Act V Hamlet

Lines 93-94: Hamlet has questioned why one would choose the struggles of life over death, concluding it must be the unknown consequences death brings. In this example, Hamlet is questioning whether or not the dead bones are worth anything more than to be used to play a simple game, whereas, in life, they had meaning and value. This contributes to Hamlet’s idea that death makes everything equally unimportant.  

Lines 96-99: These lines contain the gravedigger’s song where there is both repetition and end rhyme. The song-like rhythm adds a sort of emphasis on the meaning of the words, getting them caught in one’s mind through the monotony of the beat. He is singing about digging holes to shroud the bodies that they will contain. This illustrates how every body is put in the same hole in the ground and treated with equality. This relates to the theme by saying, once one is dead they are met by the pit of clay to eternally rest no matter who that person may have been in life.

Lines 100-105: The use of rhetorical question in these lines show Hamlets dismal outlook on death. Hamlet asks why the skull could not have been that of a lawyer and continues to ask where the dead bone’s lawful tactics are now that he is in the grave. This shows his dismal, pessimistic views on death, because Hamlet is saying that you could lead any path in life and once you are dead. It no longer matters who you were or what you had.

Lines 107-108: In these lines Hamlet continues to speak about the man the skull may have belonged to. He says that man may have been wealthy and owned much land, and continues using repetition to list the things he may have possessed by using parallel structure “his” before each item i the list. This purpose of repetition and parallel structure in these lines emphasises Hamlet’s belief that although this man may have had wealth and professionalism in his life, they are meaningless to him now in death.

Lines 108-110: The continued use of parallel structure, rhetorical question, and repetition to develop Hamlet’s views is shown through this next example. Hamlet asks whether the dead man’s “fine of his fines” and “recovery of his recoveries” are only worth a “fine” plate of dirt in death. Hamlet can be shown to reflect on the prospect of his own death in this example and the passage as a whole. One can surmise that Hamlet could be coming to terms with the possibility that he will not come out alive after attaining his revenge. Hamlet questions whether what he does in life matters since death is unavoidable and treats everyone equally.

Lines 110-114: Shakespeare uses rhetorical question and metaphor to restate how Hamlet views the idea of death.