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Hamlet tragic hero free will
Does hamlet have free will
Christian perspective on Hamlet
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While reading Hamlet and studying philosophy, I notice some subtle overlaps when Christianity is brought up in the life of Hamlet and in the lives of nonfiction philosophers who have devoted their lives to answer questions about christianity. Looking at both of these overlapping topics I have come to the conclusion that most, if not all, of the Christian/Catholic philosophers that I have studied would say that Hamlet’s faith is weak at best. The first thing that I picked up on is the concept of free will. At this point in the play, Hamlet seems to believe that he can change his own fate and die without being damned, however the collective idea that religious philosophers have about feel will is that God has predetermined the life that you will
Even though Hamlet is a prince, he has little control over the course of his life. In that time many things were decided for the princes and princesses such as their education and even who they married. This was more or less the normal way of life for a child of the monarch. But in the case of Hamlet, any of the control he thought he had, fell away with the murder of his father. Having his father, the king, be killed by his own brother, sent Hamlet into a state of feeling helpless and out of control. Cooped up in a palace with no real outlet, he tries to control at least one aspect of his life. Hamlet deliberately toys with Ophelia's emotions in order to feel in control of something since he cannot control the situation with Claudius.
I believe that there wasn't a higher power that set Hamlet to his death. I will be going over why there isnt a higher power or karma that caused everyone to kill themselves to create such a dramatic, and domino effect in the play. I do believe that if Hamlet did a lot of things way differently, though a lot of people would still be alive till the end of the play.
One single moment or event during the course of an individual’s life can effectively alter their priorities and transform their identity drastically. In The play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare introduces the readers to the protagonist Hamlet who is draped in anger and emotions and has a new-found mission in life. Initially, Hamlet is portrayed as an individual in mourning over his father's death and his mother's haste in remarrying to her brother-in-law and Hamlet's uncle, Claudius. However, Hamlet’s character and personality were drastically altered after meeting the Ghost and discovering the true nature of his Father’s death. Hamlet is now a man with a lust for revenge and a willingness to do anything that will enable him to accomplish this goal. When burdened with the task of killing Claudius, Hamlet chooses to sacrifice all he holds dear by transforming his identity in a noble effort to avenge his father’s death.
At the opening of the play Hamlet is portrayed as a stable individual . He expresses disappointment in his mother for her seeming disregard for his father's death. His feelings are justified and his actions are rational at this point, he describes himself as being genuine. As this scene progresses it is revealed that Hamlet views himself as being weak: "My father's brother, but no more like my father/ than I to Hercules" (1.2.153) The doubts that Hamlet has concerning his heroism become particularly evident in his actions as the story progresses. These doubts are a major hindrance to his thoughts of revenge.
William Shakespeare was a Stratford Grammar School boy, who was a member of the Church of England, similar to just about everyone else in Stratford. However, due to some events that occurred in the Shakespeare family home, there is some evidence that could prove that the family may have had some Roman Catholic connections. When William Shakespeare was 10 years old, legal issues and debt took a toll on his family’s life. Shakespeare’s father’s stopped attending alderman meetings which resulted in the removal of his name to become an alderman, and he was also forced to sell his beautiful home. The cause of this crisis is unknown, however the records can be used to throw together the idea that there were peculiar religious events going on (Fox). Due to these mishaps, William Shakespeare’s religion is a bit of a mystery. The play, Hamlet, was written by William Shakespeare during the Elizabethan era, which happened to be a time when religious conflicts were a big deal (Alsaif). The protagonist in the story, Hamlet, is a character who seems to make his choices through his religious beliefs. Hamlet is a very indecisive person, but his thoughts on religion tend to persuade him. In the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses the character of Hamlet to show the flaws in all religions. Hamlet does his best to follow the rules of Christianity, but he often questions the morality involved. Although Shakespeare belonged to the Church of England, he didn’t find any particular religion to be perfect.
Hamlet is a firm believer that he can control all of his action and his own destiny. Later on he realizes this is not the case as one person says, “Hamlet acknowledges that not everything is in his control, and that ultimately God determines what the outcome will be” (Hamletvsfate, Quotes) Hamlet is extremely religious more so than is portrayed in the lines of the play. Despite this he still thinks that he can control what happens to him or the people around him. As the play progresses Hamlet realizes that he cannot control everything that happens to him. This revelation occurs right after the person that Hamlet was supposed to be in love with, Ophelia, died. It was as if the death of that love was something that caused the rapid deterioration of hamlets psyche and to deal with that deterioration he had to believe that there was something bigger than him in the world. The acceptance of fate being bigger than
Throughout the play, Hamlet is a character who seems out of place and longing for a freedom or release from the prison that is Denmark, and he seems to want to be in a “society in which revenge and suicide are considered acceptable,” (Muijden 2). Marieke van Muijden argues that Hamlet is longing to live in the “Old World,” which is similar to the Old Testament, but is stuck in the “new, Christian World” where suicide, murder, and revenge are seen as mortal sins. In Hamlet’s position, suicide is certainly an appealing option and that is why “To be or not to be,” is contemplated (III.i.64). Shakespeare makes it apparent that Hamlet is attracted toward the notion of suicide, which is, above all else in a Christian world, a mortal sin. Using Hamlet as a character that the audience can empathize with, Shakespeare is able to universalize his message that man is attracted to sin through his consideration of suicide. Hamlet’s attraction to sin is not only present through his actions, but also his observances about the sinners around him.
Another savior in history who has helped his people while being dutiful to himself is Hamlet. Through the many characters, plots, themes, and symbols, Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, incorporates many Christian references into the play. Hamlet’s constant struggle in reaching peace within himself, and avenging his father’s death, takes the audience on a journey that touches upon the subject of religion and power. The questioning of how the death of old King Hamlet came to be, the story is often similar to the events and values present in the times of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Evil is detected within Hamlet’s uncle Claudius, who has taken over the kingdom and the important people in his life. A savior is a figure that saves someone or something from danger, and that is exactly what Hamlet is doing in the play. In order to discover the truth and unveil it, he fights through perpetual battles with the help from his friend, Horatio. Hamlet is a savior to Denmark because he offers a sacrifice, he is a protector, he has a persistent mindset, and he is faithful.
Slate journalist Dan Falk mentions that Hamlet has no other mention of afterlife other than the purgatory and the potential to get into heaven from there. Also in the third act of the play, Hamlet says “But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will” (Shakespeare, III). Hamlet is scared of death because it’s a land that he hasn’t discovered yet and can’t return from. The afterlife is just a mystery to Shakespeare, and with this evidence, it reinforces the secular existentialist moments that he has himself. The theme of secularism is evident from the works of Machiavelli and Shakespeare, and it is considered contrarian in relation to their pious era’s.
... will get you to hell. Doing good deeds and asking for forgiveness and praying will get you to heaven. If you commit one of the oldest curses like murdering your own brother like Claudius did, your afterlife is different and more complicated than others. If you kill yourself like Ophelia did you are definitely going to hell because taking away what God created is a sin. In Christianity there is no questions about the after life. There is purgatory but there is also heaven and hell. Depending on how you spent your living years you will either go to heaven or hell. In Hamlet these commandments and these truths are represented. In the choices the characters like Claudius and Hamlet make, they consciously know it is either right or wrong. They relate their choices to the bible and Christianity and the actions each character takes makes Hamlet a Christian play.
The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is one of the most famous tragedies William Shakespeare has ever written. Found throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy are many religious references. According to Peter Milward, the author of Shakespeare's Christianity: The Protestant and Catholic Poetics of Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and Hamlet, “From a purely religious point of view, which is more than just biblical, Hamlet is rich in homiletic material of all kinds, reflecting almost every aspect of the religious situation in a deeply religious age” (Milward 9). These pieces of religious literature are crucial to the plot of Hamlet. The religious elements found in this tragedy provide the plot, allusions, and foreshadowing.
Hamlet believes in good morals and high education. Due to his religious beliefs, he also believes that the soul does not return after death, so when he discovers that the ghost of his father has retuned
The view of suicide in Hamlet is the same as Christians. Characters in Hamlet say that if you commit suicide you do not go to heaven because of your sins (we'll get to
Faith plays a large role in how one lives their life. Christianity plays a strong role throughout Hamlet by William Shakespeare. When reading the play one must think of the controversies of the time when Shakespeare writes the play. Reformation and Renaissance opinions are reflected throughout. Shakespeare deals with very controversial attitudes and religious questions dealing with death, the existence of purgatory, morality, murder, suicide and marriage in his play Hamlet. It is obvious throughout the play that Hamlet’s life is guided by his faith and his religious beliefs.
Hamlet is not a play based on religion but it illustrates religious beliefs of the 16th century, and religion is used as a catalyst to provoke Hamlet’s procrastination creating internal conflict from within raising questions about society and the new King of Denmark. The play is set in Denmark, a protestant nation but this might not greatly influence the plot since it is set at a time period...