Question 1b. The Second Quarto edition of Hamlet gives no stage directions for this passage, but the First Quarto and First Folio both direct Laertes to leap into the grave. His instruction to the grave diggers to 'Hold off the earth awhile,/ Till I have caught her once more in mine arms' clearly indicate his actions. It is also clear from Hamlet’s words, 'I prithee take thy fingers from my throat,' that it is Laertes who attacks Hamlet. The director has to decide where their confrontation takes place. Does Laertes leap out of the grave or does Hamlet leap into it? To decide one needs to assess the state of mind of each character and to look closely at what all the characters say in this scene.

If you were directing Hamlet where would you have the fight take place?