Hamlet's Rebirth

The Renaissance which is also known as the “Rebirth” is the time that major changes took place in Europe between the 14th and 16th centuries. It was an age of growth for Europe. The middle class was growing, brilliant inventions where created, and great artists and writers such as William Shakespeare rose and changed the way of writing. This essay is to inform readers on the Rebirth of Europe and explain why Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s greatest plays, demonstrates the time of the Renaissance. The Renaissance began in Northern Italy around the 14th century after the Black Death which killed almost half of the European population. As the plague decreased and the population began to grow again the middle class was rise. As people became wealthier,

With so many more people reading during this time the style of writing eventually changed. Before the Renaissance the Catholic Church had a major force on influencing peoples’ thoughts which lead to books being centered around religion. However, during the Renaissance new ways of thinking arose which focused more so on the human body, its characteristics and behavior was known as humanism. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, written by William Shakespeare during the Renaissance is one of the greatest stories written that represents what humanism is and ties in Renaissance like features and

“To thine own self be true and it must follow, as the night the day, thou can’st not then be false to any man.” (Hamlet Act I Sc. 3) This line shows a humanist way of thinking. It is saying be true to who you are, be faithful to what you believe in, don’t deceive yourself. Another famous quote from Hamlet that displays humanism thinking is “What a piece of work is a man, how nobal in reason, how infinite in faculties...” (Hamlet Act II Sc. 2) This speech gave a clear idea of the abilities Young Hamlet had about the mind and how unique he found the human mind to be. In Act III of Hamlet, Young Hamlet gave his most memorable speech which is known has “To be, or not to be.” This speech came after many battles Young Hamlet had with himself and other characters in the play. This speech illustrates humanism because Young Hamlet is debating the idea of suicide. Asking himself which is the greater decision, to live or to die. This line is strongly humanistic because is suggest that the ultimate choice of life or death is to be left up to the human mind rather than