Theme Of Existence In Shakespeare's Hamlet
What do you live for? “Hamlet”, by Shakespeare, explores the ideas of individual reasoning of existence. Several characters in the play have their own rationale as to why they live and why they think it is worth it. The play demonstrates themes of existence, revenge and power. The characters’ ideas about life and death develop more and become more prominent towards the end of the play. Hamlet, whose father has passed away, continues to contemplate life and the reason for his existence. His mother, Gertrude, greatly contrasts with Hamlet’s point of view and lives a happy life by not caring about anyone else. She and her newlywed husband, Claudius, have the same attitude towards life, and the belief that they have to be selfish to get what they
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He wants to commit suicide because he is upset about the tragic event of his father’s death but is skeptical of what death will be, and even considers the possibility that it can be worse than living. Hamlet is very depressed and reveals how he hates being back in Denmark by stating, “Why then ‘tis none to you, for there is nothing good nor bad but thinking makes it so. To me, it is a prison” (ii.ii.268-270). Hamlet is a prince and loved by many, but he finds himself to be trapped in Denmark, because he does not know how to handle the pressure of arevenging his father. Hamlet projects his feelings onto Denmark when he truly feels like a prisoner in his own mind. He is negatively affected mentally and physically by Claudius and Gertrude’s actions, already having knowledge of their incestuous activities and crimes. Hamlet’s confusion about life versus death continues to advance as he becomes more mad. He later states, “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. To die, to sleep… Ay, there's the rub. For in that sleep of death what dreams may come”(iii.i.64-74). Hamlet is weighing the idea of committing suicide, with “To be”, meaning to stay alive or “not to be”, meaning to die. Here Hamlet makes death seem appealing. He illustrates how he wants death, but the only thing holding him back, is the fact that no one knows what happens when we die. Hamlet’s thoughts on life, which are based off of both happy and sad experiences, keep him from committing suicide. Unlike Gertrude and Claudius, Hamlet does not have a set goal of what makes him happy, and because of this, he has a lot of time to think about life and its true meanings. His only motive keeping him from killing himself is the unknown truth, which he has always yearned
He wants to commit suicide because he is upset about the tragic event of his father’s death but is skeptical of what death will be, and even considers the possibility that it can be worse than living. Hamlet is very depressed and reveals how he hates being back in Denmark by stating, “Why then ‘tis none to you, for there is nothing good nor bad but thinking makes it so. To me, it is a prison” (ii.ii.268-270). Hamlet is a prince and loved by many, but he finds himself to be trapped in Denmark, because he does not know how to handle the pressure of arevenging his father. Hamlet projects his feelings onto Denmark when he truly feels like a prisoner in his own mind. He is negatively affected mentally and physically by Claudius and Gertrude’s actions, already having knowledge of their incestuous activities and crimes. Hamlet’s confusion about life versus death continues to advance as he becomes more mad. He later states, “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. To die, to sleep… Ay, there's the rub. For in that sleep of death what dreams may come”(iii.i.64-74). Hamlet is weighing the idea of committing suicide, with “To be”, meaning to stay alive or “not to be”, meaning to die. Here Hamlet makes death seem appealing. He illustrates how he wants death, but the only thing holding him back, is the fact that no one knows what happens when we die. Hamlet’s thoughts on life, which are based off of both happy and sad experiences, keep him from committing suicide. Unlike Gertrude and Claudius, Hamlet does not have a set goal of what makes him happy, and because of this, he has a lot of time to think about life and its true meanings. His only motive keeping him from killing himself is the unknown truth, which he has always yearned