before witnesses
What major theme is most visible when Hamlet accepts the duel?
Fate