Here's to thy health. Give him the cup

"Here's to thy health. Give him the cup." (William Shakespeare, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, 'Hamlet: Act V Scene II,' 279- King).


To explain the scene quickly, this is the King speaking to Hamlet, then to the servants. While he is watching Hamlet and Laertes battle, he has a cup that is poisoned to kill Hamlet. When he smiles and states, "here's to thy health," there is a play on words that Shakespeare uses. Not only is it a traditional toast, it is also the King revealing his intent that Hamlet's health and life is poisoned. This is the King's latest treachery concocted to cover up his previous murder of Hamlet's father. The deeper in lies he goes, the more mad with fear he becomes. This is ironic as Hamlet himself has been playing crazy, but the most aware and sane of the group while the rest of the company go mad in their own way. Ophelia goes mad when her father dies and she, in effect, dies too. Laertes, the brother of Ophelia, goes mad in thoughts to avenge his father's death. Hamlet's mother, originally avoiding thinking rationally, is confronted by Hamlet and begins to put on an act. This play shows what happens when you do wrong, and when you try to cover up that wrong. You cannot live free when ensnared by the web you have made, and when the King toast's to Hamlet's health, it is really a self-prophecy as everything he has is destroyed before his eyes, including himself.