Honor And Certainty In Shakespeare's Hamlet

During the Elizabethan Times, presenting honor was connected but not limited to following the Christian faith, showing integrity and loyalty towards the King and the royal family, and to their leadership and position in society. Honour was practically a deciding factor on how an individual was judged. In such a time where being a man of honor was so essential to being a respected and successful individual, one's certainty can play big a role. Without a state of assurance, retaining one's honor is greatly affected. Through the Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet, Individuals honor and certainty begin to dwindle once they get conflicted with their personal desire. Throughout the play, Hamlet is referred to as a man of honor by the citizens in Denmark. As an educated and practical man, it is clear why he was referred to the way he was. Once the ghost notified him of the crime committed he did not jump to conclusions. Instead, he decided to find proof of the act before he acted for revenge. His practicality is clearly presented through his decision making as he still recognized the many questions that had to be answered before he could act. He presents realistic and sensible approach as he states “The spirit that I have seen may be the devil” (2.2). Through this …show more content…
Hamlet, Claudius, and Laertes were all victims of a lack of honor restoration. Hamlet was too engraved in his antic disposition once he was met with certainty, and allowed it to dispose of his honor. Claudius in the play was never really a man of honor and always acted for the betterment of himself. His greed dictated how he would act, which even included manipulating an emotionally vulnerable Laertes, who was already engraved in his blind revenge. As a whole, the corruption of the state leads to honor itself to be