How does the “poor Yorick” speech fit in with the rest of Hamlet?
Hamlet’s depression prompts him to discuss death and nothingness whenever possible. Seeing the skull of the court jester that he so fondly remembered just reminds Hamlet further of how “the dust is earth” and how we will soon be mixed with that earth in our graves. Even “Imperial Caesar” turns to dust in the end. How many soliloquies does Hamlet deliver? Hamlet has seven major soliloquies: “O that this too too sullied flesh would melt” (1.2.129-159) “O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else?” (1.5.92-111) “O what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” (2.2.549-607) “To be, or not to be, that is the question” (3.1.56-89) “Tis now the very witching time of night” (3.3.380-392) “Now might I do it pat, now a’ is a-praying” (3.3.73-96) “How all occasions do inform against me” (4.4.32-66) For a detailed analysis of Hamlet’s soliloquies, complete with in-depth annotation, be sure to read my article on About.com: Hamlet’s Soliloquies (Part 1). Do you pronounce the “s” in Fortinbras? Yes, you do
