Where Knowledge Rules

Arts & Humanities:

Literature

Get a Widget for this title

Literary analysis: Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

O! The Frailties of Life!
The transient nature of human existence in Shakespeare's Hamlet



No, faith, not a jot, but to follow him thither with modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it; as thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to 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? Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, might stop a hold to keep the wind away. O, that that earth which kept the world in awe Should patch a wall t'expel the winter's flaw! (Act V, Scene I, ln. 209-218)

So speaks Shakespeare's Prince Hamlet of the transient nature of all of mankind. Throughout the play, humanity's frailty is a common theme. Whether it be succumbing to pride, avarice, madness, or death itself, man's weaknesses are continually emphasized. Furthermore, Hamlet's musing in the above-quoted scene also touches on the fact that all men, whoever they may be, will eventually fall.

The graveyard scene at the beginning of Act V provides the perfect backdrop wherein Hamlet and Horatio discuss the fragility of human life. As Hamlet picks through various skulls in a grave, he comments on the various possibilities in vocation and accomplishment that each respective skull may at one time have represented, whether it be a singer, courtier, or lawyer. He asks Horatio if he thinks that even the body of a man such as Alexander the Great looked the same in death. When Horatio tells him that it did, Hamlet comments, "To what base uses we may return (ln 204, scene I, Act V)."

Hamlet then goes on to describe what happens to the human body when it dies. He explains that as great as Alexander was in life, when he dies his body is no better than anyone else's. It goes through the same process of degeneration as all human bodies do. Beginning in line 211, "Alexander returneth to dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam." His body eventually is turned to clay. Hamlet continues to emphasize this point by referring to Julius Caesar in line 215. However "Imperious" he may have been, his body was also turned to clay when he died.

Hamlet also specifically describes the "base uses" that the body may return to after death and decomposition: "Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander till a find it stopping a bunghole (ln. 205-206)?" He further states in line 213, "and why of that loam whereto he was converted might they not stop a beer barrel?" Basically, after Alexander is dead


Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Literary analysis: Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

  • 1 of 55

    by Merve Cavus

    DEFENSIVE MECHANISMS AS COVER IN HAMLET

    One of the aspects of tragedy is that the protagonist faces a great crisis that challenges

    read more

  • 2 of 55

    by Lacy Enderson

    Hamlet, a play by William Shakespeare, is known to be one of the greatest tragedies ever written. But is Hamlet really a

    read more

  • 3 of 55

    by Megan Shaw

    Hamlet: A look Into Religion and Morality

    A young man mourns his father's death while his mother is getting married. One

    read more

  • 4 of 55

    by Tessa Dick

    Hamlet's Dilemma

    A young man comes home from the university to find his father dead and his mother remarried. His new stepfather

    read more

  • 5 of 55

    by Alice George

    Shakespeare Essay - The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

    Analysis of the Opening Scene

    'Who's there?' begins Shakespeare's

    read more

View All Articles on:
Literary analysis: Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

Add your voice

Know something about Literary analysis: Hamlet, by William Shakespeare?
We want to hear your view. Write_penWrite now!

Helium Debate

Cast your vote!

Which type of sonnet is better: Italian or English?

Click for your side.

228713

Featured Partner

Nicki Leach Foundation

My hope is that every person with cancer can smile because someone touched his or her life. So many of you made Nick...more

What is Helium? | Buy Web Content | Contact Us | Privacy | User agreement | DMCA | User Tools | Help | Community | Helium’s Official Blog | Link to Helium

Helium, Inc.
200 Brickstone Square Andover, MA 01810 USA