The question of suicide is addressed in Hamlet from a religious perspective, and viewed through the Christian belief system that states suicide is a mortal sin, one that would separate the sinner from God for all eternity. It is the fear of what will happen to the soul in the afterlife that causes Hamlet, and others who contemplate suicide to rethink their decision.
In the "To be or not to be" speech, Hamlet is considering, weighing the option of living with his pain and feelings of loss and isolation or whether it is more noble and honorable to opt out of life and commit suicide.
"To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether 't is 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?" (Shakespeare)(III.i.55-59)
Suicide, or death, in general is a major theme in the play, and Hamlet spends a great deal of time thinking about death, truth, the meaning of life, and it is all viewed through his spirituality, or his belief system.
Hamlet experiences a great deal of emotional pain with regard to the death of his father and the fact that his mother has married her brother-in-law so quickly after her husband's unexpected death. He is in such emotional turmoil, that he pretends to be mad, so that he can contemplate and consider all the events that take place around him
"The mental anguish Hamlet expresses in this soliloquy will be a feature of the entire play. King Hamlet was bold, decisive, and active. His son, on the other hand, is intellectual and passive. Hamlet clearly does not want to be involved in such a difficult situation. He even wishes that suicide were not a cardinal sin so that he could kill himself and be finished."
No comments:
Post a Comment