Their conversation is interrupted by Osric, who is a eccentric courtier. He has come to tell Hamlet that Claudius wants Laertes and Hamlet to fence, furthermore, the king has made a wager with Laertes that Hamlet will win. A lord enters, asking Hamlet if he is ready to fight. Against Horatio’s advice, Hamlet agrees to fight. As the two fencers enter the hall, Hamlet asks Laertes to forgiveness. Hamlet claims that it was his madness, and not his own will, that murdered Polonius. LAertes refuses to forgive Hamlet, but in the meanwhile, he will accepts Hamlet’s offer of love.
As they select their foils (swords used in fencing), the king says that if Hamlet wins the first or second hit, he will drink to Hamlet’s health. He will then throw a valuable gem into the cup (which is actually the poison) and will give the wine to Hamlet. Hamlet wins the first match, but refuses to drink, saying he will drink after he plays the next match. He strikes Laertes again, and Gertrude rises to drink from the cup. The king advises her not to drink, but she ignores him. Laertes holds a foil with poison on the end of it. He remarks under his breath that to wound Hamlet with the poisoned sword is almost against his conscience. However, they continue to fight, Laertes strikes Hamlet, and draws blood. Wrestling, they manage to exchange swords, and Hamlet wounds Laertes with Laertes' own poisoned blade.
Suddenly the Queen falls, she moans that the cup must have been poisoned. She calls out to Hamlet, and dies. Laertes tells Hamlet, that he is also dying as he was cut by his poiosoned foil. He says that the king is to blame for both for the poison on the sword and for the poison in the cup. Hamlet is furious, and runs is sword through Claudius and forces him to drink the poisoned wine. Hamlet exchanges forgiveness with Laertes who dies after forgiving Hamlet.
As the sound of marching echoes through the halls, Osric declares that has come to conquer Denmark. Hamlet tells Horatio that he is dying, and urges Horatio not commit suicide, but to live, and tell his story. Hamlet says that he wishes Fortinbras to be made King of Denmark. Hamlet dies after these words.
Fortinbras marches into the room accompanied by the English ambassadors, who announce that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead. Horatio explains the gruesome events that have unfolded before him. As the play ends, Fortinbras orders for Hamlet to be carried away like a soldier.
