List of Deaths in Hamlet || All Deaths in Hamlet by Shakespeare

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Deaths in Hamlet.


Hamlet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, who finds out that his father was murdered and seeks revenge on his uncle, Claudius, the one who killed him to become the king of Denmark and marries to Queen Gertrude.

List of Deaths in Hamlet || All Deaths in Hamlet by Shakespeare
By the end of the tragedy, Hamlet has caused the deaths of Polonius, Laertes, Claudius, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two acquaintances of his from childhood. He is also indirectly involved in the deaths of his love Ophelia (drowning) and of his mother Gertrude (poisoned by Claudius by mistake).

All Deaths in Hamlet During the Course of the Play 

  1. Polonius - Stabbed from behind a curtain by Hamlet, believing him to be King Claudius spying on him.
  2. Ophelia - Went insane because of her father, Polonius's death, and drowned herself offstage.
  3. Rosencrantz and
  4. Guildenstern - Killed by the king of England, when Hamlet gave them a note to take to him that (unbeknownst to them) told him to put the bearers of the note to death.
  5. Gertrude - Drank poisoned wine intended for Hamlet by Claudius during the fencing match.
  6. Claudius - Stabbed by Hamlet, then forced to drink poisoned wine when Hamlet came to know his indulgence in his mother's death.
  7. Laertes - Wounded by Hamlet with a poisoned sword. Exchanged forgiveness with him once Claudius was killed.
  8. Hamlet - Wounded by Laertes with a poisoned sword, as part of Claudius's plan. Exchanged forgiveness with him after Claudius was killed.


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Deaths that happened before the play starts

List of Deaths in Hamlet || All Deaths in Hamlet by Shakespeare


Yes, there are three deaths too that happened before the play starts. These deaths are known as offstage deaths or deaths before the course of the play. Who were they that were presented already dead before the play starts.


  1. Yorrick- Dies of (presumably) old age, years before the play.
  2. Fortinbras Sr. - Before the play begins, King Hamlet kills him during a battle.
  3. King Hamlet - Before the play begins, he was dead. He returned as a ghost and revealed that his brother Claudius killed him by pouring poison into his ear.

By the end of the play, the only major character alive was Horatio.

Blog by Zuba'r Saifi

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