Play Hamlet example essay topic

"So shall you hear / Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts; / Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters; / Of deaths put on by cunning and forc'd cause; / And, in this upshot, purposes mistook... ". (5.2. 373). The play Hamlet spares no discretion in the event of death, as there is a central theme of death and decay found in the main characters, the state of Denmark, and selective symbols and speeches. The theme of death is portrayed though the characters of the story. All of the characters in the play are killed for different reasons. For example, Claudius is killed for his unnatural acts such as killing his brother, King Hamlet, then marrying his wife and plotting to kill Hamlet.

Ophelia and Gertrude's deaths were accidental judgments, since Ophelia's death was questionably a misfortune and Gertrude unintentionally drank the poisoned chalice. Also, some characters were killed by their tragic flaw. For example, Polonius was casually killed for being an underhanded meddler. Laertes was killed because of his blind rage and his eagerness to revenge his father and sister, and in contrast to Laertes, Hamlet was killed for his inability to act efficiently. Additionally, Rozencrantz and Guildenstern were followers and they followed the forged order of the King to their eventual off-screen deaths. The theme of death and decay is also portrayed through the state of Denmark.

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark". (1.4. 90) Marcellus saw the ghost of King Hamlet and instantly knew that there was something wrong with his country. The ghost signified that the natural order of the world has been shifted, and that the illegitimate King was making the country diseased. There are also some symbols in the play that are used to represent the idea of death. For example, Hamlet discovers Yorick's skull in the graveyard and begins thinking to himself and musing with the skull.

Hamlet says "Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft", Which indicates that he has a fascination with the physical remains of the human body. Also, when Polonius is killed he is used as a symbol for the body's eventual decay. He coldly jests with Claudius, saying. ".. if you find him not within this month, you shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby". (4.3. 36) This example shows both death and decay of the physical body. Hamlet also makes many references to death. He contemplates many things about life, death and the afterlife.

He contemplates suicide in his famous soliloquy "To be, or not to be: that is the question: / Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, / And by opposing end them? -To die, -to sleep... ". (3.1. 56). Hamlet is considering whether it is nobler to struggle through life while suffering or to end the pain and commit suicide. Later in this soliloquy he decides that suicide would be the best option, however, he realizes the uncertainty of the afterlife "But that the dread of something after death / The undiscover'd country, from whose born / No traveller returns, -puzzles the will, /And makes us rather bear those ills we have / Than fly to others that we know not of?" (3.1. 79) The uncertainty is what is keeping all people from ridding themselves from this world.

In conclusion, the play Hamlet has a central theme of death found in the key personalities, the state of the country, and symbols and dialogue. This theme dominates the play in such a profound way that it makes this play one of the best in English language history.