Once word got out that Hamlet had killed Polonius, people would start guessing who to trust and disasters would start to strike. It was very common to have a sword and was becoming more and more dangerous as it was used to commit murder. I don't think it was a coincidence that the 'challenge of the sword' at the end of the play led to the deaths of Hamlet and Laertes. A poisoned sword from King Claudius killed them both. The sword also represented an irony due to the fact that Hamlet "tried" to kill Claudius with his own, but Hamlet ended up dead from a sword that Claudius poisoned. This scene was successfully shot thanks to Kenneth Branagh and his use