Importance Of Superstructure In Hamlet

Crumbling Under the Superstructure

Superstructure, Religion, Rugged Individualism within William Shakespeare’s Hamlet

The bourgeoisie: comprised of the ruling class, the class that owns everything and everyone. Being the most important in the means of production, the bourgeoisie exploits the working, “wage-earning” class, otherwise referred to as the proletariat. Within this context, in William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet he utilizes this concept surrounding the bourgeoisie through the ideas of the super structure, religion, and rugged individualism to showcase the crumbling society in Denmark which eventually leads to Ophelia and Hamlets deaths as well as the demise of Denmark as a whole.

Within the text Shakespeare spares no chance to poke fun at the superstructure. The superstructure mocks woman because they are not worthy of such a high stature, they can have money and they can even be in a place of exaggerated power but only because man has gotten them to this point. This is shown within the play during one of Hamlets soliloquies when he exclaims, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” (Shakespeare Act I Scene II, 146). In this line he is referring to his mother Gertrude and her lack of will power to mourn the death of his father. But not only

is he referring to his mother because if that was so then the line would have exclaimed Gertrude, but it didn’t it grouped all woman into the group of “frailty.” This is exactly what the super structure would want you to perceive woman as, weak minded human beings with lack of will and lack of ability to stand on their own two feet. The way that Shakespeare presents this concept is in a very sarcastic tone because Hamlet is being overly dramatic in everything he is saying in this scene. The superstructure throughout the whole play believes that they are untouchable, as all the drama ensues throughout the play everyone tends to point fingers at others within the superstructure. Denmark is the perfect example of how the superstructure believes that they are above the law and that they can never be in the wrong. Polonius believes that his stature in the hierarchy is enough for him to get rid of all of his problems. When he sends Hamlet to England he thinks that he is in the clear that with his hand written note that he is sending with his messengers will be enough to cover up the mess that he created. A major downfall of the superstructure is this feeling of invincibility that comes with it. This is what leads to the tragic deaths of a majority of the citizens of Denmark at the end of the play.
Throughout Hamlet Shakespeare plays with the concept that the bourgeoisie runs organized religion. There is an inner struggle within many characters in regards to the views of the catholic faith and the protestant faith. This is most valid in the burial scene of Ophelia with the gravediggers and their commentary as they bury the privileged young girl. While preparing Ophelia’s grave the first clown presents the question, “Is she to be buried in a Christian burial when she willfully seeks her own salvation?” (Act IV, Scene I 1). The grave diggers are muttering over whether it is a valid burial or not because it is speculated that Ophelia has committed suicide and chose her own salvation. It is not right that she gets a proper Christian burial because she is a sinner that is going to burn in hell for her action, but because she is a part of the superstructure it simply does not matter. It is also ironic how religion can control you even in death, when organized religion is actually hell on earth as well. This can kill a society much like it left the society divided in Denmark. When faith is present normal actions can seem heroic while depressing and intense actions can be seen as demonic. When a solider goes to battle it is said that they are fighting and killing in the name of God, this is something that they are doing for not only their nation but also the lord. It is interesting that the killing of many people can be seen as a heroic act but the ending of one’s own life is seen as selfish and sinful. It just shows how much the bourgeoisie can have control over one nation just by being present in organized religion.
There is a strong sense of rugged individualism that is present throughout the entirety of the play, brought by the main character, Hamlet, through his self-centered personality and the fact that he can only think of his own wants and needs, caring less about anyone else’s. It is this same selfishness that leads to his death. More so, it can easily be argued that this one trait is what lead to all of Denmark’s demise. Gertrude was too invested in herself and needed someone to be there for her, when she marries Polonius this can be seen as a type of rugged individualism because she did it against many people’s wishes. And this is actually what sparks Hamlets insanity, on top of his father’s death. But he is not the only one revealing these rugged individualistic tendencies. Polonius, is always trying to control his daughter for his own gain, and this then leads to her death. Signs of this are shown as early as scene one when Polonius is talking to Ophelia about her relationship with Hamlet. Polonius says, “Marry, I will teach you: think yourself a baby that you have ta’en these tenders for true pay, which are not sterling.” (Act I, Scene 3 105). Polonius utters about the foolishness of his daughter, once again showing the superstructures need to control the people around them. Because of Polonius’s selfish ways Ophelia is forced to take her own life because she would rather not live at all if she cannot live with love. This self-centered, every man for themselves type of thinking is what leads to the untimely deaths of the people of Denmark.
Ultimately, Shakespeare was able to create this vision of a patriarchal society that was both enticing and shined a light on the bigger spectrum of the superstructure and its effects on society in the late 16th century.

The play would not have nearly had the same effect if he did not reveal his underlying thoughts on society through the idea of the bourgeoisie. With all of this being said, Shakespeare utilizes the strategic combination of the literary Marxist devices of the superstructure, religion, and rugged individualism throughout his piece of work Hamlet to help portray the writers true underlying views of the patriarchy and its hand in aiding in the downfall of Denmark depicted throughout the entirety of the

play.

Work Cited
Shakespeare, William, and Susanne Lindgren Wofford. Hamlet: Complete, Authoritative Text with Biographical and Historical Contexts, Critical History, and Essays from Five Contemporary Critical Perspectives. Boston: Bedford of St. Martin's, 1994. Print.