Dr. Ruleman
Comp 2
10/17/13
Is Hamlet a Christian? Any Christian knows that as humans we are all sinners and we are forgiven every day. Hamlet in this story ends up killing two men which are Polonius, and Claudius the present king of Denmark. The act of murdering another human is the ultimate sin to most Christians however, I think hamlet did what he thought was right to avenge his father’s unfair death. Hamlets father comes to him as a ghost asking him to seek revenge. Hamlet is unfairly pressed to a sinful act. Hamlet also has a thought of suicide. Suicide is a sin that will send whomever straight to hell. Hamlet does not act on the thoughts of self-death. The time period and legal aspect of this story also has a little to do with the act of murder. The ghost of hamlets father says to hamlet “so art thou to revenge, when thou shall hear.”(1.5.7) the ghost was asking when hamlet was going to get revenge on Claudius to set him free from purgatory. Hamlet and the spirit of his father are both looking for “seeking the truth and soul in eternity knowing the truth.” (121 Sister Miriam, joseph). Hamlet is seeking revenge which is truth, justice, once he has confirmed that Claudius the king killed hamlets father he knew the truth and took action as any other human would in this time period. “I consider the morality of the ghosts command from three points of view: the moral situation as grounded on custom and reason, the legal aspect and the special command.” (122 sister Miriam, joseph). Hamlet has thoughts of suicide in act three when talking to Ophelia he says, whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer/ the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / or to take arms against a sea of troubles,/ and, by opposing, end them" (3.1.59-62). If Hamlet committed suicide, it would not be a noble act and he would get no credit for revenging his father's death. Hamlet has many chances to act on the killing of the king, but hesitates to act on the