The Worth of Life and the Mystery of Death
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, death is a prevalent theme that Shakespeare explores in depth, throughout the play. Hamlet’s character is revealed through death, giving him an indecisive nature as well as an unstable state. Shakespeare captures the reader’s interest concerning death in the opening scene, when Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his dead father. This scene sets the tone of the entire play where death, murder, revenge and suicide are played out repeatedly. Hamlet not only has to work through how to avenge his father’s death, but also has to deal with his own feelings and fears about death. Through Hamlet’s self-conflict over death, Shakespeare’s most intended themes and overall meaning of the work is portrayed: the worth of life and the …show more content…
Hamlet picks up the skull of Yorick and declared, "I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy”(Act V Scene 1). He dwells on the subject of death and the fact that all men are worm's meat, that all lives will one day die, and that no rank or money can change the equality of death. He references Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, two of the most powerful rulers in all of history. Both of these mighty people had conquered countries, fought wars, gained wealth and fame and power, but just like Yorick were reduced to dust. This epiphany served to end Hamlet's fear of death, and also see the uselessness of this current life. Even though death was still just as mysterious to him, he did not fear it because every man had to face it. Through this experience he learned that no matter what a man accomplished, death would ultimately have the victory. Death is more powerful than any man could be. Before, Hamlet has been appalled and revolted by the moral corruption of the living. Seeing Yorick's skull propels Hamlet's realization that death eliminates the differences between
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, death is a prevalent theme that Shakespeare explores in depth, throughout the play. Hamlet’s character is revealed through death, giving him an indecisive nature as well as an unstable state. Shakespeare captures the reader’s interest concerning death in the opening scene, when Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his dead father. This scene sets the tone of the entire play where death, murder, revenge and suicide are played out repeatedly. Hamlet not only has to work through how to avenge his father’s death, but also has to deal with his own feelings and fears about death. Through Hamlet’s self-conflict over death, Shakespeare’s most intended themes and overall meaning of the work is portrayed: the worth of life and the …show more content…
Hamlet picks up the skull of Yorick and declared, "I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy”(Act V Scene 1). He dwells on the subject of death and the fact that all men are worm's meat, that all lives will one day die, and that no rank or money can change the equality of death. He references Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar, two of the most powerful rulers in all of history. Both of these mighty people had conquered countries, fought wars, gained wealth and fame and power, but just like Yorick were reduced to dust. This epiphany served to end Hamlet's fear of death, and also see the uselessness of this current life. Even though death was still just as mysterious to him, he did not fear it because every man had to face it. Through this experience he learned that no matter what a man accomplished, death would ultimately have the victory. Death is more powerful than any man could be. Before, Hamlet has been appalled and revolted by the moral corruption of the living. Seeing Yorick's skull propels Hamlet's realization that death eliminates the differences between