To Believe Or To Believe No Question About It An...

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is widely regarded as one of the greatest tragedies in English literature. Written near the turn of the 17th century, there were new branches of Christianity appearing and the traditional Roman Catholic hold on power was waning, throwing the whole of Europe was in religious chaos. Nonetheless, the existence of a supreme being known as God was recognized in any branches, and strict adherence to religion was necessary for all the people of that age. It is important to examine the historical setting to fully understand some of the play’s subtler connotations. The protagonist of the play, Hamlet, is one of the most famous tragic heroes in existence, but the character’s fatal flaw is that he does not believe in God†¦show more content†¦It is ‘Adieu, adieu, remember me’./ I have sworn’t†. Despite that the ghost is quite possibly a demon according to Christian teachings, Hamlet makes a promise to a being that he sh ould not even speak to and this demonstrates his lack of adherence to Christianity, and a possible association with the devil. In the closing lines of Act I, Hamlet states that â€Å"The time is out of joint. O cursed spite,/ That ever I was born to set it right./ Nay, come, let’s go together†(I.v.196-199). He clearly believes that it is his duty to restore balance to the world as opposed to God’s. By the end of the first act, it is clear that Hamlet thinks that he can be a factor in God’s will, which far oversteps any Christian belief at the time. Hamlet admits in his fourth soliloquy that he recognizes the possible ill intentions of the spirit he has already made an oath to by admitting that â€Å"The spirit that I have seen/May be a devil, and the devil hath power/ t’assume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps,/ Out of my weakness and my melancholy,/ As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me.†(II.ii.585-590). In some ways, this places Hamlet as more devout because he confesses his doubts of the ghost, but at the same time, the fact that he is still willing to go ahead with his plans despite the devil’s possible influence would be very worrying to the Christian audience of the Elizabethan era. At theShow MoreRelatedTheme Analysis : The Tragedy Of Hamlet 1578 Words   |  7 PagesJackson F. Jones Mrs. Larr English IV 1st Period 16 December 2014 Theme Analysis of Hamlet The tragedy of Hamlet is a work of literature that contains a multitude of themes. Some of these themes are apparently obvious as you read through the tragedy. Themes such as revenge and madness present themselves openly through the progression of the story. However, there are other themes that lurk below the surface. You just have to dive a little deeper into the story to find them. On the surface, the themeRead MoreANALIZ TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS28843 Words   |  116 Pagesï » ¿TEXT INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS The purpose of Text Interpretation and Analysis is a literary and linguistic commentary in which the reader explains what the text reveals under close examination. Any literary work is unique. It is created by the author in accordance with his vision and is permeated with his idea of the world. The reader’s interpretation is also highly individual and depends to a great extent on his knowledge and personal experience. That’s why one cannot lay down a fixed â€Å"model†