Symbol
Yorick's Skull: The former court jester's skull is defiantly the most recognizable symbol from Hamlet altogether. The skull represents and presents the inevitability of death to Hamlet. this also goes hand in hand with the overwhelming theme of death in the final act of Hamlet, with the opening of the act in the graveyard, the funeral, and the deaths of nearly every major character in Hamlet, for death became a reality.
Allusion
"How the knave (The Gravedigger) jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain’s jawbone, that did the first murder!" act 5, s1 78-79
An allusion to Genesis 4:1-2, The Gravedigger throws skulls on the ground as if it were the instrument of the first murder, of course the skull is of Yorick, which takes Hamlet to the realization that all men will soon enough become dust.
-Spencer
No comments:
Post a Comment