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While Yorick only appears on stage in the form of a skull and Hamlet only mentions his character in one brief monologue, he adds a layer of gravity to one of the play’s most famous scenes. Hamlet arrives in the graveyard in Act 5, Scene 1 to find two men digging a grave and, in the process, exhuming bones. The First Gravedigger hands him the skull of a man whom he initially describes as “a mad rogue” before admitting that it was Yorick’s. This sends Hamlet into an existential spiral which offers the audience a glimpse into who Yorick was in life. A jester for the king, Hamlet spent a lot of time with Yorick as a child and has fond memories of how warm and caring he was. In addition to being a memorable entertainer, Yorick was almost like a family member. By highlighting these overwhelmingly positive characteristics during Hamlet’s monologue, Shakespeare manages to heighten the tension in the scene and create an especially bleak mood. The stark contrast between Yorick’s joyful personality in life and his cold, crumbling skull also symbolizes the painful realities of death. When he finally comes to terms with Yorick’s grim end, Hamlet’s resentment toward his still-living uncle grows even stronger. The restlessness that his memories of Yorick create ultimately ensure that Hamlet continues down a dark path until he meets his untimely end.
