The theme of life and death is central to Hamlet, exploring the inevitability of mortality and the moral consequences of actions. Shakespeare uses various elements, such as the graveyard scene, the murder of King Hamlet, and the contemplation of Yorick's skull, to delve into these themes. The play examines how death affects the living and the universal truth that all must face their end.

The graveyard scene in Act V highlights the theme of death's universality. As the gravediggers prepare Ophelia's grave, they discuss whether she deserves a Christian burial, given her suicide. This conversation underscores social distinctions but also sets the stage for Hamlet's reflections on mortality. Observing the gravediggers' casual treatment of skulls, Hamlet muses on how even great figures like Alexander the Great return to dust. This moment emphasizes that death is the great equalizer, affecting all regardless of status.

The theme of murder and death is woven throughout the play, beginning with King Hamlet's murder by his brother Claudius. This act of ambition sets off a chain of events leading to multiple deaths, including Polonius, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Gertrude, Laertes, Claudius, and Hamlet himself. These deaths explore themes of revenge and the moral implications of taking a life. The play questions the value of life when weighed against the pursuit of power and vengeance.

Yorick's skull serves as a powerful symbol of death's inevitability. When Hamlet encounters the skull, he reflects on the shared fate of all humans. This moment marks a shift in Hamlet's understanding of death, moving from existential despair to acceptance. The skull is a memento mori, reminding Hamlet and the audience of life's transience. Hamlet's acceptance of death is evident in his words to Horatio before the fencing match:

If it be now, ’tis not to come. If it be not to come, it will be now. If it be not now, yet it will come—the readiness is all. Since no man of aught he leaves knows, what is ’t to leave betimes? Let be. (5.2)

This acceptance allows Hamlet to face his fate with a sense of readiness.