Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Essay Example

Shakespeare’s Hamlet is often analyzed under many contexts, in terms of its imagery, symbolism, and other elements.  In this analysis, a slightly less familiar approach will be taken.  In regards to the religious undertones of the work, there are certain Christian identities found within Shakespeare’s work.  The Catholic, Protestant, and related tones of unity, in regards to religious undertones, accounts for a significant part of Hamlet.

Catholicism

Catholicism is seen in certain manifestations in the work.  Scholars have noted such instances in regards to the characters that present themselves in Shakespeare’s work.  Shakespeare identifies with some major Catholic themes that have been seen as clear Catholic identities, in regards to the Christian themes seen in the work.

There are some noticeable links to Catholic identities within the play.  The Ghost is described as being in purgatory without last rites. Furthermore, the burial ceremony of Ophelia is Catholic in nature. These two instances certainly attest to the Catholic connections of the play.

Even apparent in Hamlet’s character are strands of Catholic psychology.  He struggles with notions of revenge, knowing that he should leave judgment and vengeance to God, as ordered in his religion (MacCary, p. 37-38). Thus, even going beyond the basic determined Catholic presences in the play, Hamlet himself struggles with the play’s Catholic undertones.

Protestantism

The play also exhibits concepts that link it to Protestantism. It is unclear as to Shakespeare’s intentions to this point, as Catholic and Protestant undertones are both found in the play. At any rate, there are certain distinctions that create the dual presence of Christian context in the play.

Directly the play mentions two strong points that link it to Protestant themes.  Shakespeare writes: “There’s a predestinate providence in the fall of a sparrow (Q1 17. 45-46)”, which is also spoken of by Hamlet elsewhere (5.2. 197-202), with the exception of “providence” in exchange for “predestination.”  Thus, the doctrine of predestination and Divine Providence are seen, effectively linking the play to Protestantism.

Further context also warrants the play’s link to Protestantism.   The play takes place in Denmark, which is known as being a Protestant country.  Additionally, the play interestingly mentions Wittenberg, the site of Luther’s 95 theses, as well as other ties to Protestant figures, which are important in the Protestant Reformation.

Unity

The religious undertones of the play are notably confused by the unity of the work.  Critics have long attacked the play for its lack of unity, in certain regards, pointing to the psychological, religious, and other elements of the play.  Certainly these undertones have created a confusion of unity, certainly present in the analysis of religious elements in the play.

The mix of Catholic and Protestant undertones creates a lack of unity in the play.  The work makes a number of obvious, whether they are intended or not, attempts at creating a play with Christian elements that are present.  Thus, as critics have observed, there is no clear basis as to Shakespeare’s intentions for the Christian undertones in the play.

Thus the interpretation for these undertones is far from clear.  Perhaps the Catholic, Protestant, and otherwise Christian elements in the play are implemented for some particular reason, whether inside or outside of the actual play.  At any rate, the lack of unity for these Christian elements may undermine the Christian undertones of the play, reducing the significance thereof.

There is a valuable charge to this possibility.  As the play includes many Christian undertones, seen throughout Catholicism and Protestantism, perhaps these play of no real significance.  As other critics have noted, the play also brings about numerous other contexts, such as those in philosophy.  The presence of other philosophical and Christian elements may do much to undermine the significance of these elements, after all.  A case could be made for existential considerations in the play, even.

Conclusion

It is clear that there are noticeable Christian undertones in Hamlet.  The direct and indirect contexts of the play are found throughout the pages, setting, and other elements of the play to include Protestant and Catholic considerations.  Yet the unity of these elements is misguided, both in the significance of these Christian undertones and the presence of other contexts that are seen.  Perhaps there is measurable significance in these Christian undertones, or they may just be part of the vast context of the play.

Works Cited

MacCary, Thomas. “Hamlet”: A Guide to the Play. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1998.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Hoy, Cyrus. Oxford: Oxford World’s Classics, 1987.