<span>King Claudius
in act 5 scene 2 of Hamlet puts
the pearl in the cup to ensure Hamlet’s death. The pearl is a backup plan just
in case his step-son, Hamlet survives the supposedly friendly duel with Laertes.
Having accidentally killed Polonius, Laertes’ father, Laertes is using the
sword fight to seek revenge urged on by King Claudius. Towards this end, the king
arms Laertes with a poisoned sword. On the other hand, he encourages Hamlet
that he will win the duel even putting a pearl in his stepson’s wine cup to
toast his imminent victory. The gesture is meant to give the impression that
the pearl is a reward. Claudius’s actions are fueled by fear that Hamlet will discover
that the King killed his father who was also the king’s brother. As a
precaution, the pearl is poisoned to make Hamlet’s death definitive. Oblivious
of the plot against his son, Gertrude who is also the king’s wife reaches to drink
to Hamlet’s impending triumph. Claudius dissuades her but does not insist
enough leading to Gertrude proceeding to drink and die. </span>
