Act 5

Scene 1

Time: About one day after scene 7, act 4

Location: A churchyard

Characters: Two gravediggers, Hamlet, Horatio, Laertes, priest, King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, entourage
 

While two gravediggers are digging the grave for Ophelia’s burial, they speculate about the cause of death. One of them thinks it would be wrong to give her a Christian burial. He thinks she killed herself which is a sin. The other admits that she is given a Christian burial only because she occupied a high social position. Hamlet asks the gravediggers who the grave is intended for, but he only receives an ironic and punning reply.

A funeral procession appears in the cemetery, accompanied by the royal couple, Laertes, and a priest. Horatio and Hamlet hide from the approaching mourners. The priest wants to keep the ceremony brief because he also thinks Ophel...