Religion In Hamlet Research Paper

It is hard to say exactly where Shakespeare received his religious education. “Apart from the assumption that he attended Stratford Grammar School as a young boy, nothing is known of his education or of his occupation before he appears on the London literary scene in his late twenties” (Asquith 27). Growing up during the Reformation, it is certain that Shakespeare received religious education in school. But critics believe that his literary works show a vast amount of knowledge that far exceeds what would be taught in school. In Shakespeare’s contemporary society, bible study in school was required and Church attendance was mandatory. If citizens did not attend church, they will be forced to pay a fine. With this mandate in place, learning

It is believed that they were not well read and unable to write; therefore, further religious schooling would not have occurred within Shakespeare’s home (Shaheen, “Shakespeare’s Knowledge of the Bible--How Acquired” 201). Instead, his knowledge of religious material must have come from a personal relationship with the Scriptures. Working intimately with a variety of religious material, Shakespeare created the most well-known play in history. Hamlet is a play of contemplation. The characters are often questioning their own actions or the actions of others. In doing so, the audience is left to ponder the same questions. The first being, what is the nature of the ghost? Today, this is question has been exhausted by Shakespeare’s critics. The answer is left up to the spectators’

The audience can see Hamlet as a son avenging his father’s death, as so instructed by his father’s purged spirit. Or, he can be portrayed as a man driven by the manipulation of an evil spirit. Protestants believe that this debate can be resolved by turning to the Bible. There is a clear discernment between heaven and hell in the Bible. What is it?? According to Strong’s Concordance, the words heaven and hell are mentioned a total of 636 times, but nowhere does the word “purgatory” appear. The Catholic belief is that the Bible makes clear reference to Purgatory, not by using its name directly, but by alluding to its existence.