How Does Shakespeare Use Religion In Hamlet
William Shakespeare has written many pieces in the late 16th and early 17th century, period of wars of religion in England between catholic and protestant. England had just come under protestant rules but was surrounded and still had knowledge on catholic beliefs. Queen Elizabeth 1 prohibited the expression of religion in plays. Shakespeare was able to indirectly express thoughts and questions on religion, in a way to make the audience think and question themselves. In the play Hamlet, the Ghost is used as a figure of God and religion. Is the ghost really Hamlet’s father? Does it come from heaven or from hell? As Catholic believe in purgatory, which means that spirits are between heaven and hell until judgement is called, while protestants believe that the dead go immediately to
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heaven or hell and any ghost is evil, we can feel the confusion of these beliefs in the play.
Hamlet was a man with religious beliefs, he is often referring to God in the play but is unsure whether the ghost is really his father’s spirit or if it is evil taking over his body. Hamlet was an educated man and wanted to be sure to do things correctly and make the right choices by fear of going to hell himself.
Hamlet questions himself more than once as to whether to ghost is good or evil and turns himself to God for answers. Once Horatio and Marcellus have brought Hamlet to the castles’ wall where they had seen the ghost, Hamlet’s first response is to pray to God ``God help us! Are you from Heaven or from Hell? King, Father, speak to me! Why has your dead body left your grave? Why do you walk around in the moonlight in soldiers’ clothes?`` (act 1, scene 2, p.5). Hamlet here is wondering
whether his father’s apparition is good or evil and is therefore asking out loud for God’s help because he’s very confused. The ghost does not respond immediately but asks Hamlet with a sign to follow him which Hamlet does. Again, after hearing the ghosts’ story of his murder, Hamlet cries to God ``Oh God! Murder?`` (act 1, scene 4 p.6). The ghost, Hamlet’s father, tells Hamlet the whole story on how his own brother Claudius murdered him by pouring poison into his ears and asks Hamlet to take revenge for him. Still wondering if this apparition is good or evil hamlet answers: ``Oh Heaven, Earth – yes, even Hell – what new suffering can you throw at me? But I must be strong… I will not rest until I have revenge!`` (act 1, scene 4, p.6). On the anger of the moment, Hamlet couldn’t care less if he goes to heaven or hell and promises his father’s ghost to have revenge for him. Later in the play, even though his only objective is to keep his words and take revenge for his father’s murder, Hamlet still wonders if the ghost is true, is it good or evil? `` How can I be sure that it was an honest ghost? In my grief, perhaps I made a mistake. Perhaps it wasn’t really the ghost of my father…`` (act2, scene 2, p.14)
heaven or hell and any ghost is evil, we can feel the confusion of these beliefs in the play.
Hamlet was a man with religious beliefs, he is often referring to God in the play but is unsure whether the ghost is really his father’s spirit or if it is evil taking over his body. Hamlet was an educated man and wanted to be sure to do things correctly and make the right choices by fear of going to hell himself.
Hamlet questions himself more than once as to whether to ghost is good or evil and turns himself to God for answers. Once Horatio and Marcellus have brought Hamlet to the castles’ wall where they had seen the ghost, Hamlet’s first response is to pray to God ``God help us! Are you from Heaven or from Hell? King, Father, speak to me! Why has your dead body left your grave? Why do you walk around in the moonlight in soldiers’ clothes?`` (act 1, scene 2, p.5). Hamlet here is wondering
whether his father’s apparition is good or evil and is therefore asking out loud for God’s help because he’s very confused. The ghost does not respond immediately but asks Hamlet with a sign to follow him which Hamlet does. Again, after hearing the ghosts’ story of his murder, Hamlet cries to God ``Oh God! Murder?`` (act 1, scene 4 p.6). The ghost, Hamlet’s father, tells Hamlet the whole story on how his own brother Claudius murdered him by pouring poison into his ears and asks Hamlet to take revenge for him. Still wondering if this apparition is good or evil hamlet answers: ``Oh Heaven, Earth – yes, even Hell – what new suffering can you throw at me? But I must be strong… I will not rest until I have revenge!`` (act 1, scene 4, p.6). On the anger of the moment, Hamlet couldn’t care less if he goes to heaven or hell and promises his father’s ghost to have revenge for him. Later in the play, even though his only objective is to keep his words and take revenge for his father’s murder, Hamlet still wonders if the ghost is true, is it good or evil? `` How can I be sure that it was an honest ghost? In my grief, perhaps I made a mistake. Perhaps it wasn’t really the ghost of my father…`` (act2, scene 2, p.14)