Suicide and death

Suicide and death are important themes in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Death as leitmotif

Death runs through Hamlet as an absolute leitmotif. It is present from the first act to the end of the drama and appears in a variety of different forms: a fratricide as well as a regicide, accidental murder, an accident of a suicidal nature, retribution, an unfortunate coincidence, the result of a duel, and finally as a revenge killing. All the main characters, with the exception of Horatio, die one after the other in the play. Indeed, the play ends in a bloodbath as the duel between Laertes and Hamlet get out of control.

Death may also take the form of a suicide. To Hamlet in particular, the question arises as to whose life he should put an end to: his own or that of his murderous uncle.

Death of Hamlet’s father

Already in the exposition, Hamlet learns that Claudius has murdered his father in a devious way. He has poisoned him in his sleep and subsequently led all of Denmark to believe that the king died as a result of a snakebite.

Death in this case clearly serves the purpose of exposing the true loyalties of the court members. For instance, Queen Gertrude marries her brother-in-law after less than two months and refers to her husband’s death as a necessity of fate: “all that lives must die.” (1.2.74). The king’s death is never really discussed at court. In fact, Hamlet is the only one who sincerely mourns his father.

When the ghost of his deceased father appears to Hamlet in the very first act, it quickly becomes clear what a prominent role the murder of the former king will play: It is what prompts Hamlet to take revenge. Thus, the death of the old ...