In this scene, lines 181-191, we see Hamlet's second most famous soliloquy. Indeed, the most common portrayal of Hamlet is with him holding a skull. Break this speech down. What do you notice? How does it relate to the rest of the play? What is he saying, from a philosophical stance? Does it run counter to anything we've heard from him before? Does it match up with anything other characters have said? Take this where you want to go. We're doing this one in class, so I'm looking for around 7 good sentences worth of commentary. Afterwards, briefly respond to 1 classmate in detail. If you like, and time permits, you may respond to more.
This speech is different from the rest of his soliloquies because he is surrounded by people, he is no longer talking to just himself. Hamlet isn’t focused on the woe of life or uncertainty of the great beyond that is the after life, but rather, he’s focused on the memories he made with the Jester he knew. The tone of this soliloquy is reminiscent and reflective, he’s remembering how bright life was around the Jester. His attitude in this soliloquy counters is To be speech, where he was questioning whether trudging through life’s strife was really worth it. This speech though, Hamlet seems to see the brighter side of life, he seems hopeful. From a philosophical sense, it seems as if Hamlet is saying that there are moments in life worth living for. Hamlet is starting to take back control of his actions, and not allowing himself to be a victim of circumstance no longer.
ReplyDeleteI think the fact that he is surrounded by people plays a major role in the way he's acting. Not only is he not just talking to himself but he's also not only thinking about himself. He talks about others like Alexander and Caesar and also speaks fondly of his Jester. This does make it seem like a turning point in his thoughts where he is possibly done thinking about his own death and could be more focused on finishing his actions that he was put on the earth for. -Maggie
DeleteFrom a philosophical standpoint, I notice that he is recognizing and questioning the true finality of death and the effect. Although, as each character loses their life, one after another, it is tossed aside as not a big deal. Yet, it is. Hamlet is in the zone of remembering his childhood and all the happy times, when he remembers the true reality of his situation. Hamlet is coming across as though life becoming more and more important to him, rather than meaningless. This is the opposite of how he has felt about his life before. I also noticed that Hamlet misses the innocent times of his childhood that was full of togetherness and simplicity. Lastly, in his speech I feel that he is close to getting out of touch with reality, but he quickly realizes the status of Ophelia and comes back.
ReplyDeleteI concur that this selection represents a reality check for Hamlet's philosophy of death. The sight of the skullis indeed sobering. However, Hamlet does not know that Ophelia is dead at this point in the story. Honestly, this is good because his reflection on death is more rational without knowledge of a death that he likely caused.
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ReplyDeleteI completely agree, this soliloquy perfectly demonstrates Hamlet’s bewilderment of the human life cycle. It’s also important that you pointed out that he focused on the good times in life, which is different than Hamlet’s usual fascination with life’s “sea of troubles”.
DeleteI feel like Hamlet is coming to a realization here that no matter what one does in life, everyone is eventually buried in the ground. Usually when he discusses the afterlife he mentions Heaven or Hell, but in this soliloquy he is acknowledging that once someone dies their body turns to dust and is used "to make loam." He acknowledges Alexander the Great and Caesar to show that even significant figures have turned to clay or dust. Hamlet has had this ongoing obsession with death, but once he sees the skull of Yorick, someone he once knew, it almost seems like he no longer is fascinated with death. He realizes that a dead body is a dead body and it will end up being a skull that is tossed around by a grave digger, no matter who they once were. This soliloquy in a way kind of simplifies Hamlet's typical battle of the mind when it comes to dying and afterlife. He is not questioning afterlife, he is acknowledging the physical decay of the human body.
ReplyDeleteI agree strongly about how this demonstration of the human life cycle "uncomplicates" death for Hamlet. In soliloquies such as the one where Hamlet contemplates if death should be sought out for, or should be feared, he contradicts himself so much that it seems as if he has no idea what he is talking about himself. This soliloquy conveys that Hamlet is finally accepting exactly what death brings everyone to, which is just a recycled form of the earth. This acceptance is one of the very few signs of sanity we've seen so far from Hamlet in my opinion as well.
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I really agree with this comment. Hamlet is finally realizing that death is death and it is the same for everyone. He knows that people are not alone in death.
DeleteHere, I feel like Hamlet is remembering an easier time. When he was a child, things were easier and his life was not falling apart (his father was still alive, his mother was still in love with his father, and his uncle was only his uncle). He is recognizing that similarly to how Yorick is now dead and cannot sing or make jokes, his own childhood is also dead. He is also stating that death does not discriminate, whether it be a Jester or a conqueror. This is similar to his other soliloquies because of his fascination with death.
ReplyDeleteI never saw it as his childhood dying but when you really look into it, I can see where you're coming from. I don't disagree with you at all and it's definitely something to add onto. I also felt like he was questioning as to why death had to come around and take the people who cared about him or showed him some pretty good times.
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ReplyDeleteHamlet had been depressed but then has fond memories of his childhood that he had never expressed. Hamlet then turns it back around to the cycle of life and how even the best people, or the most important people all fall. He wonders if Alexander felt accomplished and enjoyed the world around him.He wonders why death happens although he understands that it's the end of life. Hamlet may have never liked life that much and he looks back on the man that brought him the most joy as a child. It's just the fact that so many people that Hamlet loved or made an impact on his life all faded away is something that just gets rid of the blood driven rage. In a philosophical stance I see it as no matter who you are, death stops for no one.
ReplyDeleteI really agree with this point, life is very important and not to be wasted. It is almost a question of "Did I make the most out of my life and live it to the fullest?". Life is short and to be taken seriously. What you do in life will leave a lasting impression.
DeleteIn this soliloquy, Hamlet ponders about how all people, no matter their reputation while alive, all return to death and the earth in the end. This kind of thought has been seen before when Hamlet is talking to Claudius about how Polonius is currently being eaten by worms, and how it's funny that one day a king will be a beggar's dinner. Hamlet also shows believes that anything you can do to try and beautify yourself is worthless, as he makes a joke about how Ophelia's over powdered face will one day look just as ugly as Yorick's skull. This joke also reveals that Hamlet is still not aware of Ophelia's death. The whole speech in itself is quite contradictory to the play as a whole, which is ultimately about getting revenge for the death of a father. If Hamlet sees death as something that all people will eventually come upon, why is he so upset that his father was murdered? It's going to happen to us all anyways, right? This point is advanced more as Hamlet goes to continue to talk about how kings, which brings King Hamlet into mind, could one day be used as corks for wine, and even foundation for walls.
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I completely agree with this analysis Tyson! It stuck out to me how he is acknowledging that everyone who dies does end up in the ground. This is interesting since death is usually this complicated battle of afterlife for Hamlet. I did not even think about the connection between this soliloquy and his anger towards his father's death. Great analysis.
DeleteThis is very interesting to me. I did not think of it this way. Hamlet is definitely suggesting that death will take anyone, so why is he seeking revenge for his father? But, because he does want revenge, doesn't he realize that Claudius will eventually suffer the same fate. This makes me wonder about Hamlet's internal conflict. This is proof that he is conflicted.
DeleteJust because we all end up dead, I don't think that means Hamlet can't want revenge for his father's death. His father was innocent and his life was cut short. So while he would end up dead anyway, the time came sooner than needed, so the anger was justified. But I like the thought of the worm quote, as well as the last comment on everyone being used the same way after death.
DeleteIn this soliloquy Hamlet is speaking in remembrance of a jester he knew and grew acquainted with in life. He tells of his features and his fond memories of him. Hamlet is saying all these things to point out how death is the end. Once death arrives, that life and all connections with it are over. Death is final, and not to be taken lightly. All the things you may like about someone in their life is pretty much gone when they are dead. You will never hear that person speak again, see them, socialize with them or form more memories. Death is not to be taken lightly, it is the end of the mortal life and everything with it. The main thing is that life is very short and not to be wasted.-Greysun Staggs
ReplyDeleteI agree with this because life should be lived to its fullest. Death is coming and it's not like you can hide from it, so you should make the most out of the time you have. Also, it's hard to think that one day, someone you love could just cease to exist, and that's an extremely hard thing to deal with, which Hamlet goes to prove. The death of his father flipped his whole life upside down and it's interesting how looking at the skull of the jester kinda cools him down and makes him rethink. -kilby
DeleteIn this soliloquy, Hamlet is again reflecting on life and death. I think that Yorick's skull is a physical reminder to Hamlet that death is certain. It's like he's looking death in the eyes. As he stares at the skull of Yorick, he sees how death has taken away everything from Yorick that made him who he was and turned into nothing but bone. Hamlet realizes the vanity of life as he thinks about how even the body of Alexander the great "turns to dust," and in a way begins to accept death in a more mature way because it is inevitable. This one little speech basically changed Hamlet's outlook on life.
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DeletePhilosophically, Hamlet examines the way in which death dehumanizes everyone. The sight of the fleshless skull of Yorick makes the jester “abhorred in [Hamlet’s] imagination”. Despite Yorick’s joyful and amusing life, his hideous skull retroactively alters Hamlet’s childhood memories. The transformation of a childhood friend to a humanoid lump of calcium is too much for Hamlet ot bear. Death is altogether serious. Therefore, the death of a jester is inherently ironic and juxtaposes a life of comedy with resolute, inanimate bone. This sobers Hamlet’s earlier claims that suicide (and consequently death) via a “bare bodkin” is preferable to a conflicted life. In this moment, Hamlet is aghast at the physical, undeniable reality of death. Thus, his intellectual conception of death is disjointed from death as a physical reality. In essence, his philosophical view of death does not stand up to scrutiny when holding the skull of a beloved jester.
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ReplyDeleteIn this soliloquy Hamlet can be seen reminiscing about when he was a kid and life was easier. He talks about how Yorick represented a time in his life when he was happy. He notices that it does not matter what happens in one's life on earth because in the end everyone dies. Hamlet can be seen for the first time in the play being happy. In all the other soliloquies Hamlet was full of sadness or anger. Now he is joyous to remember the good times with Yorick. Hamlet is very interested with human life and death. This is important as he is about to find out that Ophelia has died.
ReplyDeleteAt this point in the play Hamlet has come upon the gravedigger where he finds different skulls and he has apparently come across the skull of Yorick, which was the jester when he was a child. I think this speech is important because throughout the entire play Hamlet has talked about his own death and has thought about suicide many time. This makes the graveyard scene very ironic because he is literally looking death in the eyes by looking at this skull. He then starts thinking about other great people who have lived and died and he kind of looks at death as something that makes everyone equal. Death will happen to everyone and at some point everyone will turn to dust and become part of the earth. He talks about people like Alexander the Great and Caesar and how they are nothing more than Clay and Dirt now. This is when he realizes that at some point he will also be nothing but a memory like his jester.
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I like the point that you made in saying that by looking at the skull, he's looking one of his biggest fears right in the face. I completely agree with this. I think that Hamlet is finally realizing the whole aspect of death, even though the thought still scares him. Hamlet sees how all of us are basically just dust in the end, even if we accomplished very great things in our life here on Earth.
DeleteI really liked how you said "he was looking death in the eye". This shows how he is physically facing death, something that everyone will have to face at some point. He has dealt with death so much, that he is finally realizing the importance that death has on the physical body. I also agree with you that death makes everyone equal; nobody can escape it and everyone becomes dust basically because of death.
DeleteIn this speech, Hamlet is reflective of what Yorick was to him and the positive memories associated with him. He looks back on a happy part of his life before returning to reality. He becomes aware of death and the skull represents the final statement that death is, and how all life ends with death. No matter how great and important you are, like Alexander the Great, you end up in the ground looking and smelling the same as everyone else. He shows acceptance of the human fate and is humbled of all lives ending the same.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Jocelyn! Hamlet is definitely using his background with Yorick to realize that death is coming to everyone, and that we are nothing but rubbish after we die. I like the fact that you mentioned Alexander the Great also. Everyone turns into dust, becoming part of the earth, and fades away from the real world to a point where they no longer exist.
DeleteI notice that Hamlet has a quick reaction and him knowing this man makes him think about the nature of life and death. This relates to one of Hamlet's soliloquies where he is contemplating whether to kill himself or not, and doesn't really know what will happen in the after life. From this, he makes the assumption that it is better to live than kill himself, which can be compared to him thinking that not everyone can live now. I think Hamlet is trying to say that death is tragic and that there is no actual way to prevent it. This is because it is going to happen upon everyone at some time. Looking back on his momentous occasions with the jester, Hamlet realizes this point and how life can end immediately without warning. Although he doesn't know that the grave is for Ophelia, I feel that this partly relates to her because she has died and will never come back to life too.
ReplyDeleteIn this speech, I noticed quite a bit of confusion and disbelief surrounding Hamlet. He still is struggling with the issue of death in this speech, which can also be seen in the earlier soliloquies and entirety of the play. I feel like this definitely ties in with his perceptions of death and the afterlife that we have seen prior, because he speaks of someone that he used to know like he does of his father earlier in the play. He uses this to ask Horatio a series of questions and attempt to make a connection to money, and the state of its nature as it relates to death. In doing so, he uses Alexander the Great as an example. This shows that Hamlet knows in the end we are all equal to one another, because we all end up in the same place once we are gone- the ground. I think from a philosophical view, we see into Hamlets brain slightly on how hard the concept of death is for him to grasp. He refers to memories of him and Yorick, which pains him quite a bit. This is because he doesn’t understand how someone, or something that you can love so much can be gone in an instant to a different place from Earth. I think that this is the concept that has been driving Hamlet slowly crazy in the play, especially since he believes that his father’s soul relies on him to move from purgatory to Heaven.
ReplyDeleteThis soliloquy relates to the rest of the play because it conveys the idea that after death, everyone is equal. Hamlet was close with Yorick when he was young, but none of that matters now because death has allowed Yorick's body to be forgotten, as do all bodies. Perhaps Hamlet is fully understanding the meaning and importance of death, which is that it evens the playing field. It doesn’t matter what one does in life because when they die, it all becomes nothing. This emphasises the fact that Hamlet’s killing of Polonius and possibly Claudius will not affect him because death is finite. When Hamlet describes Yorick's happy and cheerful disposition while he lived, this builds on what he said before in his "To be or not to be" soliloquy when he described death as a way to end the suffering of life. It can be seen now that Hamlet views death more as a final effect in which everything that happened in life is no longer important and fades away.
ReplyDeleteThroughout this soliloquy, Hamlet sounds remorseful yet also somewhat at a newfound peace. Seeing the skull of a man he once considered a friend and good company in his childhood has brought Hamlet what seems to be much-needed closure. He remembers the short time he shared with the Jester and looks back happily. Hamlet seems to get closure from the skull because it can finally hit him that no matter what, every person ends up the same way–dead and eventually just dust–and he accepts this. No matter what people look like or appear to be, each life ultimately ends the same. The consistent cycle of life and death becomes reality. This appears to be the internal push Hamlet needs in order to finally take action.
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