Hamlet Act V.1

     The gravediggers, though they may seem insignificant, are actually extremely important in the plot of this book. Hamlet has been concocting a plan to kill his uncle, who is also the king, Claudius because he killed Hamlet's father who was the king before. Hamlet's whole thought process throughout the book is revengeful and at certain points heartless. All he wants is to have his revenge on the king. However, the gravediggers really put life in perspective for young Hamlet. The gravediggers are digging a grave for the young woman Ophelia, who had just killed herself, and Hamlet and Horatio came up to the two diggers and began to talk to them (one of them did leave during the conversation (V.1.61-62)). As the diggers dug, Hamlet saw all these skulls all over the ground and the diggers were throwing them over their shoulders like there was no issue; however, Hamlet began to think about the brevity of life (V.1.76-81). Life is much too short to just have fun. Hamlet realized this in that time and he wanted to take every opportunity in this life. "Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion I' th' earth?" Hamlet said as he contemplated life's brevity (V.1.199-200).  Hamlet has been having this perverted outlook on life, in that he believes in just having fun. However, the gravediggers have put life in perspective for Hamlet. Life is no longer eternal now to Hamlet, it is now very mortal and brief. He longs to now take life as seriously as possible. He wants use every opportunity he gets and make the most of them. Life is no longer everlasting, it is rather extremely brief. Hamlet is a changed man now because of these gravediggers. Thy are extremely important in this pay for that very reason of changing the mind of Hamlet indirectly.