Shakespeare's Hamlet Character Analysis

The gravedigger is first introduced in Act 5 Scene 1, and brings the reader some comic relief in contrast with the scenes before and after. His main motivation in the scene is to discuss the propriety of giving Ophelia a Christian burial and show off his wit while singing and digging her grave. It is interesting to note that the gravedigger is constantly surrounded by death, yet he possesses a humorous and lighthearted aura, a behavior which conveys a seeming joyous acceptance of death. Through the gravedigger dialogues, Shakespeare reinforces of the themes in his play-that death is inevitable. The gravedigger is also a foil to Hamlet. While Hamlet only pretends to be a fool to achieve his goals, the gravedigger is a "real" fool. There is also a hint of rivalry in the scene-the gravedigger and Hamlet are in a battle of wits and compete to see who is a better "fool." The gravedigger also evokes a great deal of irony, because he does not know that the person he is speaking to is prince Hamlet, and he talks about Hamlet in third person. Clown 1, in some versions of Hamlet, appears at the beginning of Act 5 Scene 1 instead of the gravedigger. This character has similar motivations and emotions in the scene, as he is almost identical to the gravedigger. Horatio's role in the scene is very minor. He entered the graveyard with Hamlet and his main purpose in the scene is to respond briefly to Hamlet. The six lines that Horatio has all agree with what Hamlet said immediately before. In this scene, Horatio doesn't evoke much emotion other than the feeling of loyalty and is portrayed as a passive character who is Hamlet's confidant. Horatio's behavior in this scene is consistent with that before the scene, since Horatio is Hamlet's trusted friend.