No one can guarantee how they will be remembered after death, they can only focus on their actions and the impact they have on those around them while they are alive. According to the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the efforts of an individual to shape their own legacy is ultimately futile, by focusing too deeply on the legacy one leaves after death you lose sight of what is important in life. The play centers around a theme that explores the extent to what is predetermined by a higher power and what free will and control is left in the hands of man. In the play, the death of the King causes his son Hamlet to come to terms with the notion of mortality and to become greatly concerned with the uncertainty of what lies beyond death. As the
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When pondering the idea of suicide Hamlet says “...that the Everlasting had not fix’d his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! God! O God!” (1.2.131-132), this is an example of how indecisive Hamlet is in regards to his future. Because Hamlet is so conflicted with the idea of suicide and what he should do in reaction to the terrible events in his life, this causes a further hold to be put on the actions of revenge that he has planned and allows more time for things to go …show more content…
Already a good example of someone who does not accept fate, after Claudius commits regicide to obtain his brother’s position as king, he becomes quashed by the guilt and pressure involved in maintaining his position of power and respect. Claudius was ambitious and refused to embrace the cards that fate had dealt him, so instead he took matters into his own hands, when he says “...with wisest sorrow think on him, Together with remembrance of ourselves.” (1.2.6-7), he is urging the kingdom to move on from grieving for King Hamlet purely for the benefit of his conscience and well being. While attempting to create a legacy from his stolen new power, he is erasing the legacy of his brother, who although a great man in life, became nothing but a part of the earth along with almost every main character in the play including Claudius
When pondering the idea of suicide Hamlet says “...that the Everlasting had not fix’d his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! God! O God!” (1.2.131-132), this is an example of how indecisive Hamlet is in regards to his future. Because Hamlet is so conflicted with the idea of suicide and what he should do in reaction to the terrible events in his life, this causes a further hold to be put on the actions of revenge that he has planned and allows more time for things to go …show more content…
Already a good example of someone who does not accept fate, after Claudius commits regicide to obtain his brother’s position as king, he becomes quashed by the guilt and pressure involved in maintaining his position of power and respect. Claudius was ambitious and refused to embrace the cards that fate had dealt him, so instead he took matters into his own hands, when he says “...with wisest sorrow think on him, Together with remembrance of ourselves.” (1.2.6-7), he is urging the kingdom to move on from grieving for King Hamlet purely for the benefit of his conscience and well being. While attempting to create a legacy from his stolen new power, he is erasing the legacy of his brother, who although a great man in life, became nothing but a part of the earth along with almost every main character in the play including Claudius