Preview

Redemption In Hamlet

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
637 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Redemption In Hamlet
Throughout the four centuries, since Shakespeare wrote and produced the play Hamlet, many have sought to interpret and find meaning in the words of the Bard. While only William himself can truly confirm the messages he intended for us to find, we each can express those that come to us. This essay will attempt to examine Hamlet and the themes of Redemption, Moral Truths, and a Just Society.
The theme of Redemption refers to that human action of trying to put right that which is wrong. This attempt at redemption can include correcting actions as small as unintentional mistakes to gross, intentional sins, whether in our own selves or in others. It is an attempt to restore that which has been lost, most often a sense of peace. In Hamlet, there …show more content…
These are eternal truths that are unchanging in spite of time, place or circumstances, as they apply to human behavior. These truths can be either positive or negative and each has consequences, both good and bad, depending on how we act upon them. It is said that life would cease to exist without them and certainly stories would not be stories without them. Hamlet is no exception and it does not take intense study and search to find these gems. One of the most obvious places to look is in the parting words Polonius gives to his son Laertes as he is about to depart to France. His advice, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be" (avoiding debt and making one's own living) and "to thine own self be true" (live what you know is right and you will be good to everyone) are as applicable today as in Shakespeare's time. There are also less obvious moral truths in Hamlet. In his famous soliloquy, Hamlet appears to be contemplating suicide as he says, "To be or not to be: that is the question:", but also appears to reference agency and our right, and obligation to choose. Further contemplation would lead us to consider this truth, our obligation to use our agency, to be a major theme of the play. Hamlet's seeming inability to choose, and moreover, choose wisely, is in large part, what leads to the play's tragic
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Best Essays

    Hamlet (Dont Read Got Off the Internet)
    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Hamlet (Dont Read Got Off the Internet)

    Hamlet, Prince of Denmark has remained the most perplexing, as well as the most popular, of William Shakespeare’s tragedies. Whether considered as literature, philosophy, or drama, its artistic stature is universally admitted. To explain the reasons for its excellence in a few words, however, is a daunting task. Apart from the matchless artistry of its language, the play’s appeal rests in large measure on the character of Hamlet himself. Called upon to avenge his father’s murder, he is compelled to face problems of duty, morality, and ethics that have been human concerns through the ages. The play has tantalized critics with what has become known as the Hamlet mystery, that of Hamlet’s complex behavior, most notably his indecision and his reluctance to act.…

    • 1773 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Hamlet's Struggle and Disillusionment
    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet's Struggle and Disillusionment

    In the light of my critical study, the statement that "Shakespeare's Hamlet continues to engage audiences through its dramatic treatment of struggle and disillusionment" resonates strongly with my own interpretation of Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. It clearly continues to engage audiences as it presents ideas of duty and corruption. Shakespeare presents these ideas largely through the protagonist, Hamlet's, struggle with his duty to his father and his disillusionment with himself and the corrupt society in which he lives.…

    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Mind and Hamlet
    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Mind and Hamlet

    Shakespeare’s texts have been re-visited, re-interpreted and re-invented to suit the context and preferences of an evolving audience, and it through this constant recreation it is evident that Hamlet “does not define or exhaust its possibilities”. Through the creation of a character who emulates a variety of different themes, such as revenge, realisation of reality and the questioning of humanity, we can see the different possibilities within Hamlet as an “admirable text” with enduring human value. Furthermore, the emotional journey of Hamlet and his progression of madness provide further opportunity for differing interpretations. Hamlet connects with audiences from a variety of socio-historic contexts primarily due to its address of fundamental human issues and what it is to be human.…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Ethics of Hamlet
    • 546 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Ethics of Hamlet

    In Hamlet's first soliloquy, "To be or not to be", Hamlet appears to be governed by reason as he debates whether or not it is one's right to end his or her life. Hamlet begins by weighing out the advantages and disadvantages of existence. In his words, "Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them?"(III.i.57-60). Hamlet is struggling. Living in Misery is a major issue for Hamlet as he copes with the death of his father. From this passage, we are led to believe that Hamlet favors suicide over life. Suicide is an act believed to be punishable by damnation. Similarly, the mystery of life after death presents Hamlet with a fear of the unknown. For these reasons, Hamlet is hesitant and forced to re-analyze the situation. Clearly, Hamlet is engaging in a philosophical dilemma where he uses intellect and logic to seek for an alternative solution to his misery. Hamlet's ethical nature is revealed by his thoughts. All in all, Hamlet is struggling with the knowledge of good and evil.…

    • 546 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Essay
    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hamlet Essay

    In using the conventions of the revenge tragedy genre, expectations are created for an audience who understand the conflict that looms under Claudius’s leadership unless Hamlet revenges his father’s ‘most foul and unnatural murder’. Yet Hamlet is conflicted over the moral dilemma that confronts him, expressing this through his Judeo Christian perspective of ‘O cursed spite that ever I was born to set it right’. His powerful use of soliloquy throughout the play explores the paradigm shift between Renaissance and Judeo-Christian ideas on life and life after death. ‘To be or not to be...’ asks Hamlet, reflecting the philosophical existential concerns of this context and supporting the plays longevity for these paramount concerns remain relevant to every context. Here Shakespeare has successfully mirrored the ferment and change in his society, whilst modern directors mirror theirs in ways that reflect their values and beliefs. It is for this reason that Shakespeare’s work is described as ‘not of an age, but for all time’ (Ben Johnson).…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Horatio's Divinity In Hamlet
    • 968 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Horatio's Divinity In Hamlet

    Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Hamlet explores humanities complex processes and the condition of which we live. In this play, the concept of revenge is studied cohesively with the ability of humans to make judgments over their actions and human’s curiosity toward seeking answers. Shakespeare, having written this play in the 17th century, creates the protagonist Hamlet as a forward thinking character with a philosophical quality and moral understanding regarding his ability to reason. These traits conflict against the crude revenge task at hand in the play. Through Hamlet’s complexity, Shakespeare makes direct opinions about the human condition and what it is to be human.…

    • 968 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    What Will Make Hamlet Worthy of Continued Critical Study?
    • 1441 Words
    • 6 Pages

    What Will Make Hamlet Worthy of Continued Critical Study?

    Any critical evaluation of the play “Hamlet” must be chiefly concerned with the character of Hamlet. Unlike Shakespeare’s other tragedies, “Hamlet” is singular in purpose and scope-it is the story of one man’s personal and moral collapse under the weight of his own (and other’s) decisions, intentions and machinations. The play is not complicated with subplots and extraneous secondary characters, but is wholly focused on the man himself. This dedication to a singular dramatic intention paradoxically makes for “Hamlet” to be, subjectively, Shakespeare most confusing play. It is problematic in its protagonists’ inscrutability, his missing motives, his contradictory actions, and his utter implacability to settle into one stable character. Almost everything he does further contradicts him as an individual in the world of the play and as a dramatic character. For this reason my critical evaluation of the play is that it is artistically self defeating due to its own subversions of character and dramatic convention, and this should render it unfulfilling and disappointing as a dramatic performance. Paradoxically, the plays confusion renders it all the more infuriatingly readable-it is both alienating and enticing, a work which defeats itself in its own realisation and at the same time is only worthwhile and meaningful in this artistic enigma-the individual components should not work, yet it does strike a powerful emotional and dramatic resonance in its completion. Many aspects of “Hamlet” as a text are easily criticised-it is certainly a work with a large amount of problems. However, in a rather subversive and mysterious manner the play is a wonderful work of literature.…

    • 1441 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Shakespeare Major Paper
    • 2842 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Shakespeare Major Paper

    In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet himself is a difficult character to figure out. With his elegant intensity and reckless but cautious attitude, he is able to keep his readers entertained as the play progresses. Through his irrational decisions, emotional madness and admirable qualities, Hamlet becomes a character with whom readers will continuously empathize. Our first impression of Hamlet sets the tone for the entire play. We are brought to one of the beginning scenes where Hamlet is…

    • 2842 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Act One of Hamlet Shape Your Understanding of the Main Concerns of the Play?
    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Act One of Hamlet Shape Your Understanding of the Main Concerns of the Play?

    In the interactions of characters, Shakespeare’s Hamlet examines fundamental characteristics of society which can result in moral ambiguity for both the characters and the audience. In a time of transition between the traditional church led tenets and the emerging Renaissance humanist views, the title character is related to other characters to explore the notions of corruption, loyalty and love. Contrastingly, it is also in the rejection of others and isolation of Hamlet that questions as the nature of life is unravelled. Indeed, whilst the world of Hamlet may appear unfamiliar to a 21st century audience it is the examination of such intrinsic qualities of humans that remains pertinent.…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Hamlet’s Stifling and Consuming Insecurities Are a Result of His Struggles to Navigate His Changing World.
    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet’s Stifling and Consuming Insecurities Are a Result of His Struggles to Navigate His Changing World.

    Shakespeare’s play Hamlet (1601) explores Hamlet’s growing insecurities and uncertainties, which stem from his attempt to find certainty and order within his changing transitioning society. Hamlet’s strong moral code and genuine grief at the beginning of the play contrasts with his descent into madness and deceit, as the corruption of the court begin to deteriorate his integrity and eventually lead to his tragic downfall. Throughout the play Shakespeare explores universal notions of authenticity contrasted with duplicity, the struggle between action and inaction and challenging the archetypal tragedian. Through an exploration of these themes, Shakespeare attempts to use the characters in his play to reflect his view on humanity and the shifting, conflicting paradigms between Medieval and Renaissance thinking.…

    • 1175 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Juxtaposition In Hamlet
    • 1723 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Juxtaposition In Hamlet

    William Shakespeare, regarded as one of the greatest English playwrights of all time, crafted Hamlet, a masterpiece that unravels a corrupt royal family. As the play opens with the death of the Denmark king, the audience is thrown into a world of power and betrayal. Prince Hamlet’s discovery of his father’s murder sets the stage for a creative and engaging story delving into the intricacies of revenge. In Hamlet, William Shakespeare uses the motif of revenge to convey the complexities of human nature rooted in internal conflicts, demonstrating the dangers of revenge. Hamlet’s journey for revenge leads him down an emotionally and internally difficult path swamped in moral dilemmas as he faces the consequences of revenge and the inevitability…

    • 1723 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Does Hamlet Feel At The Beginning Of Hamlet's First Soliloquy
    • 1225 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Does Hamlet Feel At The Beginning Of Hamlet's First Soliloquy

    Hamlet’s anguish and disillusionment are conveyed very clearly when he describes the world as “weary, stale, flat and unprofitable”. As he mourns the loss of his beloved father, the “excellent…king”, this young man cannot seem to find any solace or comfort in “this world”.…

    • 1225 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Being Human Analysis
    • 943 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hamlet Being Human Analysis

    The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, William Shakespeare’s longest, and perhaps most notable, play explores several important aspects of the human condition. Hamlet’s battle between his emotions and logic, as well as his fatal flaws and what he considers to be morally good and looming evil, encased in a story of murder and betrayal enlightens audiences to contemplate the true meaning of being human. Ultimately, through Hamlet’s questioning of humanity and what it means to be alive and human, Shakespeare prompts the conversation in his audience.…

    • 943 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Significance Of Loyalty In Hamlet
    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Significance Of Loyalty In Hamlet

    The play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare explores the ideas and connections between the principles of loyalty and disloyalty. These ideas engross Hamlet, who’s experiences result in the unfolding of the revenge tragedy. This portrayal of such human experience is expressed through Hamlet’s loyalty to the dead King, his lack of loyalty to himself, loyalty to his beliefs and the contrasting motivations of Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras. The significance of loyalty expressed throughout Hamlet allows the play to exceed time as its values are essential to all of humanity.…

    • 746 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Hamlet Show Moral Integrity
    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages

    How Does Hamlet Show Moral Integrity

    The character Hamlet from Shakespeare’s text Hamlet shows a conflicted demonstration of moral integrity. To dissect the morals in question, they are compiled from religious rules, logic, common sense, conscience and the local laws of the Elizabethan era.…

    • 639 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More