Hamlet: The End

While reading Hamlet, our class discussed a variety of motifs, themes, and interpretations of the text. While discussing these varying topics, we came up with numerous questions and possible answers, yet one question remained the same throughout the play. What is the "so what" of this play? What is the underlying idea that Shakespeare was trying to relay through this play? While reading it, I was never able to answer the question. Now that we have finished, I have a possible theory that I have devised aided by the text and action that takes place in the final scene. 

The "to be or not to be" speech is one of the most popular and famous lines in Shakespearean literature today. In this speech, Hamlet poses a question that is extremely central to the development of his character and to the development of this play as a whole. Should he simply "be" and accept his fate and destiny that will come? Or should he "not be" and end his own life before facing the suffering and struggling that he will be afflicted with if he continues to "be" and simply live his life? Interestingly, this is a question that haunts humanity to this very day. What is the point of caring about our lives when they are filled with nothing but grief and despair? Is there really any meaning to our lives? 

I think the ending of this play is very important in showing us the answer to these questions. In Hamlet and Horatio's intimate conversation towards the end of the play, Hamlet tells Horatio, "Let be." And in essence, this answers everything. I think Hamlet is aware that he will be meeting his inevitable fate, whether it is simply pain or complete death he is not ware, but he is ready to accept it honorably. When Hamlet meets his death, it is interesting to note that his last words speak, "the rest is silence." Shakespeare almost seems to implying that the only real release is actually in accepting death - accepting that one will meet his downfall. "Silence," in my opinion, connotes peace and almost a sense of quiet acceptance. Perhaps one is only at "rest" when they have reached complete "silence" - meaning death. 

At the end, when all the characters - Hamlet, Ophelia, Gertrude, Claudius, Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern have met their deaths, Horatio remains to perhaps live on as Hamlet's spirit - to give truth to the world. It's interesting that all the truth comes out to the world AFTER all of these characters are dead. This goes to show that the truth only comes out after one reaches their death. It is only after death, that Denmark was able to become pure and new again with the reign of the new King, Fortinbras. I think Shakespeare was trying to show that as humans, it is inevitable that we accept our fates. These fates will inevitably be flawed and painful simply because that is the course of humanity. Shakespeare is trying to show that there will always be these sorts of ethical dilemmas that haunt humans in our lives and inflict pain and suffering upon us - but can it be any other way? 

Perhaps, death is indeed our true release.