The Human Condition and Ideologies in Hamlet by Willliam Shakespeare

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Hamlet
Texts reflect their context and paradigms but transcendental texts that explore aspects of humanity can resonate through time and remain relevant and accessible to audiences. William Shakespeare’s introspective play, Hamlet, explores the complexity of the human condition by reflecting ideologies such as justice, loyalty and morality. Although these deeply human ideas ensure the plays resonance, they are somewhat secondary to the depths of Hamlet’s human struggle. These thematic concerns reflect how flaws in the values of society descend into corruption. Through an exploration of the characterization, Shakespeare invites a re-evaluation of the values that shape human nature. The textual integrity of Hamlet makes it of distinctive and enduring value. Its construction and language represents a powerfully humanist perspective that was ahead of its time and that continues to captivate audiences.

Shakespeare’s Hamlet can be seen as a transition between medieval theological constructs and modern humanist perspectives that permeate modern thought. Shakespeare uses a hybrid of the Aristotelian and the Senecan tradition of revenge tragedy to frame the complexity of Hamlet’s tension between disillusionment and moral integrity. Humanism embraced philosophical and moral truth where man and his ability to reason replaced God at the centre stage of attention. The plays exploration of issues surrounding justice, loyalty, revenge and morality are somewhat secondary to the depths of Hamlet’s human struggle. From the outset, we can see Hamlet’s psychology, his humanity and the fragility of his mind. In his first soliloquy through the metaphor “flesh would melt… resolve itself into a dew,” (Act 1 scene 2) Shakespeare establishes the tone a...

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...amlet and Fortinbras. Shakespeare highlights that if one stands by their moral values they will prevail.

Hamlet was a devoted man that had to seek revenge for his father’s murder in order for him to triumph the cause of his father suspicious death. Through this hamlet was faced with many ordeals whereby his loyalty was tested in order for him to seek revenge.
Texts that explore universal themes continue to captivate audiences through the introspective inspection of the human condition. Texts that unify elements of structure, ideas and representations through language continue to capture the imagination. Shakespeare’s Hamlet exposes the complexity of the human condition and the tension between the desire for revenge and the morality of justice. The construction of Hamlet’s psychological turmoil ensures the plays resonance on a deeply human level with audiences.

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