Skip to main content

How do the characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet die?

King Hamlet (Hamlet Jr's father): Claudius (his brother and Hamlet Jr's uncle) kills him by pouring poison in his ear.



Polonius: Polonius is stabbed through a tapestry by Hamlet. 



Ophelia: Ophelia drowns after Hamlet seems to reject her while acting mad. It is implied that this is suicide.



Gertrude: Claudius attempts to poison Hamlet, but Gertrude drinks the poison instead.



Claudius: Claudius is stabbed with a poisonous sword, then is forced to drink the rest of the poison that Gertrude drank (the poison had been meant for Hamlet).


Laertes: Laertes is stabbed with a poisonous sword.


Hamlet: Hamlet is stabbed with a poisonous sword.


Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: The two men are executed when they return to England. Hamlet gives them a note to deliver that actually orders their deaths by Claudius.  

Comments