Christianity in Hamlet
When Shakespeare wrote the tragic play Hamlet, he included quite a few Christian themes intertwined with in the play itself. Examples of the Christian belief or ideas can be found in almost every act in Hamlet. Shakespeare lays down the Christian system of belief very early on in the play, it only took Shakespeare a few pages for him to weave in a Christian belief. When Horatio first encounters the apparition that has the likeness of the recently passed king of Denmark, he commands the ghost to speak. "By heaven, I charge thee, speak!" Horatio is basically using the name of god to command the ghost to speak to him, but this does not work. The ghost being a creature in eternal darkness is offended by the mention of anything that has to do with the lord, so the ghost makes his retreat. This theme is carried through right to the point when Hora
The ghost says "So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear". Hamlet overhears the king confessing to the murder of his brother, so now Hamlet is sure that what the ghost told him was true. Although the idea of Revenge is not particularly Christian in ethic, it can be considered Christian because evidence of revenge is found in the Old Testament. This is the Christian belief to give and receive forgiveness for wrongdoings. tio is finished making his first big speech, the ghost comes in but it does not say anything. Later on in Act one in the final scene, the ghost is talking to Hamlet directly. When the cock crows (meaning that the sun is coming) the ghost makes his second exit. In Act three, scene three of Hamlet the king is confessing the murder of his brother to God. Quotes like "eye for an eye" prove that although Christianity teaches us to turn the other cheek, some still believe in taking revenge. After the king dies, Laertes and Hamlet exchange forgiveness with each other. Hamlet still resists taking his revenge for a couple of reasons, one of which is another Christian theme that Shakespeare threw in the storyline. The Queen drinks the poisoned wine, and the king is killed by Hamlet. "Now might I do it pat, now he is praying", it was believed that after someone confessed their sins to god, they were on a clean slate until they sinned again. Laertes says "Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet" Christians believe that they should get their wrong doings off their chest before they die and admit their wrongs.
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