Essay on Religion and Morality in Hamlet - 955 Words

Benny Woo 10/27/10 Religion and Morality in Hamlet In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Danish prince sets out to avenge his father’s assassination at the hands of his uncle Claudius, the new king. At first, Hamlet is fragile because of his father’s sudden death and the following marriage of his mother Gertrude and uncle Claudius. Originally contemplating suicide, Hamlet dissuades himself from doing so on the grounds of it being a sin. Shifting from an internal struggle to an external one after he meets his father’s spirit, he seeks to kill Claudius but cannot due to his religion again. Finally Hamlet thwarts Claudius’ plans to be assassinated in England and returns to Denmark. He finds peace in his Christian faith before dying in†¦show more content†¦Then Hamlet’s self-involved thoughts of suicide transform into homicide. Again his religion delays the crime. He confirms his uncle’s guilt after staging a play that mimicked the supposed manner of his father’s assassinat ion. Hamlet then sneaks up on Claudius with a sword and has the first opportunity to exact his vengeance. However the prince overhears his uncle confess â€Å"Oh, my offense is rank! It smells to heaven. It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, a brother’s murder† (3.3. 36-8). Claudius’ reference to â€Å"heaven† and the â€Å"primal eldest curse†, the story of Cain and Abel, connects importance of religion in morality. His guilt invokes biblical images and so Claudius realizes the â€Å"rankness† of his actions. The mutual valuation of religion in turn saves Claudius as Hamlet almost kills him. Hamlet says â€Å"Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying; And now I’ll do’t. And so ‘a goes to heaven† (3.3. 73-5). Hamlet considers that Claudius is praying, a holy act, so he resists executing him in the fear he â€Å"goes to heaven†. Although he literally does not want to inadvertently reward Claud ius, Hamlet observes that his usurper uncle shows remorse and says â€Å"And am I then revenged, to take him in the purging of his soul, when he is fit and seasoned for his passage?† (3.3.84-6). In deeming his uncle â€Å"fit and seasoned for his passage†, that is to be killed at another time, Hamlet does plan onShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Morality And Religion1442 Words   |  6 PagesMorality Religion in â€Å"Hamlet† In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet,† the prince of Denmark embarks on a quest of revenge against his Uncle Claudius, the new king, for the assassination of his father. In the beginning, Hamlet was contemplating suicide with the news of his father’s sudden death and the quick marriage of his mother, Gertrude and Uncle Claudius, but decides not to by virtue of being a sin. 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