Open Prompt Blog part 2 (4/20)

2009. A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range 

of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, 

or enlarge literal meaning. Select a novel or play and, focusing on one symbol, write an essay 

analyzing how that symbol functions in the work and what it reveals about the characters or 

themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

     In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Yoric's skull plays a key role in helping Hamlet determine who he is and whether or not he will kill Claudius. Yoric's skull is discovered late in the play during a scene that is meant to give some comic relief. Despite the lighthearted nature of the scene, the weight of Yoric's skull is the key turning point for Hamlet in the play. Through the discovery of Yoric's skull, Hamlet decides who he is and and the path he wants to take, all while showing that things work themselves out when you leave everything to providence.

     Since the beginning of the play, Hamlet struggles with killing his uncle to avenge his father. His duty to avenge his father stirs up conflicting feelings that are not resolved until Yoric's skull is discovered. Upon discovering the skull, Hamlet realizes that the court jester, Yoric, was more of a father to him than his biological father ever was. By deciding that Yoric was in reality his father, Hamlet no longer feels the need to avenge Old Hamlet's death. This decision takes away the conflict of killing Claudius and when Hamlet went to fight Laertes he had no intention of killing his uncle. 

     Avenging his biological father's death brought up a moral conflict within Hamlet. He became caught between the duty to avenge his father and leaving everything to providence like his religion says. In the moment he decides on who his father really is Hamlet also decides to leave everything to providence. Hamlet had no intention of killing Claudius when he went to duel Laertes, but that is where his uncle died. Since Hamlet left Claudius' death up to providence, providence intervened to have Claudius killed. Yoric's skull led Hamlet down a path not of killing but of having faith that his god would do what is right. 

     Yoric's skull reveals a key theme of Hamlet. Throughout the play Hamlet struggled with choosing between what society and tradition stated and what his religion stated. Hamlet's epiphany, caused by the discovery of Yoric's skull, led him to leave Claudius' death in God's hands. By deciding to side with his religion's ideas rather than society's, the scene with Yoric's skull revealed that when things are left in God's hands they work themselves out. Discovering Yoric's skull is a symbolic event that reveals things work out for the best when they are left in the hands of a higher, divine being.

     The scene involving the discovery of Yoric's skull is a small scene that has a major impact on the rest of the play. Symbolizing Hamlet's real father and the choice to leave things to providence, Yoric's skull leads Hamlet down a new path. Yoric's skull helped Hamlet see that his real father was not his biological father, thus erasing Hamlet's need to kill Claudius and in effect letting him leave everything to be worked out by providence. This also reveals the importance of providence in the work as Claudius dies after Hamlet gives up the desire to avenge Old Hamlet's death. By revealing the importance of providence in the work and helping Hamlet decide who his father really was, the symbol of Yoric's skull helps Hamlet forge his own path.