Free Will In Shakespeare's Hamlet

It is a character’s actions that lead up to their grand ending. But what we can’t control, fate, sometimes plays an even bigger role. Hamlet is a man who thinks deep philosophical thoughts that often get in his way. By nature he rarely acts abruptly. He is incapable of creating a bold plan of action and executing it. In other words, he is unable to achieve premedi¬tated action. This is why he cannot accomplish the task that was given to him by the Ghost. This is where fate plays the strongest role in the play, helping Hamlet fulfill his “destiny”. These coincidences that help advance the plot are very common within the play itself. For example, events that inhibit Hamlet killing Claudius and events that save his life. The main occurrence

He expresses his thoughts "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" Hamlet elaborates on this thoughts on fate and how if something happens its because it’s predestined as he had previously explained to Horatio about his feeling on the fencing match. He explains that even if he did have a feeling about it, he must go on and fight as he was destined to. He explains this idea by saying that is something is planned to happen it will happen, and if not now then later. He says that no matter what the decisions or actions we make, our lives are all rooted in fate. He also says that you just have to let it take over and let it happen on its own. Hamlet is affected by fate numerous times throughout the play and he thus comes to realize that there is nothing he can ultimately do. This quote foreshadows Hamlet's ultimate fate as he says that he was fated to take part in the match which allows him to thus avenge for his father's death and also fall to his death. “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will—“ Hamlet is explaining to Horatio what happened to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, "There's a divinity that shapes our ends," is what Hamlet says to tell of his aware of the plot against him, and how he turned tables, leading to their death. Hamlet acknowledges that not everything is in his control and ultimately God determines the outcome. Earlier in the play Hamlet could not come to a conclusion because he had not gone yet through these trials. Shakespeare introduces the idea that there is a divine power that determines our fate and no matter how we attempt to change it, its not our