Religion in Hamlet Essay - 1149 Words

The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is one of the most famous tragedies William Shakespeare has ever written. Found throughout Shakespeare’s tragedy are many religious references. According to Peter Milward, the author of Shakespeares Christianity: The Protestant and Catholic Poetics of Julius Caesar, Macbeth, and Hamlet, â€Å"From a purely religious point of view, which is more than just biblical, Hamlet is rich in homiletic material of all kinds, reflecting almost every aspect of the religious situation in a deeply religious age† (Milward 9). These pieces of religious literature are crucial to the plot of Hamlet. The religious elements found in this tragedy provide the plot, allusions, and foreshadowing. One of the very first†¦show more content†¦In addition to the idea of purgatory, there is an allusion to the Garden of Eden in Hamlet. During Hamlet’s first soliloquy he says Denmark, â€Å"’tis an unweeded garden† (Shakespea re 1.2.135). The audience probably would not think anything of this; however, once the play gets to scene five of act one it brings into question what garden Hamlet and the Ghost are talking about. In this scene the Ghost is telling Hamlet how King Claudius killed him. The Ghost says, â€Å"sleeping in my orchard, / A serpent stung me† (Shakespeare 1.5.35-36). According to Michael Ferber, the author of A Dictionary of Literary Symbols, a serpent can symbolize the devil, and an orchard is also known as a garden (Ferber 186, 83). Knowing these two pieces of information found in Hamlet the audience is now able to infer that the garden being alluded to is the Garden of Eden. According to the New Living Translation Bible, the Garden of Eden is considered the â€Å"fall of man.† This is where Eve was convinced by the Devil to eat from â€Å"the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.† Eve then convinced Adam to eat from the tree, which was considered the first sin (Gen. 2-3). Shakespeare was wise in choosing this biblical allusion because at this point of the tragedy the audience learns about the first sin of King Claudius. If Shakespeare had not used this biblical allusion in Hamlet the audience would have lost the importance of this being the first sinShow MoreRelatedReligion In Hamlet Essay897 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet and Laertes contemplate religious consequences in different ways. Throughout the play Hamlet worries about the religious consequence of his actions, while Laertes does not worry himself with the issue. In the beginning of the play during a soliloquy in which Hamlet is criticizing his miserable situation, he exclaims that â€Å" O that this too too solid flesh would met,/ Thaw and resolve itself into a dew,/ Or that the Everlasting had not fixed/ His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter. O God! 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