Rushed ending setup

ETypeRegymon
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Rushed ending setup Mar 6, 2016 14:08:29 GMT

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Post by ETypeRegymon on Mar 6, 2016 14:08:29 GMT

One big problem I found while reading this was how the final scene was set up. Hamlet just fought with Laertes a bit and some moments later he's invited to a fencing duel by Laertes. Claudius is involved too, by betting a ton of stuff against Hamlet. Not to mention, Claudius just tried to execute him by sending him off to England to die. Why on earth did Hamlet accept the duel? By that point he should have realized that Claudius isn't going to ask him out on tea without poisoning both cups of tea and the kettle on the table, along with the kettle held by the waiter. He'd put the poison on the handle too if he could. And Horatio says that he's going to lose if he fights, so why didn't he trust his best friend there? Laertes isn't there for fun and games either, since Hamlet just killed Polonius without batting an eye. The point is, the ending just ruined Hamlet's character of doubting everyone to make way for the final tragic scene. Is there a way to make sense of why Hamlet accepted the duel?

timmy Full Member Posts: 103	Rushed ending setup Mar 6, 2016 14:51:57 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by timmy on Mar 6, 2016 14:51:57 GMT I thought it was honor that Hamlet accepted the duel. Otherwise, he would be called coward by the people, which is especially acute to him because he is the prince of Denmark.

Emily
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Rushed ending setup Mar 11, 2016 2:04:46 GMT

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Post by Emily on Mar 11, 2016 2:04:46 GMT

I don't think Hamlet would have known that Laertes was in on a scheme with Claudius, as his anger was only focused on Claudius and therefore had no harsh feelings against Laertes. Also, as timmy said, it would have been dishonorable if Hamlet had rejected a duel offer from Laertes, as he is prince and Laertes is only a noble-cluncool man. Maybe Hamlet did have some doubts about him because they fought at the graveyard, but certainly not enough that Laertes would actually dare poison him.

Jooyoung
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Rushed ending setup Mar 11, 2016 2:13:08 GMT

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Post by Jooyoung on Mar 11, 2016 2:13:08 GMT

I also thought it was weird that Hamlet accepted the dual. He probably knew better that Claudius was planning something against him, yet he still agreed to fight against Laertes. In my opinion, Hamlet probably accepted the dual because he wanted to out smart Claudius and his plan. OR Hamlet may have been jealous that Laertes is being praised for his fencing skill or thought the praise was incompetent.

juliaj
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Rushed ending setup Mar 11, 2016 17:08:50 GMT

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Post by juliaj on Mar 11, 2016 17:08:50 GMT

I think Hamlet accepted the duel because he understood how Laertes felt. He understood that emotion of wanting to avenge your father because he was on the same mission. he probrably took it on because thats what he would have done as well to avenge his father, kill the person who killed his father. he also calls laertes his brother, perhaps partly because of this sentiment that they share.

lucia
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Rushed ending setup Mar 12, 2016 14:24:39 GMT

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Post by lucia on Mar 12, 2016 14:24:39 GMT

I also dont think that he knew ahead of time that Claudius and Laertes have plotted his death. But even if he knew, he would've acccepted the dual anyway because he was ready to accept his fate. In Act 5 Scene 2, he says, “all’s ill here about my heart,” but that one must be ready for death, since it will come no matter what one does". He thought death was inevitable and decided to face his fate, which was death.

Last Edit: Mar 12, 2016 14:24:56 GMT by lucia

sangjoon
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Rushed ending setup Mar 13, 2016 11:11:32 GMT via mobile

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Post by sangjoon on Mar 13, 2016 11:11:32 GMT

I also agree with what juyoung said. It is very weird that Hamlet accepted the dual. The reason why I think it was weird action is that Hamlet might know or at least guess that Claudius might do something revengful thing toward Hamlet to go against to him. Maybe Hamlet have better idea after accepting the dual ot he just give up the fight. However, at that moment, hamlet's decision was not understandable for me and I do not comtent with the end of story Hamlet.

christopher
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Rushed ending setup Mar 13, 2016 11:54:32 GMT

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Post by christopher on Mar 13, 2016 11:54:32 GMT

I honestly don't know. Hamlet knows that Claudius and Laertes is up to something when they give out a sudden invitation for a duel. But why accept it? I was also confused in Hamlet's way-of-speech. He didn't look mad at all. It seemed like his desire for revenge just vanished on that scene. The final scene of the play looked pretty fast-paced compared to other scenes. The whole final scene was pretty confusing.

toufiq
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Rushed ending setup Mar 13, 2016 14:08:13 GMT

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Post by toufiq on Mar 13, 2016 14:08:13 GMT

I kinda felt like Hamlet accepted the duel to keep his pride high. But on the other hand, I couldn't feel the aggression or desire through his actions and speech. So it was confusing and a little bit chaotic in the final scene. But I enjoyed how they all just killed each other and someone else took over their kingdom. LOL

sunnyp
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Rushed ending setup Mar 14, 2016 2:00:10 GMT

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Post by sunnyp on Mar 14, 2016 2:00:10 GMT

I didn't really think about that because I couldn't really understand most of Hamlet's actions anyway. Now that I think about it, I think he accepted the duel because he didn't question it. Duel is a common thing they did right? Also, I used to think the ending was rushed too. Because everyone just dies and story ends. I thought Shakespeare was getting tired of this long play and just put an end to it. However, while studying Hamlet, I realised how a genius Shakespeare is with putting meaning in everything. I think ending went meant to be like that, not rushed.

mayurika98
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Rushed ending setup Mar 14, 2016 2:12:21 GMT

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Post by mayurika98 on Mar 14, 2016 2:12:21 GMT

Since Hamlet refused the drink when Gertrude offered it to him, I think Hamlet sort of knew that Claudius and Laertes were making a plan to kill him. Maybe the switching of the swords happened purposely. The plot behind Hamlet's death scene it definitely odd. In a way I expected Hamlet to recognize the poison plan and use it against Claudius and it did happen but Hamlet died as well in the process. I think Hamlet accepted the duel because he knew he was going to die anyway and to prove to himself and the others that all along he wasn't truly mad. He probably also felt empathy for Laertes and the fact that he wanted to avenge his father, since they were both in the same situation.

anniee
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Rushed ending setup Mar 23, 2016 9:43:48 GMT

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Post by anniee on Mar 23, 2016 9:43:48 GMT

I also thought that the ending of Hamlet was rushed. Throughout the previous acts, Hamlet had been contemplating revenge and death, but he was suddenly able to do both in the words of one page. I think Hamlet accepted the duel because of how he sees Laertes. Hamlet already respected Laertes from before and knew him as a skillful fencer. When considering the duel, I think Hamlet forgot that he had been the one to kill Laertes's father Polonius because at the time, all he had cared about was that he hadn't been able to kill Claudius. He didn't make the connection that since Laertes is Polonius' son, he will probably want answers about his father's death; he probably didn't even know that Claudius had already told Laertes the truth of what happened in Gertrude's room that night. All he wanted to do was prove himself to the master swordsman in a duel.

toomuchchanmin
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Rushed ending setup Mar 23, 2016 10:37:47 GMT

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Post by toomuchchanmin on Mar 23, 2016 10:37:47 GMT

Yes the ending was rushed. All the characters were conveniently killed in one room. However I think this is caused to the face this is a play, not a novel. The reason why all the characters are in one room at the end is because this was the grand finale, and everyone had to be on the stage at same room. Also there was "setup" because this is literally a "set" up for the finale too. The story can't also be too long, because Shakespeare follows a strict 5 act setup. The audience will get bored if its too long.