You are on page 1of 4

Indecision Between Opposition of Faith and Family

Scolding his tentative followers, Jesus once admonished, But since you are like

lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth (Revelation 3:16). Unable

to fully commit to their religion, the irresolute followers become destined for a gruesome future.

Similarly, throughout Shakespeares Hamlet, Hamlet struggles to carry out his decision to kill his

uncle after the ghost of his father informs Hamlet of his murder. Shakespeare utilizes the motif

of Hamlets indecision between Hamlets loyalty to religion and to his father to demonstrate the

necessity of making a definitive choice.

Hamlet, influenced by his religious values, struggles to make decisions and instead looks

to God for answers, suggesting that while one can look for guidance, they have to be the one to

carry out the action in order to achieve the desired outcome. For example, Hamlet proclaims his

wish that the Everlasting had not fixed his canon gainst self-slaughter (1.2.135-6). While

Hamlet yearns for an end to his depression, he blames God for his inability to end it. As a person,

Hamlet values loyalty over anything else, so betraying his religion by committing suicide would

act as a corruption of his morals and everything else that Hamlet stands for. While he appears to

be resolute in his devotion to his religion, instead of actively choosing to fully reject suicide,

Hamlet still lets the option continue to permeate his mind, making this decision passive. Despite

his discontent with his life, Hamlet does little to change it and instead looks to other people to

make choices for him, simply hoping that they will remain loyal to him. In addition, after the

ghost visits Hamlet for the first time, Hamlet calls out for all you host of heaven to hold [his]

heart (1.5.99-100). Hamlet relies on others in order to justify his actions and to motivate him as

well. By wanting those in heaven to hold him to his beliefs, he calls on others to make him
take responsibility when Hamlet should instead be self-motivated. While Hamlet recognizes his

indecisiveness, he cannot stay focused on his goal due his strong emotions, which outside factors

easily sway. This reference to his religion also shows that Hamlet feels powerless as he must rely

on a divine power to carry out his ambitions even though in reality, only his actions decide what

happens as to whether he decides to carry out his plan. In addition, Hamlet again contemplates

suicide, but decides against it another time because of the dread of something after death

(3.1.86). As a Christian, Hamlet does not kill himself simply because he fears that he would go

to hell. However, despite Hamlets refusal to commit suicide, Hamlet is still willing to kill his

uncle which would also be against his religion. Therefore, Hamlet only uses his religion as an

excuse for his actions when it becomes convenient instead of simply admitting that he cannot

bring himself to commit suicide because he worries of the unknown consequences. Hamlet does

not hold steadily to his faith, but rather allows it to make him unsure of his decisions.

In addition to Hamlets hesitation in his faith, despite his supposed loyalty to his father,

Hamlet also remains unsure as to whether he should avenge his fathers death by killing his

uncle, which reinforces the essentiality of acting on ones values. For instance, after Hamlet sees

his fathers ghost he proclaims that he will live by the ghosts commandment all alone

(1.5.109). Even without proof, Hamlet becomes quickly eager to avenge his fathers murder,

demonstrating Hamlets loyalty. However, this also represents a betrayal to his religion because

Hamlet chooses to live only by his fathers ghosts commandment instead of Gods

commandments as well. Even after saying this, Hamlet does not immediately avenge his fathers

death, and instead waits, demonstrating that despite Hamlets vow of revenge, he remains

unwilling to act on it. In addition, after Hamlet sees an actors moving performance as Hecuba,
Hamlet condemns, I am pigeon-livered and lack gall to make oppression bitter (2.2.04-5).

Hamlet compares the actors emotion to his own and does not understand why he cannot bring

himself to cry over his father when an actor can bring himself to tears over a character he has no

relation to. Hamlet sees this act as an act of disobedience to his father. Therefore, he despises his

own actions because it goes against his beliefs. However, instead of using this as motivation to

carry out the ghosts will, Hamlet still chooses not to follow through and instead simply waits for

further proof of Claudiuss guilt. By supposing that he is pigeon-livered, Hamlet again refuses

to take responsibility and instead chooses to believe that his lack of courage results from a

physical attribute which would hinder him, rather than his thoughts. Furthermore, because

Hamlet thinks that Claudius is praying, he chooses not to kill him in that moment because he

would send this same villain[...] to heaven (3.3.82-3). While Hamlet states that because killing

his uncle while he is in the state of prayer would simply allow him to go to heaven, he chooses to

wait to kill him. Nonetheless, Hamlet still delays in his mission to avenge his father. By saying

that he would send Claudius to a fortunate afterlife, Hamlet admits that he feels responsible for

ensuring the downfall of his uncle. While he wishes to stay true to his father by sending

Claudius to hell, the choice to wait again contributes to his indecision as to whether he will

actually kill him. Moreover, after Hamlet sees Fortinbrass soldiers ready to fight for a measly

piece of land, he questions, How stand I, then, that have a father killed, a mother stained,

excitements of my reason and my blood, and let all sleep (4.4.59-62). Hamlet again questions

why he cannot act on his loyalty to his father and achieve his vengeance. Hamlet thinks that he

should put his father before all else, yet does not show it. Despite this questioning of self, Hamlet

chooses to wait until someone else instead attacks him before he finally gets his revenge on
Claudius. Ultimately, Claudiuss death results from the attack on Hamlet, not the murder of

Hamlets father, showing the result of Hamlets excessive indecision.

In conclusion, despite Hamlets supposed loyalties to his religion and his father, Hamlet

refuses to act on them. Instead of practicing forgiveness as is encouraged in religion, Hamlet

holds a grudge against Claudius. On the other hand, in his devotion to his father, Hamlet remains

unable to avenge his murder. While these two values oppose each other, Hamlets downfall

becomes his inability to choose to follow one completely. Ultimately, Hamlet allows Claudius to

live long enough to plot Hamlets demise. The chaos within Hamlet manifests into society,

leading to its downfall as well. Therefore, indecision results in a lack of action, which in turn

allows others to determine ones own outcome. Even if one does not fully believe in their choice,

the inability to become resolute will hurt one more. Thus, by simply making a decision and

carrying it out, one can control their own fate.

You might also like