This cartoon reimagines one of the most famous moments in Shakespeare’s Hamlet – the melancholy scene in which Hamlet holds the skull of Yorick and delivers his immortal line about the court jester he once knew. It’s a moment steeped in drama, reflection and theatrical gravitas.
In my humorous version, that solemn atmosphere is suddenly punctured by another character – the stage director or fellow actor – who interrupts Hamlet mid-speech to correct him with the proper line: “Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio.”
The comedy arises from the clash between grand tragedy and trivial correction. While Hamlet wrestles with life and death, the director’s pedantic insistence on accuracy brings the scene crashing down to earth – the lofty turned laughable in an instant.
There’s also a playful nod to how often Shakespeare’s lines are misquoted or parodied in modern culture. By mixing the famous speech with echoes of “Dem Bones, Dem Bones,” the cartoon gently pokes fun at how easily high art becomes light entertainment.
It’s a tongue-in-cheek tribute to the Bard – a reminder that even four centuries later, his words still invite both deep thought and laughter in equal measure.
You can see more of my humorous artwork, often blending wordplay with visual wit, at my Cartoons by Nigel Zazzle store >>.
See more of my cartoons at www.nigelsutherland.co.uk
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