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What Best Describes Hamlet’S View Of Death?

Updated 30 September, 2024
Answer:
Death and existence is the main source of Hamlet’s inner turmoil. This is best described in his solliliquey, “To be, or not to be?”. He contemplates the inevitability of fate and death and is wondering whether life or death is preferable.
Detailed answer:

Hamlet's fourth soliloquy is perhaps his most famous in the play. In his “to be, or not to be” speech, the readers can observe Hamlet’s view of death.
Hamlet is overwhelmed and contemplating killing himself. He is wondering whether life or death is preferable; whether it is better to allow himself to be tormented by all the wrongs that he considers “outrageous fortune” burdened upon him, or to fight back against those who have done him wrong. However if he were to die, he feels that his troubles, his “heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks” would end. Yet death seems to continue to intrigue him, describing it to be “tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.” But even death worries him, leaving him to wonder what is on the other side.
Hamlet additionally thinks about the importance of mortality and how death can come so rapidly. Toward the finish of his monologue Hamlet promises, “O, from this time forth/My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth!”. These lines show that Hamlet has gained a new view and will attempt to kill his uncle regardless of anything, to finally avenge his Father's death. Hamlet is persuaded that the majority of his activities are justifiable now, and he has no choice, therefore enhancing the fact of no free will.
For the same reason, he thinks a lot and he concerned about the afterlife. First, he wants to make sure that the Ghost is not a demon from hell sent to deliver a misleading message. Hamlet wants to make sure that Claudius is the real his father`s killer. Then he cannot simply assassinate his uncle because he thinks it would be immoral, it would be a crime unacceptable to the country. Lastly, he believes in purgatory, that alone stop him from making any sinful actions.
In sum, Hamlet’s view on death can be observed during the first lines of his solliliquey: “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 take arms against a sea of troubles, and, by opposing, end them?”. Portraying that Hamlet’s internal struggle of his own uncertainty reaches beyond that of practical reasoning - but to the philisophical contemplation of life and death.

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