Hamlet and Subject of Death
Hamlet and Subject of Death
It is evident that death is one of the main themes in the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. The characters in the play either lose their lives due to their own wrong doing or as a result of manipulation. Death is significant in Polonius family due to their involvement in schemes by Claudius and hamlet. Polonius is the first character in hamlet to die after being stabbed by Hamlet who confuses him for an intruder (Shakespeare, 2005, act 3, scene 4). Ophelia also goes insane and drowns in a river near the castle (Shakespeare, 2005, act 4, scene 7). Ophelia’s cause of insanity is attributed to her father death. Ophelia’s father was Polonius, and when she finds out that he has been killed goes mad. Laertes, Ophelia brother also dies while on a mission to avenge his father, Polonius death. Laertes is an innocent victim of death as he engages in his vengeful mission due to pressure from characters like Claudius.
In act 4(7), Claudius asks “Laertes was your father dear to you? Or are you like … a face without a heart” (Shakespeare, 2005, act 4(7). Claudius pressurizes Laertes to avenge his father death unless he is simply pretending to be sorrowful. Claudius uses his treacherous words to convince Laertes that hamlet is the common enemy and that he should die to avenge Polonius death. In his quest to kill Hamlet with a poisoned sword, a struggle ensues with Hamlet grabbing the poisoned sword and stabbing Laertes. Laertes would not have died had he not poisoned the swords he had intended to use to kill Hamlet. Unfortunately, Hamlet is also wounded and dies due to the poison from the sword.
Queen Gertrude also dies after she consumes a poisoned drink. Claudius in his determination to kill Hamlet poisons his drinks. Unfortunately, for Claudius, Hamlet refuses to take the drink and the queen takes it and dies. It is Claudius vengefulness that leads him to poison his own wife and Queen. In the end, King Claudius also dies after Hamlet stabs him with the poisoned sword. In his anger, he cuts Claudius head and pours the poisoned drink down Claudius throat.
The theme of Mortality is pronounced from the first scene of the play to the last scene. In the first scene, Hamlet is confronted by the ghost of his father. His father had been killed by King Claudius who had the impression that he was invisible. Hamlet, the main character, is also obsessed with death from the beginning of the play. Hamlet believes that he can see his father ghost. Hamlet also believes that his father, who was King, was killed by King Claudius. Hamlet, in an effort to prove that king Claudius is guilty organizes a play that demonstrates that his father was killed by Claudius through poisoning.
In the quest to prove the killers of his father, Hamlet, is at war with his conscience struggling with thoughts of suicide. He is constantly obsessed with death and often contemplates killing himself. His suicidal thoughts and deathly state of mind are also evident in his explanation of the location of Polonius body. He blankly states “not where he eats, but where he is eaten…we fat ourselves for maggots” (Shakespeare, 2005, act 4, scene 3). His obsession with death sees him describe the process after death as a cycle where a body is eaten by worms; the worms are used to get food e.g. fishing hence the man eats the dead body.
Hamlet constantly contemplates about death and the idea of suicide runs through his mind. However, his uncertainty of the afterlife makes him ignore the idea of committing suicide. The theme of mortality is intertwined with other minor themes such as deceit and vengeance. Claudius deceitful nature sees members of Polonius family die in innocent circumstances. It is also the king’s vengeful nature that sees his wife through poisoning. Laertes is also incited to avenge his father’s death. This marks the end scene of the play which ends in a blood bath. Laertes is stabbed by Hamlet and dies Hamlet accidentally gets wounded and dies but not before slitting King Claudius throat killing him too.
My analysis of Hamlet gives various insights about the theme of Mortality. First, Mortality is a complex ideology that one cannot find adequate answers. Throughout the play, Hamlet questions the idea of death. In Act 3 scene 1, he states “to be or not to be” (Shakespeare, 2005). This is one of the many quotes that he makes with reference to death. Hamlet is contemplating suicide in this scene. He wonders where it is better to wait for death or to commit suicide. The more he ponders over the idea of death, the more he asks more questions. The story of Hamlet is also evidence that some acts such as death and mortality are beyond human understanding. Death is inevitable, and man must not struggle to comprehend the issues revolting death, life and morality as it will lead to confusion and detachment from the real world.
Reference
Shakespeare, W. (2005). Hamlet. Prestwick House Inc.
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