Contrast in Act V of Hamlet

In William Shakespeares Hamlet, contrast plays a major role. Characters have

foils, scenes and ideas contrast each other, sometimes within the same soliloquy.

One such contrast occurs in subprogram Five, Scene One, in the graveyard. Here, the

relatively light mood in the setoff half is offset by the grave and somber mood

in the back up half.

The scene opens with two clowns, who function as a disunite of comic relief.

This is necessary, afterwards the tension of Ophelias breakdown (and subsequent ending),

and after the ever-increasing complexities of the plot. Previously, Polonious provided

some humour, but since he is dead, a new source moldiness be found - the gravediggers.

Their banter becomes the calm before the set upon of the duel, and the plays resolution.

There is also a juxtaposition of the clowns and the graveyard here, which further

intensifies the effect. The clowns chatter about their work in a carefree manner,

even going so far as to play with a riddle ( What is he that builds stronger ...

carpenter V,1,41-42). Shakespeare even went so far as to include his puns in this

grave scene (V,1,120).

Hamlet himself experiences a temporary lightening of mood from earshot to the

gravediggers conversation.



Their carefree treatment of death singing while digging

graves, non to mention tossing skulls in the air) is a parallel to Hamlets

newfound attitude. After having pull himself to his cause in Act IV, he is no

longer bothered by the paradox of good and evil, and (seemingly) is untroubled by

his previous misgivings.

Hamlets musings on the compare of all men in death serve as a transition into

the darker second half of the scene. His contemplations on death reflect Act IV,

Scene 3, when Hamlet gives voice to a funny notion concerning how a king

may...

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