Short Assignment on Hamlet
March 23, 2015
Short Assignment on Hamlet
Help Received: None
Matthew Penaranda
March 23, 2015
Help Received: None
Short Assignment on Hamlet
a)
The act of suicide was considered an affront to God, a notion widely popularized amongst practitioners of Christianity by the philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas centuries before Shakespeare’s time. Considering the enduring influence of the Church in Early modern England, it is no surprise that law was influenced by the preconceptions of the Church even regarding such matters as suicide. Still, suicide was a topic of civic discourse not uncommon in early modern English literature and entertainment.
As previously mentioned, the Church is very much opposed to suicide and one of their enduring arguments is that it is a violation of the precepts of Thomas Aquinas’ natural law theory. The precept of natural law, according to Aquinas in the Summa Theologica, pertaining to suicide states that every living creature “seeks the preservation of its own being, according to its nature: and by reason of this inclination, whatever is a means of preserving human life” (1351). In other words, the doctrine of the Church maintains that life is a gift from God and as rational beings we should consider obstacles to life, murder or suicide for instance, as immoral actions.
Early modern English law reflected the doctrine of the Church. Audiences of Shakespeare’s plays would have acknowledged suicide not only as a sin but also a crime. Constance Jordan notes that persons who attempted or committed suicide were deemed “felo de se, or a criminal against himself, and his property was forfeit to the crown” (212).
Despite the critical views of church and state in regards to suicide, John Sym was moved to consider its psychological attractions considering the rise in suicide in the seventeenth century. John Sym describes certain causes of suicide that he discusses throughout his work Life’s Preservative against Self-Killing. Despite his theological obligation to reject suicide, Sym considers the factors to suicide and “limiting cases” that even moralists might consider suicide justified (215). Some of the extenuating circumstances and limiting cases that Sym points out are occasions that lead to responses including disappointment, grief, shame, and/or confusion. All of the psychological responses might be product of a series of events that might lead one to understandably consider suicide. Though Sym does not condone it, he is representative of early modern English thinkers are at least beginning to sympathize and understand reasons why someone might choose to commit suicide instead of instantly condemning their choice.
b)
Hamlet is by all accounts a bloodbath that epitomizes tragedy. Shakespeare is no stranger to portraying controversial cultural attitudes, beliefs, and practices such as suicide in his plays. Whereas murder could be considered justified and even romanticized as in scenes of war, the matter of suicide is a taboo that Shakespeare confronts in this play. Hamlet himself experiences dissociation his family and friends from the very beginning of the play in lieu of his father’s death. Because of his loss, Hamlet exclaims that his suicidal thoughts as well as his reservations for committing suicide in saying
“O, that this too too solid flesh would melt Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix’d His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!” (1.2.129-132).
Hamlet’s moral dilemma reflects the sentiment that there are extenuating circumstances that can push people to reasonably consider suicide. This quotation explains that he does not commit suicide because of God’s canon against suicide; meaning suicide was considered a sin.. Hamlet’s famous soliloquy,
“To be, or not to be: that is the question: Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?” shows Hamlet confronting suicide again (3.1.56-58). Instead of suicide however, we see that Hamlet proceeds to satisfy his inner turmoil with vengeful murder that he alludes to when he says he intends “to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them” (3.1.59-60).
One can’t discuss suicide in Hamlet without mentioning Ophelia considering she follows through with the act. Ophelia’s suicide is a perfect example of a limiting case for suicide. Considering her motivations are so tragic: her love interest apparently succumbing to madness and not to mention him accidentally killing her father Polonius, there are few that would not sympathize for Ophelia. Shakespeare effectively establishes pathos for arguments in defense of suicide. Since the audience is most likely going to identify and sympathize for Ophelia, her actions potentially being excusable beg the question as to whether suicide is not necessarily immoral under all circumstances. Ophelia’s suicide also has societal implications regarding gender. Some might argue that there are implications beyond Ophelia committing suicide because of the death of her father and apparent estrangement and madness of Hamlet. Shakespeare may have been depicting the effects of patriarchal society on women. Ophelia was no exception to a controlling father and brother what with Polonius and Laertes making decisions about her relationship with Hamlet as well as Hamlet himself being so demanding of her in his madness.
Finally, Horatio expresses a desire to commit suicide when he sees Hamlet dying and asks to drink what is left of the poison wine saying, “I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. Here’s yet some liquor left” (5.2.325-327). Horatio’s representation of suicide is an interesting and complex one. That he is willing to forfeit his life in response to his friend Hamlet’s death might be testament to his loyalty to Hamlet as well as testament to the emphasis on such a value during that day and age. Shakespeare’s word choice for Horatio is also rhetorically powerful for the matter of suicide. Horatio refers to himself “roman” several times as the play draws to a close, an allusion to the romans that widely accepted suicide in the face of dishonor. Speaking in such a way works to frame suicide as an honorable act.
All in all, Hamlet effectively brings to attention the divided sentiments toward suicide in the early modern English era. While acknowledging the religious opposition to suicide, the backgrounds of characters such as Hamlet and Ophelia depict certain situations that the audience might not have considered before in which suicide is not so black and white in term of it being right or wrong.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William, and Constance Jordan. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. 2nd ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2005. Print.
Shapcote, Laurence, and Daniel J. Sullivan. The Summa Theologica. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, 1990. Print.