Hamlet With Eternal Truths Concerning Human Emotions example essay topic

Shakespeare was a man ahead of his time. He was a man who had an ability to portray the inner workings of humanity. Throughout his masterful works he was able to peer into the human psyche and capture emotions like no other writer has been able to do. He filled every one of his plays, most notably Hamlet, with eternal truths concerning human emotions. Shakespeare develops the paradox of man and contradictions of humanity with imagery, ironic silo ques, and philosophical rants by Hamlet and Claudius. No one has ever returned from the dead.

Nobody knows exactly what life after death is like. This is the thesis of Hamlet's first paradox. The saying that "grass is always greener on the other side of the fence" does not hold true when dealing with human life. Life is a struggling, so why do we endure it?

Hamlet reminds us that. ".. in that sleep of death what dreams may come, / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, / Must give us pause" ( . i. 67-69). The reason that people do not give up their lives is because they do not know what it is to become of them after they die. Man is trapped in life by the enigma of death -- -the unknowns. He generally wishes to give his life up for something better; he cannot because there is no knowing whether death is a better alternative or not. Eventhough a better life is promised to us after death, one cannot get ot that place when taking one's own life.

Shakespeare notes that the Scriptures disapprove of suicide. This is another reason that men do not take their live. Hamlet wishes, "that the Everlasting that had not fixed / His cannon 'gains t self-slaughter" (I. ii. 131-132) after finding out that his father was killed by his uncle.

This passage strikes less loudly against the soul of humanity now than it did when Hamlet was written. Po epl were incredibly religious in Shakespeare's time, probably more so than today. Fewer people in today's society probably believe as strongly that suicide is a sin. However, one can still see the paradox of the situation. Religion is a choice, one can believe it or not. By taking hold of it, Hamlet is disallowed something tha the seeks, his death.

The irony lies in the acceptance of a religion that disallows the things that are coveted by Hamlet. He is a very devout Christian by choice. One can see throughout his speeches. However, he wishes to forsake one of Christianity's tenets against suicide, and yet he remains dedicated to the faith. He accepts something that he disagrees with, that withholds something that he covets. So many people would abandon the faith to get what they want.

This shows the contradiction and conviction of Hamlet's instincts. It should be noted that not everyone wishes to move on to a better place. Most of these people are very materialistic. Shakespeare makes a great point in Hamlet that in the end everyone is going to die.

Hamlet reveres death as the great equalizer, .".. fat king and lean beggar is bur variable service -- -two dishes but to one table" (IV.. 23-24). Theparadoxis that though a man may strive to break away from the pack, in the end no concessions are given to him. Even the most revered man will become just like the rest of the dead, dust on the ground. Hamlet reflects after speaking to a gravedigger that " Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, /Might stop a hole to keep the wind away" (V. i. 216-217).

Life, and all that one does in it, is a frailty. Once that life is over death is unforgiving in its equality. Humanity also deals with the paradox of sin on a daily basis. In order to repent of sin one has to do two things. One has to ask for forgiveness and strive not to do the act again or give up what is gained through the lie. Shakespeare touches upon this through the character of Claudius.

Claudius kills his brother in order to become king of Denmark. He feels bad for what he did but doesn't want to give up his crown. Claudius tries to pray but realizes it is in vane. .".. But, O, what form of prayer / Can serve my turn? 'Forgive me my foul murder'?

/ That cannot be, since I am still possessed / Of these effects for which I did the murder" ( .. 51-54). The paradox is buried in the labyrinth of humanity's selfish way of thinking. Society as a whole dearly hangs on a to the things that it ih as gathered even if illegally or immorally taken. While one may feel bad about i, we don't do much to compensate those who were cheated. People go through life always feeling bad for one thing or another that they have done wrong.

However, they can rarely give up what they have gotten through that sin. Shakespeare portrays the paradox grandly in Claudius's speech "May one be pardoned and retain th' offense?" ( .. 56). This happened to all atone time or another, and for Shakespeare to incorporate it in this book during century as a universal truth of the human psyche is ground breaking.

Shakespeare is a master of human emotions that he shows it wonderfully in Hamlet. The paradox of man is a testament to the uniqueness and contradiction of humanity. The ironies involved in this paradox of human emotions are a testament to the writing skills of the great author. He has delved into the human psyche and forced us to look at the contradictions which we live with such as suicide, death and hypocrisy. No other man in his troy has been able to define human character better than he was able to do. The beauty of Shakespeare is that one can understand more about oneself by reading his works.

Shakespeare, William. HAMLET. Illinois, McDougal Littell Inc. 1997.