Laertes, Polonius son has heard the news about Hamlet murdering his father...
At this point in the play, the whole situation is very chaotic. Hamlet is not only determined to kill King Claudius once and for all, but he is also about to get killed by Laertes. Ophelia who has also heard about the news feels devastated and turns to insanity. She talks about the King and Queen and compares them to flowers, highlighting the negative aspects of each one of them. She said, There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's rue for you; and here's some for me: we may call it herb-grace o' Sundays: O you must wear your rue with a difference. There's a daisy: I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died: they say he made a good end…” (Act IV, Scene 5) This quote also shows that Ophelia used to love and honor her father. After witnessing all this, Laertes ensures revenge. King Claudius becomes aware of Laertes ambition for revenge so he takes that as an advantage to get rid of Hamlet.
When Hamlet returns, King Claudius suggests Laertes to have a sword duel with Hamlet, and secretly poison the sword so that he kills Hamlet without any penalty. After that the Queen announces Ophelia's death and Laertes loses his mind in rage and rushes in look for Hamlet in order to kill him.
These scenes are some of the result of the main chaos that has been accumulating lately. It was expected that one or more of the characters were going to die soon. However as a reader I did not expect Ophelia to die. I do not know how Hamlet will take her death, considering that they were lovers. Perhaps her death will change his mind over taking revenge because he would feel guilty. However, Laertes is still coming after him so he will have to face him at some point in the future. There are many different possible endings that this play could behold, and I want to know what will happen. This being said I consider this play as very interesting and one of the best plays i Have read by Shakespeare.
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