Nihilism In Hamlet
The history of art shows that the motif of death is common for the dramaturgy since the Ancient times. William Shakespeare was among the most famous playwrights, who also tried to discuss the relationship between death and life, death and beauty, death and truth. In his “Hamlet” play, the behavior and statements of the main hero Hamlet reveal the views of contemporary society and the author on existence of the individual in the fore of death.
A close look at the data indicates that the entire plot of the play is shaped by the issue of death. The play starts with the description of the events of the King’s death. The play ends with the death of four characters, including Hamlet. The primary aim of the main hero is to find the real reason of …show more content…
the father’s death. Thus, after the meeting with the ghost of his father, Hamlet knows that the King was murdered. He needs to find an answer if the words of ghost were true or false. There is no doubt that the problem of existence and sense of life is central for the play.
It is necessary to mention that the narrative is developing in the form of the successive recognition of the truth by Hamlet and the implementation of his quest for revenge. It means that the mind of the main hero is regularly troubled by the issue of death. It seems obvious that his feelings and thoughts regarding the issue of death are very valuable in the context of the society of that time.
He could not cope with the fact that murdering and death is the common thing in spite of the words of his mother: “Seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity” (Shakespeare, 1.2.70-75). Hamlet demonstrates that he is not a person, who just follows the behavioral patterns of other people. He is an individual and needs to cope with the “consequences” of this individuality. The primary consequence is the necessity to face death, as it is present in the world. It is not easy for Hamlet to continue his existence, however, the heroic nature of his character helps him to overcome the primary problems.
The reflection on the death of Polonius by Hamlet: “Not where he eats, but where he is eaten.
A certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service—two dishes but to one table. That's the end” (Shakespeare, 4.3.19-28) shows that he does not consider life to be something more than the preparation for death. At the same time, this nihilistic approach could not coexist with the inner intention to live and perform the destiny.
The data yielded by this study that Hamlet is an individual with regular thoughts about suicide: “O, that this too too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, Or that the Everlasting had not fixed. His canon 'gainst self-slaughter!” (Shakespeare, 1.2.129-137). The suicidal thoughts of the main hero also reveal the theme of death in the play. In this case, the death is something prohibited due to its sinful character.
However, Hamlet could not date commit suicide not because he is afraid of being sinner. On the other hand, he does not consider himself to be a good person. He just wants the retribution to happen. Thus, he is like the sword in the hands of death. As a result of his actions, the main heroes of the play die one by
one.
It is necessary to highlight that Hamlet’s thoughts about death are also shaped by the suicidal intentions. However, his character is developing during the play. In his famous soliloquy “To be or not to be—that is the question:
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” (Shakespeare, 3.1.64-68), he aims to discuss the reason why people want to avoid death. This soliloquy is essential in the context of the play due to its masterful representation of the basic ideas.
Evidently, the soliloquy reveals a qualitatively new side of the main hero. Obviously, this soliloquy reveals Hamlet’s emotional side when he lists multiple opposing things and speaks of suffering, showing once again the turmoil, which Hamlet is facing. The huge question that Hamlet is going to answer for himself is whether or not it is right to take up arms and face death defending his ideals.
The problem of death is crystallized in the hero’s questioning. It is essential to mention that in this passage, the dialectics of death is revealed with the help of the word “noble”. It means that there is something even more determining than death.
It is necessary to mention that Hamlet’s thought about death could also be analyzed in opposition to the behavior of Claudius, who is the antagonist of the main hero. Claudius is not afraid to kill the King in order to take the throne of Denmark. His attitude towards death is quite simple. The murdering of other people leads him to his aim. However, Hamlet is similar to Claudius in the aspect of the absence of regrets regarding killed people. It shows that they both do not put the consequences of death to the fore of their existence.
The final words of Hamlet before death at the end of the play demonstrate that silence comes with the death. Thus, the questions and problems of the restless soul become insignificant after the finishing of the life route.
A close look at the data indicates that the entire plot of the play is shaped by the issue of death. The play starts with the description of the events of the King’s death. The play ends with the death of four characters, including Hamlet. The primary aim of the main hero is to find the real reason of …show more content…
the father’s death. Thus, after the meeting with the ghost of his father, Hamlet knows that the King was murdered. He needs to find an answer if the words of ghost were true or false. There is no doubt that the problem of existence and sense of life is central for the play.
It is necessary to mention that the narrative is developing in the form of the successive recognition of the truth by Hamlet and the implementation of his quest for revenge. It means that the mind of the main hero is regularly troubled by the issue of death. It seems obvious that his feelings and thoughts regarding the issue of death are very valuable in the context of the society of that time.
He could not cope with the fact that murdering and death is the common thing in spite of the words of his mother: “Seek for thy noble father in the dust. Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity” (Shakespeare, 1.2.70-75). Hamlet demonstrates that he is not a person, who just follows the behavioral patterns of other people. He is an individual and needs to cope with the “consequences” of this individuality. The primary consequence is the necessity to face death, as it is present in the world. It is not easy for Hamlet to continue his existence, however, the heroic nature of his character helps him to overcome the primary problems.
The reflection on the death of Polonius by Hamlet: “Not where he eats, but where he is eaten.
A certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your worm is your only emperor for diet. We fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots. Your fat king and your lean beggar is but variable service—two dishes but to one table. That's the end” (Shakespeare, 4.3.19-28) shows that he does not consider life to be something more than the preparation for death. At the same time, this nihilistic approach could not coexist with the inner intention to live and perform the destiny.
The data yielded by this study that Hamlet is an individual with regular thoughts about suicide: “O, that this too too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, Or that the Everlasting had not fixed. His canon 'gainst self-slaughter!” (Shakespeare, 1.2.129-137). The suicidal thoughts of the main hero also reveal the theme of death in the play. In this case, the death is something prohibited due to its sinful character.
However, Hamlet could not date commit suicide not because he is afraid of being sinner. On the other hand, he does not consider himself to be a good person. He just wants the retribution to happen. Thus, he is like the sword in the hands of death. As a result of his actions, the main heroes of the play die one by
one.
It is necessary to highlight that Hamlet’s thoughts about death are also shaped by the suicidal intentions. However, his character is developing during the play. In his famous soliloquy “To be or not to be—that is the question:
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” (Shakespeare, 3.1.64-68), he aims to discuss the reason why people want to avoid death. This soliloquy is essential in the context of the play due to its masterful representation of the basic ideas.
Evidently, the soliloquy reveals a qualitatively new side of the main hero. Obviously, this soliloquy reveals Hamlet’s emotional side when he lists multiple opposing things and speaks of suffering, showing once again the turmoil, which Hamlet is facing. The huge question that Hamlet is going to answer for himself is whether or not it is right to take up arms and face death defending his ideals.
The problem of death is crystallized in the hero’s questioning. It is essential to mention that in this passage, the dialectics of death is revealed with the help of the word “noble”. It means that there is something even more determining than death.
It is necessary to mention that Hamlet’s thought about death could also be analyzed in opposition to the behavior of Claudius, who is the antagonist of the main hero. Claudius is not afraid to kill the King in order to take the throne of Denmark. His attitude towards death is quite simple. The murdering of other people leads him to his aim. However, Hamlet is similar to Claudius in the aspect of the absence of regrets regarding killed people. It shows that they both do not put the consequences of death to the fore of their existence.
The final words of Hamlet before death at the end of the play demonstrate that silence comes with the death. Thus, the questions and problems of the restless soul become insignificant after the finishing of the life route.