William Shakespeare’s Hamlet expresses the journey of the tragic hero, Hamlet, as he sets off on his quest to find out the existential truth of death. Shakespeare's plays often portray a revenge tragedy; which reveals a character’s quest for vengeance followed by the change, mutilation, and deaths of several other characters. The presence of fate is prevalent in Shakespeare’s work, in which the divine powers (typically Christian-based) influence the development of events beyond the character’s control. At the opening of the play, Shakespeare portrays Hamlet to hold a conventional view of fate. However, as the play progresses, Hamlet experiences a life-changing shift in sensibility, causing him to sublimate his personal feelings of victimization
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Hamlet delivers the ever-famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy, during which he contemplates “whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer… or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and … end them” (3.1.64-67); in other words, to live or to commit suicide. Showcasing Hamlet’s conflicted emotions towards his divine fate and purpose, in the face of contradictory evidence. It is not until Hamlet finds new evidence that he gains the ability to consolidate his emotions and discover his purpose. When Claudius rushes out of the castle hall in disgust soon after the play, all of Hamlet’s suspicions about his uncle’s culpability become a reality. Hamlet thus tells Horatio, “I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound,” (3.2.276-277), verbalizing his newfound sense of control. Apparently, Hamlet has restored faith in himself and the Ghost, enabling him to seek revenge and single-handedly move the plot forward. However, even when presented with an easy opportunity, Hamlet is unable to kill Claudius due to his moral character. Although he has his mind set on revenge, he decides that death must not mean deliverance to heaven; it must lead to purgatory or hell. This decision leads Hamlet to accidentally kill Polonius instead, triggering a vengeful chain of events in the following acts of the
Hamlet delivers the ever-famous “to be or not to be” soliloquy, during which he contemplates “whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer… or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and … end them” (3.1.64-67); in other words, to live or to commit suicide. Showcasing Hamlet’s conflicted emotions towards his divine fate and purpose, in the face of contradictory evidence. It is not until Hamlet finds new evidence that he gains the ability to consolidate his emotions and discover his purpose. When Claudius rushes out of the castle hall in disgust soon after the play, all of Hamlet’s suspicions about his uncle’s culpability become a reality. Hamlet thus tells Horatio, “I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound,” (3.2.276-277), verbalizing his newfound sense of control. Apparently, Hamlet has restored faith in himself and the Ghost, enabling him to seek revenge and single-handedly move the plot forward. However, even when presented with an easy opportunity, Hamlet is unable to kill Claudius due to his moral character. Although he has his mind set on revenge, he decides that death must not mean deliverance to heaven; it must lead to purgatory or hell. This decision leads Hamlet to accidentally kill Polonius instead, triggering a vengeful chain of events in the following acts of the