In a cruel twist of fate, what was supposed to be a harmless fencing match turned tragic as wanton hate, murder, and deceit broke in the open. The duel started with Hamlet apologizing to Laertes for killing his father and ended with the Queen, King, Laertes and Hamlet dead. The Queen was the first to fall after drinking from a cup prof-erred to Hamlet by the King. After being wounded by Laertes with a poisoned sword and Laertes being cut with the same weapon Laertes confessed the entire plot; "It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain. /No medicine in the world can do thee good. /In thee there is not half an hour of life. /The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, /Unbated and envenomed. The foul practice /Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie, /Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned. /I can no more. The king, the king’s to blame" (V.i.309-316). Upon hearing this dire new Hamlet turned on the king and with a bellow of pure unrestrained rage and anger ran him through upon the same poinoned sword. Exhausted, Hamlet fell back into Horatio's arms and quietly told him that Fortinbras will be the new king. His last words were "Horatio, I am dead".
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