Hamlet’s Obsession with Death
Breanna Caruth
1-4
The play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare in 1602, tells the story of Prince
Hamlet’s quest to avenge his father’s death. G. Wilson Knight writes about how “The general
thought of death, intimately related to the predominating human theme, the pain in Hamlet's
mind, is thus suffused through the whole play.” Death plays a significant role throughout the
story of Hamlet as it is both the cause and repercussion of revenge. This essay will trace
Hamlets fixation with death as he explores his desire for revenge and need for certainty in an
ambiguous world.
In the beginning of the play, Hamlet first encounters death with the sight of his father’s
ghost. Epitomizing the outcome of death, the ghost of King Hamlet elicits his dilemma of the
meaning of existence. The ghost sets the whole play in motion by exposing Hamlet’s Uncle
Claudius as the murderer and giving him orders of avenging his death. The contemplative
Hamlet is confused by the apparition he sees; his emotions want to believe it is truly his father
despite his extreme logic telling him otherwise. Hamlet says “What may this mean, that thou
dead corpse revisits the glimpses of the moon with thoughts beyond the reaches of ours?” (i.
iv.54-55,69). Confounded by the aftermath of death, Hamlet becomes metaphorically possessed
by the ghost of his father. Later on, Hamlet uses his intellect to plan a play that will prove the
ghosts legitimacy and truly expose Claudius.
Hamlet’s character continues to evolve as his feelings and emotions are slowly being
revealed. When Hamlet says his famous soliloquy encircled around the idea of death, “To be, or
not to be: that is the question: / Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer/ The sling of outrageous
fortune or to take arms against the sea of troubles” (ii.i.58-62), he questions the morality of
suicide and escaping the painful world we live in. He logically contemplates the thought of
ending his life and the depths of humanity. Hamlet compares death to a deep sleep which greatly
appeals to him. However, Hamlet fears “to sleep: perchance to dream/ For in the sleep of death
what dreams may come” (III.i.69,69). The “dreams” are the suffering in the afterlife he may face
if he chooses to kill himself. Samuel Johnson says: “This fear it is that gives efficacy to
conscience, which, by turning the mind upon this regard, chills the ardor of resolution, checks
the vigor of enterprise, and makes the current of desire stagnate in inactivity.” Hamlet’s fear of
death hinders his confidence and ability to act on his plan. Through reasoning, Hamlet comes to
the conclusion to stay alive and carry out his plan of revenge because of his inability to predict
what happens in the afterlife.
The turning point for Hamlet’s character occurs in the graveyard scene when he finds
Yorick’s skull. Yorick was a court jester he knew and loved as a boy. Hamlet stares death right
in the face coming to a crossroad after his long philosophical reflection of the meaning of life.
The skull fascinates him as he observes “Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how
oft” (V.i.174-175). Hamlet is intrigued by the physical consequence of death but also greatly
disturbed by the sight of his poor old jester. He comes to a mature realization of death, shifting
his mental state. Hamlet concludes that once dead, there are no differences between people.
Hamlet compares his simple jester to Alexander the Great and Caesar, all “dead and turned to
clay” (iv.i.193) expressing how they all met the same end. His previous thoughts of revenge and
suicide are strengthened as he no longer suppresses his emotions and accepts the inevitability of
death. In the final scene, Hamlet finally gets his revenge on Claudius by poisoning him and
stabbing him with a sword. With the deaths of his father, Ophelia and his mother in addition to
having only a few minutes to live, he knows he has nothing to lose. As Hamlet lies dying he
seems at peace with facing death for the first time in the play.
Prince Hamlet began as a contemplative character afflicted by his internal conflict. It
isn’t until the final scene he acts out of pure desire and kills King Claudius. He shifts from being
a dejected young man to a coldhearted killer. Conclusively, the driving force that leads to
Hamlet’s vengeance on King Claudius is his obsession with death.
Works Cited
“Death In Hamlet.” 20 Jan. 2013.
<http://www.sjfn.nb.ca/Lets_Connect/hamletonline/Death.HTML>
G. Wilson Knight. “The Embassy of Death” 1930. 23 Jan. 2013. <www.colegiobolivar.edu.co>
“Hamlet.” 20 Jan. 2013. <http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/themes.html>.
“Hamlet” 20 Jan. 2013 < http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/literature/hamlet/criticalessays/yoricks-skull-as-a-major-symbol.html>
Johnson, Samuel. “Johnson on Shakespeare.” 1929. 24 Jan. 2013.
<http://shakespearean.org.uk/ham1-joh.htm>.
Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet.” Toronto: Coles Publishing, 2009.
Smith, Nicole. “Analysis of the “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy in Hamlet by William
Shakespeare.” 6 Dec. 2011. Jan 20. 2013. <http://www.articlemyriad.com/analysis-tobe-not-to-be-hamlet>