If I had to identify the most important theme in Hamlet, I would probably point to death. Not only is it one of the main drivers of the plot (for Hamlet’s urge for revenge stems at his father’s death), but it is also at the heart of one of the main philosophical questions that Shakespeare explores in Hamlet: the nature of death. Through Hamlet’s fascination with death, Shakespeare deals with both the physical and the ambiguous spiritual aspect of it.
What does it mean to die? Even though this question repeatedly pops up throughout the entire play, Shakespeare deals with it directly in the graveyard scene of Act V. When Hamlet finds Yorrick’s skull, he delivers a powerful soliloquy in which he grotesquely describes the physical aspect of death. Hamlet talks about death as if it were nothing more than a process of decomposition. He emphasizes that absolutely everyone, from kings to beggars, ends up as dust. He illustrates this idea when he says, “To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till ‘a find it stopping a bunghole?” (V,i,175).
However, Shakespeare doesn’t limit himself to only the physical side of death-- he takes it much further and also addresses the spiritual aspect, showing that the mystery surrounding death is much more complicated than simply physical decomposition. King Hamlet’s ghost plays an important role here, since with it Shakespeare indicates that there is indeed an afterlife. However, Hamlet exposes the uncertainty of it, and thus explains why humans are so afraid of death. According to Hamlet, people fear death out of ignorance, because we are afraid of what we might encounter.
Hamlet is a character fascinated by death, which indicates that Shakespeare probably was too. Throughout the play Hamlet, Shakespeare tries to explain the significance of death and the role that it plays in human existence. However, in my opinion, what is even more significant is his attempt at explaining how our limited knowledge of death affects the how we live our lives.
What does it mean to die? Even though this question repeatedly pops up throughout the entire play, Shakespeare deals with it directly in the graveyard scene of Act V. When Hamlet finds Yorrick’s skull, he delivers a powerful soliloquy in which he grotesquely describes the physical aspect of death. Hamlet talks about death as if it were nothing more than a process of decomposition. He emphasizes that absolutely everyone, from kings to beggars, ends up as dust. He illustrates this idea when he says, “To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till ‘a find it stopping a bunghole?” (V,i,175).
However, Shakespeare doesn’t limit himself to only the physical side of death-- he takes it much further and also addresses the spiritual aspect, showing that the mystery surrounding death is much more complicated than simply physical decomposition. King Hamlet’s ghost plays an important role here, since with it Shakespeare indicates that there is indeed an afterlife. However, Hamlet exposes the uncertainty of it, and thus explains why humans are so afraid of death. According to Hamlet, people fear death out of ignorance, because we are afraid of what we might encounter.
Hamlet is a character fascinated by death, which indicates that Shakespeare probably was too. Throughout the play Hamlet, Shakespeare tries to explain the significance of death and the role that it plays in human existence. However, in my opinion, what is even more significant is his attempt at explaining how our limited knowledge of death affects the how we live our lives.
