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Symbolism Of Death In Hamlet Essay

1432 Words6 Pages

Death seems to be the biggest mystery in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. From the start of the play with the Ghost of Hamlets father appearing to avenge his death, to Hamlet’s most popular “To be or Not to be” soliloquy, and to the plays bloody conclusion; the uncertainty of death seems to always be on our protagonist mind. Death has become a recurring theme throughout this whole play. His thoughts of death range from death in a spiritual matter, the truth and uncertainty in what death may bring, and the question of his own death. The graveyard scene in act 5 scene five is a prime example. This act is not just used as a comic relief but it is used as the plays turning point. With the use of Shakespeare’s symbolism, and structure and language he is able to create a mood that grants Hamlet a closer perspective on death. …show more content…

With that being said Yorick’s skull is a major piece of symbolism in the play Hamlet. In the grave yard scene, symbolism is used to offer an enhanced and hidden meaning in of certain parts in the text. The skull in act five, scene one characterizes the afterlife and the theme of death. Hamlet’s character makes a huge development through this symbol. It’s a turning point for Hamlet, in holding the skull of a person he use to know and was quite fond of remembering how the Jester would entertain him when he was younger, “He hath borne me on his back a thousand times…” (Greenblatt, 412) the skull is now a reminder of the finality of death. Hamlet is looking directly into the face of death literally (looking at Yoricks skull) and philosophically. He contemplates how the jester and Alexander the Great could have ended in the same exact place. The idea leads him to believe that death is common and it is inevitable. Yoricks skull now develops the theme of death because it is the first time Hamlet physically sees death seemingly giving him a more mature perspective of

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