Montaigne Religion is an important aspect of the Cannibals’ society. Their basic religious beliefs affirm that the “soul is immortal.” They believe that those who have lived a good, fulfilling life “are lodged” where the sun rises, “and those who are damned in the west.” They have a priest who acts as a prophet whom they barely see because he resides in the mountains. When the priest does come into town, the Cannibals have a great celebration with feasts and dancing. He lectures them on morals which only details “unfaltering courage in war” and “affection to their women.” He also tells them what is to come and gives advice on prospects of war. …show more content…
The world is painful to live in, but, within the Christian framework of the play, if one commits suicide to end that pain, one damns oneself to eternal suffering in hell. The question of the moral validity of suicide in an unbearably painful world will haunt the rest of the play. Hamlet says the famous line “To be, or not to be: that is the question.” In this first soliloquy, religion has failed him, and his twisted family situation offers him no