What Is Hamlet's Idea Of Suicide

Based on the play of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, suicide is the most prevalent and important themes in Hamlet. Hamlet always asks himself for the reason to stay alive. Even though he always thinks that there is no reason for him to stay alive, however he always chooses to stay. The first reason Hamlet seems to contemplate suicide is because his life is contaminated by sins and revenge. The other reason he is thinking about suicide is because he is young and immature. Young adults usually look for escapes when they become angry with things. There are many instances where Hamlet contemplating suicide and he treats the idea of suicide morally, religiously, and aesthetically, with particular attention to Hamlet’s two important statements about suicide: the “O, that this too too solid flesh would melt” soliloquy (I.ii.129–158) and the “To be, or not to be” soliloquy (III.i.56–88).

The way that Shakespeare portrayed Hamlet’s soliloquy touches on a global issue of suicide. While Hamlet considers his suicidal thoughts it reveals inklings about his character. Hamlet’s soliloquy advances the tone of the play because of

In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, suicide is an important and continuous theme throughout the play. Hamlet is the main character who contemplates the thought of suicide many different times throughout the play, since the murder of his father. Hamlet weighs the advantages of leaving his miserable life with the living, for possibly a better but unknown life with the dead. Hamlet seriously contemplates suicide, but decides against it, mainly because it is a mortal sin against God. Hamlet continues to say that most of humanity would commit suicide and escape the hardships of life, but do not because they are unsure of what awaits them in the after life. Hamlet throughout the play is continually tormented by his fathers death and his

"To be or not to be, that is the question". This is probably one of the most famous soliloquies. You could say that Hamlet sounds like a broken record with the whole suicide thing. However, he just might be moving on here. After all, instead of obsessing about whether or not to kill himself, he is exploring the reason why people in general don't commit suicide. When it comes down to it, he is talking about you, us and everyone else out there. Life is worth because we are experience every single moment. And there are some special moment that define who we are.

Moreover, in Hamlet, Hamlet's decision on suicide is impacted by the view of society during his time. The social life in Hamlet is based on a Christian lifestyle and around the church. Due to everyday life being based on the church, suicide is greatly looked down upon in the society. On page 253, Act Five, Scene One, lines 244 and 245 when the Doctor says, “No more be done. We should profane the service of the dead...” The Doctor is saying that he can do nothing more for Ophelia’s death and that it needs to be profaned, which means to treat her death secular rather than religious because she has committed suicide and that is against the bible and their society. Societies view of suicide can be found on page 241, Act Five, Scene One, lines twenty-seven to thirty when the Gravedigger says, “Why thou sayst. And the more pity that great folk should have count’nance in this world to drown or hang themselves more than their even-Christian.” The Gravedigger is saying that it is not fair to the rest of the Christians that Ophelia gets a proper Christian burial as a response to Other because he is talking about that since Ophelia is rich she gets a proper Christian burial and if she is poor she would not have gotten that because she committed suicide. This shows that the rich in their society receive benefits that the poor do not get, even when it comes to tragic things such as suicide, yet, as mentioned previously the Doctor could not do much for her because suicide is so badly looked upon. Ultimately the view societal view of suicide effects Hamlets choice to not commit suicide because society is extremely religious. On page twenty-nine, Act One, Scene Two, line 136-138, “His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter O God, O God, how weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world.” Hamlet is saying that God has made it a sin against suicide, but life is pointless and unprofitable to him. To Hamlet, suicide seems like a desirable alternative to life in a painful world, but Hamlet feels that the option of suicide is closed to him because it is forbidden by religion and society, so he does not commit it.

The topic of Hamlet’s soliloquy is his consideration of committing suicide. Throughout the speech, it is obvious that Hamlet is over thinking and wavering between two different extremes: life and death. "Whether 'tis nobler in the

Hamlets contemplation of ending his life shows an inward conflict within himself. In his first soliloquy, he debates whether he should commit suicide. "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" (3.1. lines 64-68 Shakespeare). He questions why he should live with all of this chaos but overcomes this internal conflict because he acknowledges that in his religion suicide is a sin. “O, that this too, too sullied flesh would melt, / Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, / or that the everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst (self-slaughter). O God! God!” (1.2. lines 133-136 Shakespeare). This soliloquy signifies the reality of Hamlet s internal conflict and also shows the reality of his external conflict with the society he is surrounded by. This declamation establishes

Hamlet was so obsessed with his lack of action and the worthlessness of life that he contemplates suicide asking, "For who could bear the whips and scorns of time" ( III. i. 69-70). He believes he would be foolish to suffer through his life when he will simply be

Each year 35,000 people commit suicide. According to the Huffington Post and World Health Organization, by the year 2030, depression, but specifically suicide, will have outpaced cancer, stroke, war, and accidents. That number only describes the ones who actually accomplish suicide. In the United States alone surveys suggest an estimated one million people attempt to kill themselves, with females attempting three times more than men. Now these are some intensely high numbers, so instead of looking at the bigger picture – Let’s narrow it down. Down to one person in particular. Hamlet. Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare and something almost every person who has gone through a high school career has read, and maybe even watched in

Hamlet thinks about killing himself but he decides it’s against God’s commandment. While hamlet was outside the palace he encountered his father’s ghost and he follows it into the woods so he can talk to it. Hamlet is so motivated to get his revenge he does not care who gets in his way. Hamlet doesn’t care if he gets killed in his quest to revenge. Through the whole story Hamlet drove himself more and more insane.

In his classic monologue, Hamlet questions the validity of suicide. The main question he asks is, “is it better to face the problems life throws your way or to just put an end to all of it?” He compares death to an endless sleep, but since no one knows what the sleep bring, committing suicide could be considered noble. Some see suicide as cowardly, but Hamlet challenges that saying it can be considered brave to do so since no one knows what the sleep will bring.

Hamlet seems to contemplate suicide because her world is impure with sorrow, sin and revenge. The first reference to suicide is his “O , that this too too solid flesh would melt,” where he wishes he were dead and wishes God hadn’t forbidden it. He said this while mourning the death of his father reprimanded by her mother just recently married. Hamlet thinks that the world is so cruel and why he feels weird because there are still people who continue to live if it's so bad. He always asked himself if he really had any reason to live. He always seems to think not, but for some reason he just keeps on living. Religion often clash with the will and instinctive feelings in the minds of the characters, calling into question a course of action is really the right way. For example, Hamlet's worried that he will go against the Christian religion. It is strictly forbidden for all acts that can lead to taking one’s own life. It is believed that birth and death are in the hands of God. Hamlet does consider suicide, but resists because of the Christian belief that suicide, being a mortal sin, would disqualify the soul from finding eternal rest in heaven with God. Hamlet is saying that no one would choose to live a life of pain and misery except that they are reluctant and fearful of what will happen to them after they commit suicide. He questions in his mind why should a human end his troubles and hardships on earth to risk an eternity of peace above after life? This is how the play views the idea of suicide religiously. He does not know what will happen to him in the afterlife so he would rather struggle and play along in this misery situation and world than find out the aftermath of the afterlife. He wants a chance to save his soul in heaven. Hamlet’s famous soliloquy beginning “To be, or not to be” is speaking of suicide and it is merits and

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, suicide is treated differently on the aspects of religion, morals, and philosophical views. Suicide is the act of deliberately killing yourself in contrary to your own best interests. In today’s society suicide is highly looked down upon. But Shakespeare used suicide and violence in almost all of his most popular plays. Many of his tragedies used the element of suicide, some accomplished, others merely contemplated. Shakespeare used suicide as a dramatic device. A character’s suicide could promote a wide range of emotions: horror, condemnation to pity, and even respect. Some of his suicides could even take titles like the noble soldier, the violated woman, and star-crossed lovers. In Othello, Othello see suicide as

When your back is against a wall and it seems that all hope is lost, do not give up. Because if you choose suicide, you will never live to see it get worse, however, you also pass up the chance to see life get better. Suicide is an important, recurring theme in William Shakespeare's, Hamlet, and it is a topic that Hamlet contemplates quite often throughout the play. Hamlet often goes back and forth between to be or not to be, but continues to believe that people although capable of suicide, choose to live. Hamlet is adamant that the unknown, the inconclusiveness of nobility, along with the sin attached to suicide is what ultimately keeps people from taking their own lives.

Thesis: Although most people believe that Hamlet is suicidal at his point in the play, it is not until this soliloquy where the audience actually learns of Hamlet’s ability to judge based on his emotion and logic. Hamlet’s ability to endure suffering allows him to realize how valuable and precious his life truly is.