Act 5, Scene 2, Hamlet Summary

Hamlet tells Horatio how he learned of Claudius' plans to have him killed by stealing and reading the letters Claudius gave Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and that he substituted letters of his own telling the English king that the bearers of the letters (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) should be put to death as soon as they arrive. He justifies his actions by saying they were allied with Claudius and therefore with his crimes, and as such deserved their deaths. He admits, however, that he feels badly about his confrontation with Laertes, explaining that the intensity of the latter's grief triggered a release of his own.

The courtier Osric appears, and speaking in flowery language, tells Hamlet that Claudius has placed a wager on the outcome of a fencing match between him and Laertes. After thoroughly mocking Osric, Hamlet agrees to the...