Amber Zintel

Bones In A Hole:
Revealing Hamlet

Amber Zintel

There`s no doubt the character of prince Hamlet is well developed throughout the play of the same title, but how many character defining moments stood out as well as the infamous graveyard scene? This scene is the first in which the newly returned Hamlet is seen with his companion Horatio since he was sent away to be executed for his threatening madness in England. Surely it is not filled with action or scandal as some of the other scenes possess, but the insight it gives into Hamlets character is as profound as it is morbid. Not only does it show the personality and traits Hamlet possesses, but it also forces him to face questions about life itself that as the scene progresses- actually shape his beliefs and actions from that point on. Of the two parts of the scene, however, the first is the most significant to Hamlet and his characteristics; showing the audience the uninhibited and raw center of Hamlets logic and reason. Such as when Hamlet and Horatio come across the Gravediggers themselves, Hamlet begins with speech that is candid but not malicious. He makes stout observations on both the actions and ways with which the Gravedigger he addresses speaks and responds in a manner befitting his mostly forgotten status as Prince. This shows a certain element of pride and a large amount of Hamlets affectation of wit as he banters with the Gravedigger on small quandaries about death and dying. In his greeting he says That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once:/
how the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were/Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder!. This shows the type of easy speech with which he approaches the man, and surely an allusion to his education in matters of religion since he alludes to the biblical story of Cain and Abel. Another side of his character is shown through these allusions, and it is his belief in the Church and its teachings, and we can only assume any number of other academic sources given the matter of his childhood as a Prince.

Amber Zintel After a few lyrics on the Gravediggers part, he throws up a skull from the grave he is digging. This catches Hamlets morbid fascination with the departed and he muses on the life of the owner of the skull. This occupation with death has been shown in previous scene where he thinks on the afterlife, and dwells on the things that happen at death. Of course, having no personal connections to these bones the Gravedigger is unearthing at least to his knowledge- he takes a clinical sort of view that turns almost cynical in its analysis as he goes to mock the potentially high position of the person the skull once belonged to. It seems that he is embittered to rank after his Uncle had taken to the throne and muddled the natural order, and so affects Hamlets view on those with power or prestige. He seems to realize and take a kind of pity in the mortality of humankind. Although he does pity the short plight of men, he also seems to take great discomfort in the futility of life and material wealth. This is greatly represented when he begins his bitter comments that the bones might belong to a buyer of land or lawyer who held much money and are associated with greed and avariciousness. Of course, one cannot forget the significance of the impact on Hamlet when he was told the skull he had been mocking was none other than Yorick, his fathers loved court jester whom he knew from childhood. He becomes nostalgic and suddenly a gentle melancholy compared to his previous dry bitter attitude. He recalls fond memories and then delves into disgust at what has become of the man, just a skull in the earth with nothing but memories of laughter left behind. This reaction shows Hamlets own subliminal hesitations toward the subject of death as he muses over Yoricks skull. This is because the skull no longer represents a faceless person, but himself when he is to die as well as everyone he loves. This thought seems to disturb Hamlet, and he discusses his distaste with Horatio, asking him if he believed great men like Alexander the Great were reduced to such disgusting and low things. Horatio agrees and this seems only to further Hamlets disturbance over what he knows is to come.

Amber Zintel

In true fashion, Hamlet does not need to state the obvious as it were and profess his newfound hesitance toward death, but from the graveyard scene and on, he seems to accept that in the end death makes all equal on Earth. This newfound acceptance and trepidation are mixed in with Hamlets plot for revenge, and if anything solidifies it as his goal. As well as setting him upon his desired path more firmly, the raw disturbance and other such feelings Hamlet shows throughout the play go to show just what sort of man Hamlet is. To put it simply, the wide range of emotions shown is essentially Hamlet at his essence, reacting without fear of having to act for his spies or play the part of tragic lover. In this scene he is free of restriction emotionally and bears all in his personality, effectively giving the audience insight into who he is at the core.