Essay On Religion In Hamlet

Words: 617
Pages: 3

One of the world’s most popular plays is Hamlet, where the protagonist of the story strives to avenge his father’s death. In the beginning, we are told that Hamlet mourns over the death of his father. One day, Hamlet encounters the ghost of his late father and he is told to avenge his death by killing Claudius. Throughout the play, Hamlet receives numerous opportunities to fulfill his father’s wish. However, Hamlet seems to be hesitant each time when it comes to the point of killing him. Being from a University, Hamlet is a very complex character with a very sharp mind. In Hamlet’s thinking, the reader can observe his faithfulness towards religion. The intricacy of Hamlet’s character creates various reasons of why he hesitates in his sworn oath. Hamlet’s Catholic beliefs are a major factor in determining his reluctance. Throughout the play, Hamlet always considers religion before making an important decision. An example of this is in Hamlet’s “To Be, or Not to Be” soliloquy. “No more—and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to—’tis a consummation devoutly to be wished! To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream.” (3.1.62-66) Only …show more content…
After all, Hamlet is not a God, and therefore taking a life would be considered as a mortal sin, according to his religion. However, this ruling has been deemed false as Hamlet has shown his barbarity when he slashes his blade through the curtain, killing Polonius. Hamlet exclaims “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead! (stabs his sword through the arras and kills Polonius)” (3.4.24) I believe that Hamlet has a deeper fear: the fear of premeditated killing. Psychologically, Hamlet is very unstable and in this scene, Hamlet acts rash and slices the curtain, hoping that he has killed Claudius. However, planning to kill deals with one’s morals and Hamlet is not the type of person to devise