Hamlet's View Of Religion In Hamlet

790 Words2 Pages

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is heavily based on religious views. At the time of the play being written, the Elizabethan era, the religion that is most prominent is Catholicism. However, throughout the play there are conflicting views regarding Pagan and Protestant religion as well. The Protestant and Catholic religion are forms of Christianity. Pagan views are the opposite of this as in an unbeliever or one who has no religion.
Within the text of this play there are many issues that discuss Hamlet’s view of religion and the afterlife. First and foremost, there is the conflict of suicide and murder and how those two acts reflect on a person and their afterlife. Additionally, there are the situations of incest, sex outside of marriage, mourning practices, and ghosts or apparitions.
The Catholic and Protestant religion have similar views of what happens when a person dies. They both believe in the soul going to …show more content…

The pagan belief here is that there is no heaven. Therefore, if a person was killed in any manner, it would not have an effect as there is no after-life in pagan theory.
There are many instances in this play that support the Christian belief of an afterlife. Hamlet struggles with sending the King to heaven as he does not believe that he should have that glory. At the end of the play the King commits murder yet again by poisoning the drink and Gertrude drinking of it. It is in these moments that Hamlet is finally able to avenge his father. “Here, thou incestuous, murd’rous, damn`ed Dane, Drink off this potion. Is thy union here? Follow my mother.”
Hamlet then seeks forgiveness for his actions as he is

Show More
Related

  • Topics Deeply Hidden in Hamlet by Williams Shakespeare

    2200 Words  | 5 Pages

    There are many topics deeply hidden in the works of William Shakespeare. One of his greatest pieces of works is the story of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Not only are the words of Shakespeare meaningful, but there are also many follow up pieces of literature that contain important interpretations of the events in this play. These works about Hamlet are extremely beneficial to the reader. I have found four of these works and will use them as sources throughout this essay. The first source is “The Case of Hamlet’s Conscience,” by Catherine Belsey, and it focuses on the topic of Hamlet’s revenge in the play. The second source is “’Never Doubt I Love’: Misreading Hamlet,” by Imtiaz Habib, and it explains a lot of information about Hamlet’s “love” for Ophelia. The third source is “Shakespeare’s Hamlet, III.i.56—88,” by Horst Breuer, and it talks in depth about the issue of suicide in Hamlet. The fourth and final source is “Shakespeare’s Hamlet 1.2.35-38,” by Kathryn Walls, and it describes the significance of the role the Ghost plays throughout Hamlet. There are many different confusing parts in Hamlet and the best way to fully understand the play is to understand all of these parts. By understanding every miniscule detail in the play, it creates a different outlook on the play for the reader. In this essay, I will explain these confusing topics, as well as explain why the sources are helpful and what insight they can bring. At the end is this essay, the reader will have a complete understanding and appreciation of the play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark.

    Read More

  • Tom Stoppard Comparison Essay

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    Stoppard’s existentialist philosophy emphasized on personal freedom and the option of direction of life with possibilities that are less limited. These two contrasting values of society significantly control the reader’s perception when studying the way they were ‘transformed.’ An instance of the religious diversifications is the beliefs and ideals on death. In the play ‘Hamlet’ death is displayed as dramatic and violent with examples involving sword fights and poisoning. Due to his beliefs, Stoppard brings the probability that death isn’t an event that causes judgment by some divine values of the Elizabethan Christianity. This is displayed by Guildenstern when he defines death as “simply failing to re-appear”. The comparison here depicts death’s uncertainty, and by this transformation the reader comes to the opinion that death is like secrecy to all of us, no matter what era or beliefs one mi...

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast The Five Eastern Religions

    1439 Words  | 3 Pages

    The five Eastern religions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shinto have some similarities when it comes to the their beliefs on death. Hinduism and Buddhism both believe in karma and reincarnation, while Daoism and Shintoism revolve their beliefs around nature. Confucianism chooses not to focus on things we do not know, so their beliefs on death are limited. In deciphering the different beliefs on death associated with each religion, it is important to understand the different belief systems and their origins. While some religions merged the views of the other religions, some came from the views of an originating founder. Each religion has their own view on life after death and whether or not their followers should be concerned

    Read More

  • Hell: United Yet Contrasted By Fear

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    Johnson, Christopher Jay., and Marsha G. McGee. How Different Religions View Death & Afterlife. Vol. 2. Philadelphia, PA: Charles, 1998. Print.

    Read More

  • Hamlet

    1194 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ecclesiastes 7: 17 said “Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?” Suicide is an important part in the bible. It is one of the things that is considered a sin in Christianity. The bible has lessons and commandments for Christians to follow and those lessons are represented in books. In the early 1600’s religion was an important part of people’s lives and writers incorporated it into their writings. William Shakespeare wrote Hamlet in the early 1600’s and he wrote about religion while he was writing about a prince’s revenge on his uncle. His uncle killed his father and he was prepared to take revenge. Hamlet and Christianity are both about the good, the bad and the afterlife which makes Hamlet a Christian play.

    Read More

  • Social and Psychological Influences on Hamlet

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the influence of Hamlet’s psychological and social states display his dread of death as well as his need to avenge his father’s death.  In turn, these influences illuminate the meaning of the play by revealing Hamlet’s innermost thoughts on life, death and the effect of religion.  Despite the fact that Hamlet’s first instincts were reluctance and hesitation, he knows that he must avenge his father’s death.  While Hamlet is conscious of avenging his father’s death, he is contemplating all the aspects of death itself.  Hamlet’s decision to avenge his father is affected by social, psychological and religious influences.

    Read More

  • Hamlet, the Existentialist

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a tragic play about murder, betrayal, revenge, madness, and moral corruption. It touches upon philosophical ideas such as existentialism and relativism. Prince Hamlet frequently questions the meaning of life and the degrading of morals as he agonizes over his father’s murder, his mother’s incestuous infidelity, and what he should or shouldn’t do about it. At first, he is just depressed; still mourning the loss of his father as his mother marries his uncle. After he learns about the treachery of his uncle and the adultery of his mother, his already negative countenance declines further. He struggles with the task of killing Claudius, feeling burdened about having been asked to find a solution to a situation that was forced upon him.Death is something he struggles with as an abstract idea and as relative to himself. He is able to reconcile with the idea of death and reality eventually.

    Read More

  • Cultural Analysis On Death And The Afterlife

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    Christians, for example, believe that souls that have lived by the words of their God will exist eternally in heaven as divine beings themselves. This conception of an afterlife is generally what we people who are residents of the Unitied States hold to be true. For American culture has its roots in Europe and European culture was and is still influenced by Christian faiths. Similar to Christianity, the Hinduism also eases the fear of death by presenting a life after death. Disimilarities present themselves in the two faiths concerning exactly what kind of afterlife is lived. Believers of the Hindu faith expect to be reincarnated after their demise, either as an animal or human being depending on the manner in which their lives were carried out.

    Read More

  • To Be or Not to Be: Hamlet

    833 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tragic death plays a really big role in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Hamlet often considers death in many different perspectives, and definitely obsesses with the idea more so after his fathers’ death. Hamlet’s soliloquy is one of the most famous in literature, “To be or not to be, that is the question…” Hamlet’s dilemma is the pain of life that he must endure or the uncertainty of death. From the beginning of the play to the very last scene, the fascination between life and death plays a role throughout. Hamlet is troubled through the play after realizing that his uncle was the one who murdered his father and is now married to his mother. He wants to avenge Hamlet Sr. death and kill Claudius but feels that killing himself would be an easier resolution. After the death of his murdered father and appearance at his funeral, Hamlet will not leave anywhere without making the statement of his all black attire on the inside and out. The turn of events throughout the play only help the reader understand the debt of each character and their specific role to Hamlet and to the story in regards to life and death.

    Read More

  • An Analysis of Mortality in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

    2189 Words  | 5 Pages

    Shakespeare shows the ideology of death internalizing within Hamlet first with Hamlet’s emotions following the death of Old Hamlet. In the scene in which Hamlet is introduced, Hamlet is portrayed as an embodiment of death, dressed in “suits of a solemn black”(1.2.81) and has “dejected havior of the visage”(1.2.84). Hamlet’s physical representation as death signifies his lack of desire to continue living himself, being detached and discontent with the world around him. Hamlet, in his first soliloquy, opens by stating, “Sullied flesh would melt/Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew,/ Or that the Everlasting had not fixed/His canon ‘gainst Self Slaughter!”(1.2.133-135). This is significant, as it shows Hamlet’s full willingness to commit suicide and end Hamlet’s internal pain, if not for suicide being a sin under religion. The reason for Hamlet’s desire for death and his dis...

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet’s anger and grief- primarily stemming from his mother’s marriage to Claudius- brings him to thoughts of suicide, which only subside as a result of it being a mortal and religious sin.  The fact that he wants to take his own life demonstrates a weakness in his character; a sense of cowarness, his decision not to kill himself because of religious beliefs shows that this weakness is balanced with some sense of morality.  Such an obvious paradox is only one example of the inner conflict and turmoil that will eventually lead to Hamlet’s downfall.

    Read More

  • Christianity in Shakespear's Hamlet

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    Faith plays a large role in how one lives their life. Christianity plays a strong role throughout Hamlet by William Shakespeare. When reading the play one must think of the controversies of the time when Shakespeare writes the play. Reformation and Renaissance opinions are reflected throughout. Shakespeare deals with very controversial attitudes and religious questions dealing with death, the existence of purgatory, morality, murder, suicide and marriage in his play Hamlet. It is obvious throughout the play that Hamlet’s life is guided by his faith and his religious beliefs.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Death In Christianity

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    Death, in Christianity, as mentioned by gust speaker Reverend Dr. Mark Harris, is the separation of soul and body; the soul is the pre-existing, immortal aspect of a person that wants to be with God and wants to do what is right, but it is the body that prevents this from happening. Here we can say that, as Dr. Ross had emphasized, that the body and the soul are often in conflict. This conflict is usually sought out throw the influence and importance of God’s role in human life and death.

    Read More

  • Comparing the Characters of Faustus and Hamlet

    1761 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hamlet is not a play based on religion but it illustrates religious beliefs of the 16th century, and religion is used as a catalyst to provoke Hamlet’s procrastination creating internal conflict from within raising questions about society and the new King of Denmark. The play is set in Denmark, a protestant nation but this might not greatly influence the plot since it is set at a time period...

    Read More

  • The Supernatural Element in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    A common motif in Shakespeare’s many plays is the supernatural element, to which Hamlet , with the presence of a ghost, is no exception. The story of Hamlet, the young prince of Denmark, is one of tragedy, revenge, deception, and ghosts. Shakespeare’s use of the supernatural element helps give a definition to the play by being the catalyst of the tragedy that brings upon Hamlet’s untimely demise. The ghost that appears at the beginning of the play could possibly be a satanic figure that causes Hamlet to engage in the terrible acts and endanger his soul. The supernatural element incorporated into the play is used as an instigator, a mentor, as well as mediation for the actions of the protagonist that ultimately end in tragedy, with the loss of multiple lives, as well as suscept Hamlet’s soul to hell. Shakespeare’s portrayal of the ghostly apparition causes a reader to question whether the ghost is a demonic force on the basis of its diction, conduct towards others as well as Hamlet, and it’s motive to kill.

    Read More

More about Hamlet's View Of Religion In Hamlet

Open Document