Hamlet Graveyard Scene Analysis

Fatima Gama

Ms. Vega

Expository English

03 December 2017

Act V: Hamlet

1 & 2. Hamlet’s infamous graveyard scene that takes place upon Act 5, expresses Hamlet's constant reflection upon death. In the midst of this scene, Hamlet holds up a skull of a decomposed human who he once knew: Yorick. Yorick was once a court gesture whom he loved very dearly when he was a child. The skulls symbolism is, inevitable death and decay. Since the begging of play, we could see how Hamlet has always been obsessed with the idea of death and how he is always contemplating his life, questioning if it was even worth living. This scene shares a certain characteristic that sets it apart from any other scene where Hamlet is reflecting upon death, he actually comes

The play “Hamlet” is solely based on the themes of betrayal and revenge. Throughout the play, we have witnessed that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have betrayed Hamlet. These two characters decided to go against Hamlet, their friend, to gain recognition from the King and Queen when they accepted to become spies of Hamlet. Their fate was set when they chose to do an evil deed against a person who they considered a friend. It was just as an act of Karma, the evil deed came back to them and slapped them in the face resulting in their deaths. Hamlet contributed towards their fate to be fulfilled by letting their own actions decide their outcome, as he emphasizes the fact that he does not feel guilty nor remorse, abandoning them on the ship. He claims that’s what they deserved, They are not near my conscience; their defeat / Does by their own insinuation grow up (Act V, scene ii, like 61,

It can be said that the fates of Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, Hamlet, Horatio, and Fortinbras, were set due to their own character “personality”. Take into consideration that the deaths of both Gertrude and Claudius were fixated since the beginning. Gertrude was so oblivious to her surroundings and was so shallow, as if she only worried about her wholesome and no one else. Moreover, Claudius, was the downfall of the kingdom; the unwanted weed in a garden. His fate was sealed when he performed the evil deed against his own brother just to justify his wants and needs: karma. Adding on, Laertes character was blinded by his own anger which led him to decisions without taking time to reflect upon them. His inability to perceive right from wrong led him to his downfall. Hamlet’s fate was fixated when he decided for revenge. Even though it took him a prolonged period of time to actually be able to take his thoughts into actions, his fate was the same, he died but was able to honor his father’s death. Whereas, Horatio was loyal to Hamlet, even upon his death he offered to take his life to die with Hamlet, but he instead told him that he should live to tell the story of what happened. The horrors sense of loyalty fixated his fate; to live. Lastly, Fortinbras. Fortinbras has all the characteristics that any honorable young man should have. Even though he underwent a similar tragedy as that of Hamlet, he was able to have a favorable outcome, he released Denmark of its prolonged