Hamlet on Death
Hamlet’s different perspectives of death Death is perceived as different things according to different people. In William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet,” the title character, Hamlet openly expresses his opinion of death through the various acts he commits and the things he says. The play follows the life of Prince Hamlet after his father’s death. Throughout the play, Hamlet devotes himself to avenging his father’s death and killing his ignoble uncle, but because he is very contemplative and fastidious, he delays his plan and falls into a sort of depression and madness. Hamlet openly shows a diverse opinion on what he believes death is. Hamlet believes death to be a sort of black hole that ends with nothingness; however he also believes that death is something to mourn and be saddened about. Throughout the play, Hamlet shows his value of death through his reactions to a couple of the character’s deaths. Early on, Hamlet shows his disappointment of death with his reaction to his father’s death. Initially, he expresses his state when he speaks to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern and says “I have of late—but wherefore I know not—lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory” (2.2.295-299). Hamlet has found no joy or happiness in his world now that his father is gone. He finds the world to be an empty place to live in. His reaction toward his father’s death symbolizes his respect he has towards death. Hamlet also reacts the same way with Ophelia’s death. As soon as Hamlet finds out about Ophelia’s death he argues with Laertes claiming “forty thousand brothers could not, with all their quantity of love, make up my sum” (5.1.254–256). Hamlet shows his sadness at the event of those lamentable deaths. Ultimately, Hamlet shows how he thinks death is an unfortunate event when his loved ones die. Although Hamlet shows remorse for the death of his loved ones,