When the curtain falls on Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the stage is littered with bodies and the throne of Denmark sits empty. The question of “who fences with Hamlet” leads us to one of the play’s most surprising and strategic moments: the fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes. But there is another, subtler answer—Fortinbras, the Norwegian prince, who “fences” with Hamlet’s legacy by claiming the crown without drawing his sword. Understanding who fences with Hamlet reveals the play’s deepest themes of revenge, honor, and political calculation.

In this article, we will explore the literal fencing match, the symbolic fencing of Fortinbras, and how the sport of fencing itself becomes a mirror for the play’s central conflicts. Whether you are a student, a theater enthusiast, or a fencing fan, this guide will sharpen your understanding of Shakespeare’s most famous duel.

The Literal Answer: Laertes Fences with Hamlet

The most direct answer to “who fences with Hamlet” is Laertes, the son of Polonius and brother of Ophelia. In Act V, Scene II, Claudius arranges a fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes, ostensibly as a friendly wager. In reality, it is a trap: Laertes’ rapier is sharpened and poisoned, and Claudius prepares a poisoned cup as a backup.

Laertes is a skilled swordsman, having trained in Paris, and he is eager for revenge because Hamlet killed his father. The match is the climax of the play, and it is where nearly every major character meets their end. This fencing scene is not just a physical contest—it is the moment when deception, revenge, and fate collide.

Why Laertes Fences with Hamlet

Laertes’ motivation is pure revenge. He believes Hamlet murdered Polonius and drove Ophelia to madness and death. When Claudius offers him a chance to kill Hamlet in a rigged duel, Laertes accepts without hesitation.

Yet Laertes is not a villain. He is a grieving son manipulated by a cunning king. His fencing match with Hamlet is a tragic mirror of Hamlet’s own delayed revenge—both men are trying to avenge a father’s death, but only one is willing to cheat to do it.

How the Fencing Match Unfolds

The match follows a formal structure: announcement, wagering, bouts, and the fatal exchange. Hamlet initially wins the first two hits, but Claudius raises the stakes by offering a pearl in the poisoned cup. Hamlet refuses the drink, and the tension builds.

Then Laertes strikes Hamlet with the poisoned blade, and in the scuffle, the swords are exchanged. Hamlet wounds Laertes with the same poisoned rapier, and the queen drinks from the poisoned cup. The fencing match becomes a chain reaction of death, fulfilling the play’s tragic arc.

The Symbolic Answer: Fortinbras “Fences” with Hamlet’s Legacy

While Laertes is the literal fencing partner, Fortinbras is the symbolic one. The Norwegian prince spends the entire play preparing to invade Denmark, and he arrives just after the carnage to claim the throne. In a sense, Fortinbras “fences” with Hamlet’s legacy—not with a sword, but with political timing and patience.

Fortinbras is a foil to Hamlet: both are princes whose fathers were killed, but Fortinbras acts decisively while Hamlet hesitates. When Hamlet dies, Fortinbras steps into the vacuum and takes control, proving that the most effective fencing is sometimes done with strategy rather than steel.

Why Fortinbras Matters to the Question

Fortinbras represents the “fencing” of statecraft. He does not duel Hamlet, but he outmaneuvers him by waiting for the right moment. His final speech—”Take up the bodies”—is a command that closes the play and opens a new era.

For audiences, Fortinbras is a reminder that not every conflict is settled on the fencing strip. Some are settled by presence, patience, and the ability to seize an opportunity when others have fallen.

Fencing as a Mirror of Hamlet’s Inner Conflict

The fencing match is not just a plot device—it is a symbol of Hamlet’s psychology. Throughout the play, Hamlet struggles with the difference between thought and action. He can plan, soliloquize, and analyze, but he cannot strike. Fencing, by contrast, demands instant decision-making and physical commitment.

When Hamlet finally fences with Laertes, he is forced to act. The duel becomes a physical manifestation of his internal war: the thinker meets the doer, and the result is mutual destruction.

The Language of Fencing in the Play

Shakespeare uses fencing terminology throughout Hamlet. Words like “foil,” “rapier,” “pass,” “hit,” and “bout” appear in the dialogue, often as metaphors for verbal sparring. Hamlet’s famous “words, words, words” is itself a kind of fencing with language.

This linguistic fencing appears in several key scenes:

• Hamlet vs. Polonius: Hamlet mocks Polonius with wordplay, treating conversation as a duel of wits.
• Hamlet vs. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern: Hamlet parries their questions and turns their words against them.
• Hamlet vs. Ophelia: In the “nunnery scene,” Hamlet fences with Ophelia using cruel irony and double meanings.
• Hamlet vs. Gertrude: The closet scene is a verbal fencing match where Hamlet forces his mother to confront her guilt.

By the time the actual fencing match arrives, the audience has already witnessed dozens of verbal duels. The physical duel is the culmination of all that verbal sparring.

The Historical Context of Fencing in Shakespeare’s Time

To fully understand who fences with Hamlet, we must look at the fencing culture of Elizabethan England. Fencing was a popular sport and a mark of nobility. Young men learned to fence as part of their education, and public fencing matches drew large crowds.

Shakespeare’s audience would have recognized the fencing match as a formal event with specific rules. They would also have understood the significance of the poisoned rapier—a violation of the code of honor that would have shocked them.

Rapier vs. Foil: What Kind of Sword Is Used?

In the play, the weapon is called a “rapier,” a long, thin sword designed for thrusting. Laertes’ rapier is described as having a “sharp” blade and being “unbated” (not blunted), which is why it can kill.

By contrast, modern fencing uses foils, epees, and sabers, all of which are blunt. The play’s weapon is a real rapier, making the match a genuine duel rather than a sport.

The Rules of the Duel

Shakespeare’s fencing match follows the conventions of a formal duel:

1. The challenge: Claudius proposes the match and arranges the wager.
2. The terms: The players agree on the number of hits needed to win.
3. The audience: The court gathers to watch, making the match a public spectacle.
4. The betrayal: The rules are broken by Laertes and Claudius, turning sport into murder.

This structure mirrors the play itself: a public performance that hides private treachery.

What Fencing Teaches Us About Hamlet’s Character

Fencing requires discipline, focus, and the ability to read an opponent. Hamlet, for most of the play, lacks all three. He is distracted, melancholic, and unable to read the intentions of those around him.

When he steps onto the fencing strip, however, Hamlet becomes a different person. He is calm, confident, and even playful. This shift suggests that Hamlet is not incapable of action—he is simply paralyzed by overthinking.

Hamlet’s Fencing Skill

Hamlet is described as a skilled fencer. In Act IV, Scene VII, Claudius notes that Hamlet is “remiss” in his practice but still a formidable opponent. Laertes, too, is skilled, having trained in Paris.

The match is therefore between two talented fencers, which raises the stakes. It is not a mismatch but a genuine contest, made deadly by the poisoned blade.

The Moment of Reversal

The turning point of the fencing match comes when the swords are exchanged. In the scuffle, Hamlet picks up Laertes’ poisoned rapier and wounds Laertes with it. This moment is both literal and symbolic: the weapon of revenge turns against its wielder.

Hamlet’s ability to adapt in the moment—to seize the poisoned sword and use it—shows that he can act decisively when the situation demands it. The tragedy is that this clarity comes too late to save anyone.

Fencing and the Theme of Revenge

Revenge is the engine of Hamlet, and fencing is its most visible expression. Three characters seek revenge: Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras. Each pursues it differently.

• Hamlet seeks revenge through hesitation and planning, and his fencing is reactive.
• Laertes seeks revenge through direct action and cheating, and his fencing is aggressive.
• Fortinbras seeks revenge through patience and strategy, and his “fencing” is political.

The fencing match between Hamlet and Laertes is the collision of two revenge plots. Both men want justice for their fathers, but both are manipulated by Claudius. In the end, revenge consumes them both.

The Moral of the Match

Shakespeare uses the fencing match to show that revenge is a cycle that destroys everyone involved. Laertes dies by his own poisoned blade, Hamlet dies by the same weapon, and Claudius dies by the sword he set in motion.

The only survivor of the royal family is Horatio, who is left to tell the story. Fortinbras, the outsider, takes the throne. The fencing match thus clears the way for a new order.

Why Fencing Is the Perfect Metaphor for Hamlet

Fencing is a sport of inches and instincts. It requires you to anticipate your opponent’s next move while hiding your own. This is exactly what Hamlet tries to do throughout the play—he probes, parries, and feints, but he rarely strikes.

The fencing match is the moment when all the verbal sparring becomes physical. It is the play’s thesis statement: thought without action is dangerous, but action without thought is deadly.

The Foil as a Symbol

In fencing, a “foil” is a light sword used for practice. The word also means a contrast or a character who highlights another’s traits. Hamlet has several foils: Laertes, Fortinbras, and Horatio.

Laertes is Hamlet’s fencing foil in both senses: he is a literal opponent and a symbolic contrast. Where Hamlet hesitates, Laertes acts. Where Hamlet thinks, Laertes feels. The fencing match brings these two opposites together in a fatal embrace.

How to Watch the Fencing Scene in Performance

If you are watching a production of Hamlet, the fencing scene is the moment to pay close attention. Different directors stage it in different ways, and each choice reveals something about the play’s meaning.

Here are a few things to watch for:

• The weapons: Are they realistic rapiers or stylized foils? The choice affects the sense of danger.
• The choreography: Is the match fast and aggressive, or slow and tense? The pace reflects the emotional stakes.
• The audience on stage: Who is watching? Their reactions mirror our own.
• The moment of exchange: How is the switching of swords staged? This is the play’s most important physical action.
• The final tableau: Who is left standing, and what does their posture suggest about the future?

Great productions make the fencing match feel both inevitable and shocking. The audience knows something is wrong, but the violence still lands like a blow.

Famous Stagings of the Duel

Over the centuries, actors and directors have interpreted the fencing match in many ways. Some productions emphasize the sport’s elegance, while others lean into the brutality. Kenneth Branagh’s 1996 film version stages the duel in a grand hall with mirrors, making the audience complicit in the spectacle.

Other productions use the duel to highlight Hamlet’s isolation. In these stagings, the court watches eagerly, but no one intervenes. The fencing match becomes a metaphor for a corrupt society that rewards violence.

Fencing Terminology in Hamlet: A Quick Glossary

Shakespeare’s audience knew fencing terms, and the play is full of them. Here are some key words and what they mean:

• Rapier: A long, thin thrusting sword.
• Foil: A light practice sword; also a character who contrasts with another.
• Bout: A round or session in a fencing match.
• Pass: A thrust or lunge with the sword.
• Hit: A successful touch or strike.
• Unbated: Not blunted; sharp.
• Venom: Poison, as in the poisoned blade.

Understanding these terms helps modern readers appreciate the play’s linguistic richness. Shakespeare uses fencing language to describe not only the duel but also the verbal battles that precede it.

Common Misconceptions About the Fencing Match

Because the fencing match is so famous, it has attracted several misconceptions. Let’s clear up a few of the most common ones.

Misconception 1: Hamlet and Laertes Are Equally Matched

While both are skilled, the play suggests that Hamlet is the better fencer. Claudius notes that Hamlet has been “in continual practice” and that Laertes will need an edge to win. That edge is the poisoned blade.

Misconception 2: The Match Is a Fair Duel

The match is rigged from the start. Claudius and Laertes plan to kill Hamlet, and the poisoned cup is a backup plan. The duel is not a fair contest but an assassination disguised as sport.

Misconception 3: Fortinbras Fences with Hamlet

Fortinbras never fences with Hamlet in a literal sense. He arrives after the deaths and claims the throne. His “fencing” is political, not physical.

Misconception 4: The Fencing Match Is the Only Duel in the Play

There are many duels in Hamlet, most of them verbal. Hamlet spars with Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Ophelia, Gertrude, and Claudius. The fencing match is simply the final, physical duel.

Conclusion: Who Fences with Hamlet?

The answer to “who fences with Hamlet” is both simple and complex. Laertes is the literal fencing partner, the man who crosses swords with Hamlet in the play’s fatal climax. Fortinbras is the symbolic fencing partner, the prince who outmaneuvers Hamlet’s legacy and takes the throne. And in a broader sense, Hamlet fences with everyone—with his family, his friends, and himself.

Fencing is more than a plot device in Hamlet. It is a metaphor for the play’s central themes: revenge, hesitation, honor, and the thin line between sport and violence. The fencing match is where all these themes converge, and it is why the scene remains one of the most powerful in all of Shakespeare.

If you found this guide helpful, share it with a fellow Shakespeare lover or fencing enthusiast. And the next time you watch Hamlet, pay close attention to the fencing match—you will see the play in a whole new light.