Read the excerpt from an analysis of the end of Act V of Hamlet . A duel takes place between Laertes and Hamlet. But due to treachery, Laertes and Hamlet are poisoned, as are Claudius and Gertrude, and they all die. Which is the best summary of the theme that is developed in this section of the play?
Answer
A
Revenge never works out, and people should just avoid it.
B
Those who fight are unwise and would do better to talk.
C
Fighting is not the way to solve problems, no matter what.
D
Those who pursue revenge are often destroyed by it.
Explanation
Laertes and Hamlet pursue revenge, and their actions lead to both of them being poisoned and killed. Claudius’s treachery and Gertrude’s death add to the tragic consequences of the revenge plot. The theme is best summarized as “Those who pursue revenge are often destroyed by it”; the other choices make broader claims about all fighting or suggest talking as a solution, which this scene does not establish.
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