Fear Of Death In Hamlet Essay

The Breath of Death
“Why should I fear death? If I am, death is not. If death is, I am not. Why should I fear that which cannot exist when I do?” (Epicurus). Death is an abstract concept that has been pondered towards for millennium. In Shakespeare’s brilliant work Hamlet, Shakespeare utilizes the character Hamlet to reflect transitions in life as death enters and absorbs one’s life. For most of the play Hamlet contemplates on the mysteriousness of death and its unknown because it has stayed distant from him. Then near the end of the play as death veers ever closer, he experiences its physicality and the reality of death in life. Hamlet, eager to carry out his sinister dealings for most of the play, cannot carry through with them because he
Once Hamlet kills Polonius, therefore knowing what it is like to kill, and spends time with the dead body, his view of death becomes realistic and “closer to home”. When discussing with Claudius, Hamlet states “your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service - two dishes but to one table” (IV.iii.26-27). Hamlet remarks to King Claudius that he is of the same worth as a beggar because once death ensues he will be in the ground, just as equal as the beggar. In other words, death is the great equalizer and leveler of all. Previously, Hamlet’s views of death were seen through faithful and empirical minds; however now his “thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!” (IV.iv.69). Furthermore, after holding Yorick’s skull and witnessing Ophelia’s funeral, Hamlet becomes well aware that death is encroaching on his life. With this in mind he mentions that “Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he was converted might they not stop a beer barrel?” (V.i.216-219). No matter how much of an impact one can make on the world, death is always the same. Not even Alexander the Great can escape this fate. He can go from being a great king to a measly beer stopper. Instead of Hamlet reminiscing on whether one has control of the minds after
However, in the famous play Hamlet, Shakespeare cleverly paints a picture of the known and unknown elements of death through the psychological mindset of Hamlet as he progresses through the play. Even though the story of Hamlet may seem absurd, it carries along the vital message that death appears more real to one another as it consumes the lives of those we love. While the Grim Reaper cannot be stalled, we can savor the time we have now with those we love before his sharp scythe takes each and everyone one of us away into the