The scene that happens in the graveyard helped the king in his plans of the duel and he also pretended that duel was his idea. The king knew already that the prince will win. The king send a message to Hamlet which filled him with foreboding and after reading, he gave the letter to Horiatio and the prince sent back a letter to the king that he would win if he could. And now the duel was arranged and the king and the queen entered into the hall seated and the king placed the poison drink on a table into a space separating the two duelists. Laertes was with his unguarded point dipped into a deadly poison and the courtiers went and sit to give much place for the fight that was going to take place. The two rapiers were all protected by a tiny sheath so that they should not harm each other and there was a judge to control their fight. Now the fight had started and during the fight Hamlet took the poison drink to drink but he did not at that time Laertes touches Hamlet on his arms and red blood flows out and he noticed it was a plan. Laertes knew he was supposed to use his unguarded foil to kill Hamlet but Hamlet did a very great attack and Hamlet forced Laertes rapier out of his hand, it knocked the floor with a loud noise and Hamlet bent immediately, took it back and offered his owned foil. After sometimes, blood started flowing on Laertes neck and he was fighting without control.

          Some courtiers started running to put an end in the fight and the king turned and saw the queen drinking the poisoned drink and he shouted but it was already too late. Laertes who was dying revealed that he did a treachery in this fight and at that time, Hamlet runs towards his mother to see what happened but she was poisoned and died. Hamlet went and talks with Laertes about his treachery. As they were talking, Hamlet realises it was the king who was behind all these plans and Hamlet ran and killed him and after their conversation, Laertes died and few minutes later Hamlet also died.  And now the play ends when Hamlet has avenged his father’s death before he died.

Themes in Act VIII

1-Theme of Fight

      We can see how the king organised a fight for Laertes and Hamlet until they wounded themselves each other.

2-Theme of Death

      We can see how Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, Laertes, and King Claudius at the end of the play died.

3-Theme of Revenge

    We can see how Hamlet revenged his father’s death before dying.

4-Theme of Sorrow

     We can see how Horatio was sad about the death of his friend Hamlet.

5-Theme of Regret

      We can see how as Laertes was fighting, he started regretting his treachery.

Characterisation in Act VIII

1-Hamlet

     He is intelligent because he wanted to drink the poisoned drink but he did not because he knew it was a danger to his health. He is brave when he makes a great attack to Laertes revealing all his skills as a swordsman. He is revengefully when he revenge his father’s death by killing the wicked king.

2-Horatio

     He is sad because his friend Hamlet is death.

3-Laertes

     He is truthful because he told the truth to hamlet about the treachery.