Christian Religion In Hamlet In William Shakespeare's Play

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In Hamlet, a tragedy that seems to revolve around madness and revenge we must question where is God? It appears in a chaos stricken castle in Denmark there is no God protecting its citizens from madness or murder. However, if we were to examine the text closely we would see countless examples of Shakespeare referencing Christian religion as an underlying role in his play. One of our first encounters with Hamlet early on in the play we see him contemplating suicide. Distraught by his father’s death, and mother’s hasty marriage to his uncle he wishes that he could end his life. (I.ii.135). Shakespeare does this for us to sympathize with Hamlet as he has this inner struggle with himself and his own life. Hamlet does not end up killing himself because he says you cannot self-harm which is in alignment with many Christian denominations views on suicide …show more content…

(I.V.42).We learn that he is referring to his brother, the new king. This use of allusion is in line with how Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden. As Shakespeare is writing he wants us to know that this act of murder against the old king Hamlet was the release of evil, chaos and destruction into the world. We know that once Adam and Eve taste the fruit that they are doomed and are never to return to the Garden. There was no death in the Garden, but once they leave their time on earth will be limited, and they will die. Balance, or good in this case will never be restored. Is Shakespeare having us believe that this act of murder is the equivalent in terms of chaos and destruction that is about to unleash on the castle? If this is the case then we know from an early on no matter what Hamlet, or any other character does there will be no way of restoring the order of “good” which was before the old king Hamlet was murdered, and all of the characters will be doomed to

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