Leonard Nimoy's Attitudes To Death In Hamlet By William Shakespeare

Leonard Nimoy, or Mr. Spock from the famous Star Trek television series, once stated “I think it’s my adventure, my trip, my journey, and I guess my attitude is, let the chips fall where they may”. Prince Hamlet had the same attitude towards his life, and death, at the climax of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. His ever-changing thoughts and views on death throughout the play accumulate to impact his final actions before death. His own contemplation of life and death is not the only reason his attitude changed, as it was influenced also by events and interactions with other characters. The first evidence of Hamlet’s attitude towards death is in Scene 2 of the first act. In a speech directed to the court of Denmark, Claudius announces that he has assumed his brother’s position as King, and therefore married the Queen, …show more content…
When beckoned by the ghost of his father, Hamlet insists that “I’ll speak to it, though hell itself should gape / And bid me hold my peace” (1.2.266-267). Hamlet is determined to speak to the spirit that has taken the shape of his father, so much that he is willing to be swallowed by the fiery pit of Hell if he does. This determination causes him to get over his fear, or otherwise overlook it to complete the task. The same shows when Hamlet accepts the ghost’s task of getting revenge for King Hamlet’s murder by killing Claudius. Murder, no matter the reason, is sin, and Hamlet overlooks this sin, which would prohibit him from entering Heaven. Also, when Hamlet accepts damnation for speaking with the spirit, he also accepts death, since they go hand-in-hand. Without death, damnation does not exist. The mood of this event also contributes to Hamlet’s view on death. The mood created in this scene is one of suspense and intimidation, and sounds as though death or damnation is imminent. Even though this scene would discourage most, Hamlet remains