Till Death do us Part
Act 5.1.169-200, by Andrew Park
"Alas, poor Yorick" (5.1.169)
I chose an iconic image of Hamlet holding the skull, which represents the deaths of the play. I believe foreshadowing is shown because of the fact that the skull is present before the big fight scene and in which many of the characters do die. Another reason for the skull is the mortality aspect, Hamlet doesn't really get all dark and gothic until he realizes, he "knew him (Yorick)" (5.1.169). That's when he started to question rather living or dying, which of the two is the worst possible outcome.
Yorick the Clown
I chose an image of a jester because it represents a time when Hamlet was happy and everything was right in Denmark. Yorick the jester made “the table on a roar” (5.1.175), which reflects the time when Hamlet’s father was king and everything was in peace. Now that Yorick is in the state of a decomposed skeleton represents Hamlet’s life becoming dark and dreary and his uncle taking old Hamlet’s throne. Hamlet is never going to be happy until his uncle is looking like Yorick a skull in the dirt un-recognizable to anyone.
“tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favor she must come” (5.1.178).
I chose the image of make-up because it reveals how no one can hide or change their appearance for who they are. I believe this is directed towards Gertrude, he believes that her make-up will not hide the fact of what she has done to Hamlet and that her sins will catch up to her. Furthermore he believes that his mother knows that marrying Claudius was wrong, but her greed for the title of the Queen overlooks the incestuous act. He therefore reveals that he does want her to pay for the suffering he feels, reclaiming that she will look like his beloved Jester Yorick.
Alexander the Great
I chose the image of Alexander the Great because he was once this prestigious person, conquering most of the earth, but now a part of the earth. Hamlet explains to us nonetheless whether you were famous, or a nobody every one will be "the dust is earth" (5.1.194). He furthermore reveals the theme of mortality, what you do when you are alive doesn't matter, because we all will end up in the ground.
Julius Caesar
Natures Cycle
Picture links
Yorick: http://graphicleftovers.com/graphic/plump_jest_juggle.eps/
Make-up: http://www.glamatronic.net/2011/06/master-list-for-professional-makeup.html
Alexander the Great: http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/AncientMacedonia/AlexandertheGreat.html
Julius Caesar: http://www.biography.com/people/julius-caesar-9192504
Skull: http://savagereflections.blogspot.ca/2010/10/magpie-38.html
Nature cycle: http://www.sdplannet-ap.org/Pages/latest-on-sd-20130218.aspx