Critical Views in Hamlet

Though Hamlet’s soliloquy to be or not to be is unanimously the most universally renowned words quoted from Shakespeare, the play Hamlet itself revolves around Hamlet’s procrastination to act or not to act. His procrastination and idleness when observed from a religious stance, helps to highlight the element of Hamlet’s delay and the element of the internal struggle between the morally just and the wicked evil within all of us. Whereas analysing Hamlet from a philosophical and existential view, highlights the element of mortality and existence. These elements that are highlighted are the quintessence of the ability for Hamlet to maintain textual value.
It is often that Shakespeare employs soliloquies as a literary device for the audience to observe the mind and the thoughts of the characters. The second scene of act two utilises this device where Hamlet digs deep and tries to find a reason as to why he should be so idle and not seek immediate action. He reasons ‘The spirit I have seen may be the devil, and devil hath power T’assume a pleasing shape. Yea and perhaps out of my weakness and my melancholy, as he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me...’. From a religious critical view, Hamlet realises and acknowledges the power of Satan and his power to prey on the emotionally weak in order to turn them away from the righteous path to heaven by ordering Hamlet to commit sinful self destructive deeds. His revelation that he cannot trust the ghosts accusations is the basis for his need to devise the mousetrap and is the reason as to why hamlet postpones revenge in order to be certain he punishes the true perpetrator so as not to sin in killing the innocent. This then inspired me to realise that ultimately, Hamlet is however breaking one of the oldest biblical laws, thou Shalt not kill, therefore Hamlet is sinning either way. Regardless of the fact that Claudius killed Hamlets father, punishment and the right to issue justice is reserved for God to judge...