Normality In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Life, often described as a journey, can, for some, comprise of mundane everyday activities devoid of any adventures. For others, life may present a series of such joys and delights that if any ordinary man were to experience these joys he would forget all his sorrows. Then there are those who have lived through such hellish experiences and injustices that it has cost them not only their sanity but has ruined them from ever reverting to normality. Such is the fate of the protagonist, Hamlet, in William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet.” Through the course of his play William Shakespeare demonstrates that when faced with injustices one may, instead of responding immediately, fall into a period of passivity. This is the optimal response as it allows for one to
Hamlet’s decision to let Claudius live while he had the perfect chance to take his life in the chapel can be used as a prime example. During this scene the reader may, once again, presume that Hamlet is a fool for allowing this opportunity to avenge his father slip by but a closer analysis would suggest otherwise. Upon drawing his sword Hamlet begins to ponder and realizes that if he were to slay Claudius while he prays then Claudius “goes to heaven” (3,3,76). Not only does Hamlet view this as a favour he would be bestowing upon Claudius but also realizes that if he had killed Claudius in prayer he would not have, truly, avenged his father. Through this encounter and Hamlet’s passivity he becomes aware of the fact that he not only wishes to avenge his father but also longs for Claudius to experience the same pain that his father suffers. Thus it can be seen that passivity is, indeed, the optimal response when attempting to respond to any injustice as it allows for one to eventually realize and achieve what one truly