The Failure Of Religion In Hamlet, By William Shakespeare

“Hamlet”, written by William Shakespeare is a masterpiece of the 16th century. Religion plays a crucial role in this play. During this era, the Elizabethans were in a state of religious confusion. During the 16th century, the people had recently come under Protestant rule, but they were also familiar with the Catholic beliefs. Shakespeare took advantage of this religious change. According to some scholar, “Hamlet” is judged as a failure in terms of religion, as they think that the framework for hamlet is too weak to consider its religious aspect. Whereas others contend that “Hamlet” has enough evidence to consider its religion aspect. But were the characters in Hamlet believers or not? If they were, then what did they follow: Catholic beliefs …show more content…
Hamlet believes his mother Gertrude getting married to his uncle Claudius, is a sin. So, Hamlet believes that there is God who justifies a good deed and a sin. Claudius’s prayers to God after his realization of his brother’s murder, makes people look at him as a believer. Gertrude seemed much more of a survivor than a believer, as she does everything that would allow her to survive in the world with long knives.

Hamlet during his talks with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern states that God is the creator of mankind.

What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? (Shakespeare)(II.ii. 1831-1844) Hamlet in these lines describes that man is the noblest of all God’s pieces of work. And by “quintessence of dust”, he clearly proves his belief in God, as it is said that everything in nature was initially in the form of dust, and are going to end up in the same form alluding in Genesis 3:19. The same idea was portrayed when Hamlet doesn’t feel bad about killing Polonius as he think he has sent him back to the same state (dust) from where Polonius was …show more content…
Edward T. Oakes, in his article ‘Hamlet and the Reformation’ states that ‘ Shakespeare wrote Hamlet to illuminate the issues in motion by the Protestant Reformation and has even managed to adumbrate some key insights into Martin Luther’s dilemma ‘ (Oaks, 54). There are many incidents in the play that suggested the support of the Protestant Reformation by Shakespeare. Ophelia being allowed to have a Christian burial even though she commits suicide is one of the incidents where the principles of the Catholic Church can be seen as degraded. Hamlet is deterred from committing suicide because he fears it will send him to hell. One aspect to look at is that Denmark was Protestant at the time of Hamlet’s publishing, and the corruption of Hamlet could be seen as a result of the Protestant