Hamlet Is Torn Between His Conscience Analysis

Hamlet is torn between his conscience which tells him that murderous retribution is morally wrong, and his emotional need for revenge. Discuss, showing to what extent you agree with this view. "To be or not to be, that is the question" - arguably one of the most famous literary quotes of all time, it raises the question of action against inaction; a dilemma that undoubtedly torments Hamlet. Should Hamlet avenge his father's death or not given that murderous retribution is morally wrong? Is conscience a factor in Hamlet's delay for retribution? Is Hamlet scared? Shakespeare was born in 1564 at a time when England was ruled by Queen Elizabeth 1st in a Protestant state. Shakespeare was most likely brought up in a Catholic family which would have …show more content…
Away!"[Act 3 Scene 2 - 244] Hamlet is convinced that the ghost speaks the truth "I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand points."[Act 3 Scene 2 - 260 - 261] and therefore in his own mind justified for killing the king. With this revelation Hamlet goes to find the King whom he finds praying at his private chapel. Realising that killing Claudius at this point would send him straight to heaven "A villain kills my father, and for that, I his sole son do this same villain send to heaven."[Act 3 Scene 3 - 76 - 78] and that this is no sort of justice, Hamlet is again torn between his need for revenge and his conscience. He is ready to take his revenge but delays in fear of sending his uncle to heaven which would not be the justice he wants. Hamlet decides to wait until Claudius is in the act of committing a sin because only then can he guarantee him being sent to hell. The above paragraphs illustrate points of conflict for Hamlet, showing how he is torn between his desire for revenge and his conscience. Each point gives support to the notion that Hamlet's conscience is a factor in his delay for retribution and that he considers the religious implications of his actions. I believe that Hamlet's delay in response could also be attributed to the fact that murder is out of character and that he is likely to be scared at the prospect of killing

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