Corruption of Christianity in Shakespeares, Hamlet

In the play Hamlet, the motif of suicide is used throughout the play to shine a light on the corruption of Christianity and the implications of suicide and the after-life and the effect it has on one’s relationship with God. It accomplishes this through the use of allusions and metaphors and the development of multiple characters relationships with God throughout the play as they go through the challenges and experiences that are present within Hamlet.
In Hamlet, the act of suicide is a motif, however it is also an act that Hamlet himself cannot commit in order for this story to fit the role of a revenge tragedy. If Hamlet were to commit suicide, the ghost of Hamlet’s father would not have his work fulfilled by Hamlet. The late Hamlet’s ghost comes back to tell Hamlet that his father was killed by Claudius. This bad news leads to Hamlet contemplating suicide, along with the pressure of the recent marriage of his mother and his uncle, Claudius. While we can see the side of Hamlet that is indecisive and cowardly, we can take into account that he thoroughly goes through the pros and cons of life vs. death.
In college, Hamlet studied theology, and this led to the strengthening of his religious relationship with God. When the revealing of his father’s death by his brothers hands occurs, the ancient curse of Cain and Abel is placed on Claudius, and it casts a shadow of anxiety and uneasiness upon Hamlet throughout the play. There are multiple religious connections to Hamlet throughout the play; images of the serpent, haunting of the dead, and Hamlet’s worry for his father and his place in purgatory. The play is harshly critical upon the religious reliance of the two “sinners” in the play that commit the act of suicide that is often vi...

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...o support Hamlet and her failure to live a life with a partner, and this knowledge allows her finally to be free of the restrictions that the corrupt society has created. Before Ophelia had died, she says, “And all of Christians’ souls. God be wi’ you.”(IV.v.193) We can either interpret this as Ophelia renouncing her dependence on religion and prayer. Seeing that Ophelia commits suicide later, we can deduce that this is a warning rather than a praise of God’s grace.
In conclusion, we can deduce that the motif of suicide, rather death in general, is used to highlight the corruption of Christianity and further label the play as a religious tragedy in which characters begin with a strong faith in God, however, after experiencing challenges and either failing or accomplishing them, they lose their faith and most likely die, either be their own hand or by another’s.