is decent and proper. If your character is sound, salvation is yours. If your character is weak, damnation follows. Everyone knows the moral injunctions and prohibitions. These measure the scope and stature of character. Character is a measure of and is measured by this code or set of spiritual values. In order to live in conformity with a demanding faith, the characters in Hamlet strive for virtue through an obedience of strict rules. Unlike our views, coloured by a materialistic view of everything, those of the citizens of Denmark are coloured by a spiritual reality. They knew that God kept a very close watch. God is still the center of their universe and thus, the citizens have meaning and purpose in their lives. A compliance with strict spiritual values remains the ultimate responsibility and goal of each conscious character. Each citizen realizes that their character depends on how well they lived up to their spiritual values. They focused their gaze of eternity. This moral code of conduct immersed their atmosphere. If they strayed from this moral code of conduct, they suffered constant pains of conscience. Shakespeare reflects the moral forces in the lives of his characters. He develops each character so that they demonstrate their awareness of the importance of spirituality. By thoroughly examining Hamlet's first soliloquy, the character of Queen Gertrude, and King Claudius' confession, this essay will demonstrate that each character is aware that he is immersed in a spiritual world and must be accountable for his actions. Thus, Hamlet's world is indeed immersed in the flow of eternity.
             ...