Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare that revolves around the title character Hamlet and his struggle to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet is a complex and layered character, and his motivations are not always clear. One of the central themes of the play is Hamlet’s struggle with sin. Hamlet wrestles with the question of whether or not to kill Claudius, his uncle who he believes killed his father.
Hamlet is constantly questioning his own morality and whether or not it is ok to take someone’s life in revenge. In the end, Hamlet decides against killing Claudius, but only after going through a long process of self-discovery and contemplation.
One of the reasons why Hamlet is such an interesting play is because it asks the audience to question their own beliefs about right and wrong. Hamlet is not always likable, but we can still sympathize with him because we see his inner conflict. Hamlet is a character who is constantly in flux, and his struggles with sin are a central part of that.
Sin is a complex and difficult concept to grapple with, and Hamlet provides a unique perspective on it. Hamlet is not only concerned with committing sins himself, but also with preventing others from committing them. He is a moral crusader of sorts, and his struggle against sin is ultimately a fight for justice.
We believe that salvation is a gift from God and is received by man through personal faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for sin. We believe that man is justified by grace through faith apart from works (Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6 Naaman’s story). “We think that salvation is an inner experience of God,’in which man perceives himself to be forgiven.’It combines many intellectual viewpoints, including those that are ungraspable with a static mind.”
Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare that revolves around the main character Hamlet and his efforts to revenge his father’s death. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most popular tragedies and is often studied in high school curriculums. The play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark was written between 1599-1601. Hamlet is introduced as a man who is struggling with issues of morality and sin. Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father, who asks Hamlet to seek revenge on his murderer, Claudius.
Hamlet is also struggling with the idea of what it means to be a good person and whether or not it is possible to avoid sin altogether. In the end, Hamlet decides that he cannot take revenge on Claudius without committing more sin, and he chooses to die instead. Hamlet’s story is a reminder that it is impossible to avoid sin altogether, and that even the best of us are capable of making mistakes. Hamlet is also a reminder that the consequences of sin can be tragic.
Hamlet contains both common sentiments which the Elizabethan audience would have understood. The Elizabethans felt that this prevalent idea of guilt and redemption took them to one of several possibilities, such as heaven, hell, or purgatory, after death. If you had not revealed all your sins before dying, you would be sent to hell; if you had not done so before they died, you would be subjected to enduring agony and suffering in order to go to heaven.
Elizabethans also believed in the existence of purgatory, a place where people would go to suffer for a finite amount of time, in order to pay for their sins. Hamlet is full of language that reflects these Elizabethan beliefs. Hamlet says “What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god!” (II.ii.308-312).
Hamlet is talking about how wonderful humans are, despite their flaws. He acknowledges that everyone makes mistakes, but that doesn’t mean that people aren’t worth anything. Hamlet also talks about how everyone has the potential for greatness, because they are made in the image of God.
The King of Denmark, Claudius, is an example of this concept of sin and salvation. Claudius slew his brother to assume the crown because he was consumed by a desire for more than he already had. As time goes on, Claudius tries to atone for his crime by showing clemency. In a prayer between God and himself, Claudius admits, “What if this accursed hand/ Is thicker than it should be with brother’s blood? / Is there not enough rain in the lovely heavens/ To make it snow white? … Then I’ll look up/ My mistake is behind me.”
But, O, what form of prayer/ Can serve my turn? ‘Forgive me my foul murder?’/ That cannot be, since I am still possessed/ Of those effects for which I did the murder./ And Hamlet knows it.” Claudius is aware of his sin and Hamlet does confront him about it, but Claudius tries to cover up his guilt with false prayers and words.
Gertrude can also be seen as a character that embodies sin. Hamlet is outraged at his mother’s actions after his father’s death. Gertrude quickly marries Claudius when news of Hamlet’s father’s death arrives, barely giving herself time to mourn. Hamlet accuses Gertrude of many things, including incest and adultery. Gertrude’s innocence is questionable because she married Claudius so quickly after Hamlet’s father’s death. Hamlet believes that his mother willfully chose to commit sins and follow in her husband’s footsteps.
Sin is also evident when Hamlet contemplates suicide. Hamlet is aware that if he commits suicide, he will go to hell because suicide is a sin. He also knows that his father’s ghost was telling the truth about Claudius murdering him.
Hamlet decides he wants to kill Claudius when he no longer exists in the midst of his crimes, allowing Claudius to suffer some form of terrible punishment after death. Hamlet goes through all this trouble because he wants Claudius’ murderer to endure suffering in their afterlife, implying hell. Committing suicide was another way to go to hell in the next life. In Hamlet, it’s clear that both Ophelia and Hamlet had thoughts of committing suicide.
Hamlet often thinks about death, but it is not until Ophelia’s death that Hamlet truly sees the dangers of suicide. Hamlet feels like he needs to protect her from himself and make sure that she goes to heaven. Hamlet’s father tells him in a vision that if he commits suicide then he will go to hell, and Hamlet takes this to heart.
Hamlet is also aware of the fact that if he kills Claudius without knowing for certain that Claudius is responsible for his fathers death then he would be going to hell as well. Hamlet doesn’t want to take any chances, so he decides to wait and gather more evidence before killing Claudius.
One of the most prominent themes in Hamlet is the theme of sin. Hamlet is constantly struggling with his own sinfulness, and he is obsessed with the idea of retribution in the afterlife. Hamlet believes that it is important to punish people for their sins, even after death.
He is convinced that Claudius deserves to go to hell for killing Hamlet’s father, and he is determined to make sure that Claudius suffers for his crimes. Hamlet also believes that suicide is a sin, and he is worried about what might happen to Ophelia if she kills herself. Hamlet tries to convince her not to take her own life, and he tells her that she will go to heaven if she dies peacefully.