Act 5, Scene 1 in Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, sets Hamlet’s motives into question as he

expresses grief over Ophelia’s death, making readers question if his response is genuine or not.
Regarding Megan’s discussion post where she mentions that she agrees to the idea of Hamlet
genuinely grieving over his beloved ex-lover, Ophelia, I concur to the idea as well.
In Act 5, Scene 1, Hamlet appears at the graveyard, where he decides to construct witty jokes
regarding dead individuals in the graveyard and their appearances as they are deceased. As
Hamlet displays a humorous side of himself while joking about people who are lifeless, it is clear
that he is not affected emotionally to the situation.
HAMLET: That skull had a tongue in it and could sing
once. How the knave jowls it to the ground as if
’twere Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder! (5.1.77-79.)

Yet again, here is another example of Hamlet making jokes,

HAMLET: Did these bones cost no more the
breeding but to play at loggets with them? Mine
95 ache to think on ’t. (5.1.93-95.)

However, when the priest and Laertes enters the scene, Laertes suddenly starts to discuss the
death of his sister, to which Hamlet replied,
[To HORATIO] What, the fair Ophelia? (5.1.253.)
In this verse, Hamlet is shocked at the words that have come out of his enemies mouth, and in
shock, asks Horatio in almost assurance if it is surely Ophelia that is dead. As the sadness and
realization commences for Hamlet, he continues to speak,
HAMLET: I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers
Could not with all their quantity of love
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her? (5.1.285-287.)

In this Scene, rather than continuing to make witty jokes regarding the dead or to say a comment
of which would be insensitive or humorous, Hamlet instead begins by instantly speaking of his
love for Ophelia. Hamlet furthermore displays his love and worry through asking what will be
done to his beloved ex-lover, displaying his true emotions and love for Ophelia. Rather than
continuing to speak in a joking manner, when hearing of Ophelia, Hamlet immediately changes
his demeaner, and displays his concern, grief, and emotions for the situation. It is almost as if I
can hear his emotions and his shock through these verses.
Furthermore, I agree with Megan that Hamlet was truly expressing his grief over Ophelia’s
death, as he completely changes his demeaner and displays true emotions over the situation. I
also agree with Megan that Hamlet was grieving Ophelia in his own way and that Hamlet’s
actions speaks more towards his sadness than it does his hate for Laertes.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. From The Folger Shakespeare. Ed. Barbara Mowat, Paul
Werstine, Michael Poston, and Rebecca Niles. Folger Shakespeare Library, [January 28th, 2024].