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Evolution Of Hamlet's Relationship With Death

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No Fear Shakespeare: The Evolution of Hamlet’s Relationship With Death
Hamlet is man of many complicated relationships. Whether it’s with his ghost-father, treaturous step-dad, or ex-girlfriend, his connections are often volatile, including that of death. In the course of two weeks, Hamlet shifts from mournful, to suicidal, to frightened, and, finally, to accepting in regards to what lies beyond the grave. This transformation can only be attributed to the wise words of the Gravedigger. The Gravedigger is a turning point in Hamlet’s relationship with death, which starts, and ends, in the halls of the palace.

When first introduced to the Prince of Denmark, we are greeted with a gloomy and insolent young man. While the court celebrates the marriage …show more content…

In a moment of existential crisis, Hamlet prattles on about the grand lives of lawyers, land-owners, and even Julius Caeser, and how they are now just skulls in the ground. Although the prospect of equality in death is terrifying for the Prince, it has an entirely different meaning to the Gravedigger. The Gravedigger, who sings a tune while striking skulls with a pickaxe, has an entirely different take on what happens to us when we die. Unlike Hamlet, who views death as a fearsome extension of life, the Gravedigger views it more objectively. He does not view the many skulls he comes in contact with as the remains of the royalty. Instead, he describes the body as: “One that was a woman, sir, but, rest her soul, she’s dead” (5.1.138-139). When you’re alive, you have all the opportunities in the world, and when you die, there is nothing more. This is ‘Carpe Diem’ moment for Hamlet, who has spent the past few weeks so wrapped up in revenge for his father, and fear of what might come. He had no time to appreciate what he had, like his mother, and his friends. This voice of reason helps with Hamlet’s final moments on Earth, as he faces the reality that he, too, will be another skull in the …show more content…

Instead of spending a page or two discussing the gripping fear of the unknown, Hamlet embraces his fate. He repeats not once, not twice, but thrice that he is dying, a sign that he is truly coming to terms with it. Hamlet now believes that instead of going to a place of fire and misfortune, he is following his family and friends to a place that’s free of his sorrows. This acknowledgment of a brighter future shows that Hamlet has come full circle in regards to what lies ahead. His interaction with the Gravedigger has given him a new perspective on being dead, which he takes to heart as the poison slowly kills him. Another significant moment of change in Hamlet is when he persuades his closest friend, Horatio, from drinking poison and committing self-slaughter. It’s as if Hamlet is looking at his past self: anguished, desperate, and with no bright future ahead. Yet instead of urging his friend to join him in heaven, Hamlet convinces Horatio to live, saying: “Absent thee from felicity awhile,” (5.2.382). The maturation is evident of the effect the Gravedigger had on Hamlet’s perception of

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