Hamlet Faith Essay Research Paper A great

Hamlet Faith Essay, Research Paper

A great chain of events in "Hamlet", Shakespeare’s great revenge

tragedy, leads to Hamlets own demise. His necessity for subterfuge allows him to

inadvertently neglect is main objective, revenge. So much so that the ghost of

his dead father appears to stipulate Hamlets reserved behavior towards his

fathers revenge. "Do not forget. This visitation is to whet thy almost

blunted purpose," (83-84) says the ghost in a motivational manner which

almost suggests a lack of faith on Hamlets behalf. Nevertheless, Hamlet is

overflowing with faith. Faith in god, faith in himself, even faith in his dead

father’s ghost a faith that will cost him his life. The untimely

"Death" of King Hamlet, Hamlets father, has sparked a disturbance in

the regularity of Denmark. Hamlets mother has waited "Not so much, not

two" (12) months after the Kings death to remarry and her new husband, who

coincidentally is King Hamlets brother, has swiftly embraced the throne. As the

plot unfolds, King Hamlets ghost appears to young Hamlet. He explains the

current dilemma and elicits a vengeful feeling from Hamlet, providing young

Hamlet with purpose, to "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder".

(25) At first, Hamlet is weary of this appearance, but he compromises his

thoughts and put his faith in the ghost. In addition, the ghost even evokes a

vow of allegiance from Hamlet. However, at this juncture in time, Hamlet finds

himself in a state of disbelief. "And shall I couple hell?" (26)

speaks Hamlet once the ghost has departed, suggesting that Hamlet is very

doubtful. However, his doubts are subsequently invalidated at the performance of

‘The Murde! r of Gonzago’ where he requests a group of players to enact a

similar murder to that of King Hamlets. "I’ll have these players play

something like the murder of my father before mine uncle…. The plays the thing

wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King". (55) Towards the end of the

play, Claudius hastily removes himself from the crowd, verifying Hamlets

suspicions. Now, Hamlet not only possesses every reason to believe the ghost,

but entrusts his faith in the ghost as well. However, Hamlets faith does not lie

solely in the ghost. He has another kind of faith faith in himself. Hamlets

belief that he can see through his revenge blatantly exemplifies his faith in

himself. In several instances, Hamlet requires himself to act mad "To put

an Antic disposition on" (30) if you will. His real life performance is so

convincing, that it arises concern in several characters such as Claudius,

Gertrude (Hamlets mother), and Polonius. Regardless of whether or not these

individuals involve themselves for their own purposes this dramatization

performed by Hamlet requires the highest degree of faith. Hamlet himself

professes "That ever [he] was born to set it right" (30) referring to

his very existence as a device, a device which will "Set it right"

conclusively demonstrating his faith in himself. Moving forward, in a subsequent

scene to Claudiuss’ dramatic exit, Hamlet is offered an opportunity to exact his

revenge upon Claudius, who is seeking atonement for his misdeeds. In one foolish

moment, Hamlet spares his uncles’ life. His belief is that if Claudius were to

die during confession, Claudiuss’ spirit would ascend to heaven and Hamlet will

not accept this. Hamlet figures he will wait until "He is drunk asleep, or

in his rage, or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, at game a-swearing, or

about some act that has no relish of salvation in’t, then trip him". (80)

Hamlets obvious plan is to wait until Claudius sins, and then avenge his father.

This move cost Hamlet his life. Hamlets previous decision was based upon his

belief in divine purposes. Since he was avenging his father for a decent, moral

purpose god will be on his side. Hamlet himself speaks, "My words fly up,

my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go", (80)

indirectly suggesting that words or actions, combined with thought, will find

their way to heaven. Hamlets evocations point towards a belief in divinity. This

belief leads to the death of Polonius, and furthermore to the death of Hamlet.

In the next scene, Hamlets fate is sealed. Polonius, the "Wretched, rash,

intruding fool", (81) was up to his old tricks, while Hamlet accidentally

slays Polonius mistaking Polonius for Claudius. Later on, Laertes returns to

avenge his father. "How came he dead?" (99) asked Laertes. Upon his

discovery of Hamlets actions, Laertes becomes embodied with grief. Claudius

quickly takes advantage of this by manipulating Laertes to duel Hamlet. Laertes,

under the influence of Claudius takes his fury one step further and poisons his

sword, a poison so lethal that one cut will end Hamlet. During their duel,

Laertes wounds Hamlet then "In scuffing", they exchange swords. Hamlet

wounds Laertes and they are both poisoned. In the remaining moments, Hamlet

learns of the Poison, "The point envenome’d too! Then, venom, to thy

work." (134) exclaims Hamlet as he strikes Claudius down, and they all

parish. Hamlet gets his revenge. But to do so, he must sacrifice the lives of

Gertrude, Polonius, Laertes and himself. He consequently entrusted his

"Faith" into both the right place, and the wrong place because got

what he wanted, however died during the process. Hamlet displays his faith in

himself when he was willing to sacrifice his own life to avenge his father. He

proves this by proclaiming his understanding, and compassionate feelings towards

Laertes plight, "For by the image of my cause I see the portraiture of

his", (124) Hamlet says, suggesting he understood that he was destined to

die. We furthermore see that Hamlet does not lose faith in his fathers ghost.

The ghosts’ second visit demonstrates this when he inspires Hamlet to finally

finish what he has started. And as for faith in divinity, Hamlet himself remarks

that a divine power controls our purposes when he says, "There’s a divinity

that shapes our ends" (121)