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Layla Ziani

Mrs. Balka

My fav class

Hamlet Motif Supervised Essay

During the later half of the 19th century, the idea of equality between the races and even

the sexes was starting to gain some recognition. In fact many historians recognize the 18th

century as the century of the start of a more equal America. However, although many think of

the 18th century as the start of an everlasting equal rights campaign, throughout many of

Shakespeare’s 17th century tragedies and comedies, feudalistic society and social hierarchy was

challenged. Throughout the tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare’s idea that no matter your persona,

humanity carries an element of equality and sameness is brought to life through the ongoing

theme of images throughout the story.

Towards the ending of the play, Hamlet and his friend Horatio embark on a walk and

finally find themselves with two gravediggers who are contemplating “why may not that be the

skull of a lawyer” or why “this fellow might [have been] a great buyer of land.” (Act 5). As both

of the gravediggers are pulling out skulls and different bones, even Hamlet starts to contemplate

whether the next skull “was a gentleman” or merely just a peasant (Act 5). In this case, the

image being presented is a skull which is a symbol for the uncontrollable fate and biological

equality that each human embodies. Through comparing the different life accomplishments that

each dead body may have done while still alive, Shakespeare is trying to show that even though

we may put on personas to the outside world in hopes of showing society that we may be better,

richer, or more good-looking than another, we truly are just flesh and bone. No matter what we
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do, where we go, and who we are, we will all end up in the ground when life is over. During

Shakespeare’s time and the height of the European feudal system, the philosophy of equality

between people was very countercultural and frowned upon. The idea that people of nobility

were equal in thought and in mind to the people of the peasantry was unheard of and very

dangerous to think because it greatly challenged stereotypes and societal norms. Through

personifying the image of skull and giving it human like qualities, one can understand that

Shakespeare is trying to outline that no matter how good, how bad, how rich, or how poor

someone is, we are all biological equal because on the inside we all have a skull, we all have

bones, and we all have flesh. As the scene progressed, Hamlet realized that one the skulls was

his late mentor and play mate that held a very special place in his heart. When Hamlet ponders

the image of the skull, Shakespeare’s element of human equality regardless of social rank is

supported as Hamlet starts to understand that even though this late man was very influential to

Hamlet, it does not change the fact that all of us will just return to the ground when we are

finished with life. In conclusion Shakespeare’s everlasting theme of images throughout the

tragedy of Hamlet, more specifically the image of the skull symbolizes that humanities

biological equality regardless of what personas one exploits to society.

Finally, although many historians believe that the start of social equality began in the late

19th century, the real framework began when Shakespeare started writing his tragedies and

comedies throughout the 17th century. More specifically, throughout the tragedy of Hamlet, the

idea of social hierarchy and feudalism is challenged through the ongoing theme of images that is

given light through the important symbolism of the skull.