Hamlet by Shakespeare

Introduction

If Hamlet had simply proceeded to act out the avenger role assigned to him, the play would have lacked the moral and theological complexity that provides its special fascination. Hamlet has, after all, been a student of theology at Wittenberg, and his knowledge complicates the situation. His accusation of incest is not an adolescent excess but an accurate theological description of a marriage between a widow and her dead husband's brother (Shakespeare, 82).

Moreover, Hamlet's theological accomplishments do more than exacerbate his feelings. For the ordinary avenger, the commission from the ghost of a murdered father would be more than enough, but Hamlet is aware of the unreliability of otherworldly apparitions and consequently reluctant to heed its injunction to perform an action that is objectively evil. In addition, the fear that his father was murdered in a state of sin and is condemned to hell not only increases Hamlet's sense of injustice but also, paradoxically, casts further doubt on the reliability of the ghost's exhortation, for perhaps the ghost is merely an infernal spirit goading him to sin (Shakespeare, 83).

Discussion

Hamlet's indecision is therefore not an indication of weakness but the result of his complex understanding of the moral dilemma with which he is faced. He is unwilling to act unjustly, yet he is afraid that he is failing to exact a deserved retribution. He debates the murky issue and himself becomes unsure whether his behavior is caused by moral scruple or cowardice. His ruminations are in sharp contrast with the cynicism of Claudius and the verbose moral platitudes of Polonius, just as the play is in sharp contrast with the moral simplicity of the ordinary revenge tragedy. Through Hamlet's intelligence, Shakespeare transformed a stock situation into a unique internal conflict (Shakespeare, 84).

Hamlet believes that he must have greater certitude ...