The meaning of "The rest is silence" in "Hamlet"?

Question

Hamlet's very last words are > The rest is silence. What do they actually mean? This being Shakespeare, I reckon the significance of these words cannot be only the banal comparison between death and silence. I wonder if these words have a theological connotation, too, which would not be surprising at all when we learn, early on in the play, that Hamlet was a student at Wittenberg, where Luther himself also studied.

Answer 1

Hamlet has spent the entire play going between being in his philosophy (struggling to decide what to do -- i.e., to be or not to be) and being incredibly rash (killing Polonius). In his last moments, Hamlet rises to be the king he could be -- he is the best version of himself. His last speech is pragmatic and focused. Hamlet gives his support to Fortinbras with his dying breath -- he charges Horatio to tell what has happened (the state of ruin in Denmark at the hands of Claudius). He then says that the rest is silence -- almost bursting into his own explanation of what he wants Horatio to do upon his death. I think this could mean several things and I don't know that it's religious in tone (though Shakespeare came from a Catholic family in the midst of the rise of Protestantism). The rest is silence -- the rest doesn't matter. He isn't in his philosophy here -- he is busy, he is practical, and he is protecting Denmark. Hamlet is king, preparing the way for the next king. Also, the play is all about Hamlet reasoning what he wants to do and what he believes. With, the rest is silence, Hamlet is done. He has accomplished his goal -- it is finished.

Answer 2

Even with his dying breath, Hamlet can't stop punning.

Like Ilona said, "the rest" as in "the remainder," so, "all that remains is silence.

But also:

"Rest" as in "repose," or "sleep."

I don't think you need to look for some esoteric, Wittenberg-based meaning. Hamlet cannot stop talking throughout the play, so for him to find silence at last might be plenty profound for him--especially if silence means rest to him.

Also, perhaps he's found an answer to the question. As in "that is the question." He has been wondering quite a bit about what happens in that sleep of death. Now he's about to find out.

Answer 3

The rest is silence is similar to what we say "thw rest is history". In this case the meaning is the the rest of the story should ne kept secret.