HAMLET - Mystery
of Death
Overview: The Mystery of Death and Questions of Mortality and Existence
What is Shakespeare trying to convey about death?
The concept of “death” is one of the main driving points of the play, Hamlet may talk about suicide, but what he’s really concerned with is mortality and existence, and the fact that the living world is made of death and decay. 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 over and over again. 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.
Some questions to think about
- What fascinates Hamlet about death?
- In what ways does he explain or evaluate death?
- What kinds of language does he use?
- Do other characters put forth perspectives on death?
- What kinds of Imagery and Symbols does Shakespeare use to show the importance of death/Mortality?
Hamlet, a story of revenge, could we also describe it as a catalogue of murders?
Polonius – Dead
Ophelia – Dead
Gertrude – Dead
Laertes – Dead
Claudius – Dead
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern – Dead
Hamlet – Dead
- How many main characters are alive at the end of the play?
That’s right one, Horatio and even he threatened to die by suicide Death is at the heart of Hamlet, the play and Hamlet the man and no more is this evident than in the soliloquy “To be or not to be”
- So what fascinates Hamlet so much about death??
Yorick’s (Jester’s) Skull The skull represents death and the afterlife. When Hamlet picks up the skull of Yorick and begins to talk to it, he questions death, and what happens after.
Hamlet eventually realizes that no matter what kind of a life someone may lead, everybody dies and ends up in the same place after death – as mere dust.
He questions the importance of being important while alive, and the importance of being alive in general. He talks about how someone like Yorick could end up in the same position and place as someone such as Alexander the Great, when he says,
“as thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust, the dust is earth, of earth we make loam , and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel” (V.i.209-213)?
Death therefore for Hamlet is the great equaliser, we all die not matter how great we are in life
So how does Hamlet explain or evaluate Death?
Shakespeare uses Soliloquys as a way for Hamlet to explain and evaluate death. It’s a way of showing Hamlet’s inner turmoil and strife.
“To Be or Not to Be”
They are probably the most famous lines in History, but what do they mean? What is this soliloquy all about?
The first six words of the soliloquy establish a balance. There is a direct opposition – to be, or not to be. Hamlet is thinking about life and death, being or not being
That is the question.
The soliloquy shows Hamlet as a “philosopher prince” he is debating how one deals with life and death, he is debating whether suicide is an option.
“To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;”
The idea of Death itself does not frighten Hamlet, it’s the idea of what the afterlife is
“But that the dread of something after death,
The undiscover’d country from whose bourn
No traveller returns, puzzles the will
And makes us rather bear those ills we have
Than fly to others that we know not of?”
Death is something desirable – devoutly to be wished, a consummation – a perfect closure. It’s nothing more than a sleep.
We don’t control our dreams so what dreams may come in that sleep in which we have shuffled off all the fuss and bother of life? He uses the word ‘coil,’ which is an Elizabethan word for a big fuss, such as there may be in the preparations for a party or a wedding – a lot of things going on and a lot of rushing about. With that thought Hamlet stops to reconsider. What will happen when we have discarded all the hustle and bustle of life? The problem with the proposition is that life after death is unknown and could be worse than life. It’s a very frightening thought.”