Discuss Hamlet’s attitude to death and the afterlife Essay

Discuss critical points spot to dying and the afterlife, giving an indication as to how both contemporary reference and modern consultations might view it. hamlet deals with situations, which require a resolute response. However, by the end of the twentieth century a large theatrical role of people were unfamiliar with church worship and words of the bible, which makes modern variation of it much more difficult which Elizabethan and Jacobean audience of Shakespeares time on the other hand had strong touch sensations in theology, includes specific each(prenominal)y the afterlife.Hamlet shares the views of the contemporary audience and we essential therefore try to go steady his religious perspectives in the way that contemporary audiences would mother done. To the modern audience the religious ideas and beliefs of Hamlet may seem strange 1 in that location is never an ideal production of Hamlet any interpretation must limit. For our decade I think the play will be some what the disillusionment which produces apathy of the will so deep that commitment to politics, to religion or to life is impossible Hamlet is always on the shore of action, but something inside him stops the final committed action.It is an emotion which tolerate encounter in the youth today. I agree with this statement but I think that it is Hamlets conscience that holds him back from cleanup spot Claudius rather than mere disillusionment. For the Shakespearean audience, a religious theme would have been established at the very beginning of Hamlet when the ghost fades on the crowing of the clock and Marcellus says Some say that ever gainst that season comes Wherin our delivery boys birth is celebrated, This bird of dawning singeth all night persistent And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad.The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm, So hallowd and so gracious is that time No spirits are allowed to go the earth in the day. The Crowing of the cock could also be a religious reference to St Peters denial of Christ forrader the crucifixion, all of which would have been readily understood by a less(prenominal) secular audience than a modern one. When Laertes discovers that Hamlet killed his father, Polonius, his reaction is in complete contrast to Hamlets when he discovers what happened to his father.Laertes is prepared to go to Hell to avenge his fathers death and is more touch on about getting his penalise than what happens to him. The final result of Laertes decisiveness is the death of Hamlet. Laertes gets his revenge, but at great cost. In a traditional revenge tragedy the search for revenge would predominantly lie with the hero of the play. However, Shakespeare makes Hamlet very aware of the consequences of his actions, which is why this is not the typical revenge tragedy that Jacobean audiences were familiar with.This is because Shakespeare wanted to show that Hamlet has a moral philos ophy that rises above vengeance. Laertes takes on the role of the character who demands vengeance regardless of the consequences. Hamlet, as I have already suggested, is very much a brain and considers the consequences of his actions. He procrastinates about taking revenge throughout the play and ironically it is Claudius who suggests the fencing match and the poisoned wine, which ultimately allows Hamlet to honour the Ghosts wishes and kill Claudius.When Hamlets fathers ghost first appears to him, he wonders whether or not to accept it at face value. This is because Shakespeare has acknowledged the church belief that no soul could ever return from the grave so all in reality were evil spirits or devils who are attempting to arrange mortals into their power. On first seeing the ghost Hamlet says Angels and ministers of grace fight down us Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damnd, Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell, Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou com st in such questionable constrain That I will speak to thee. Ill call thee Hamlet