(Don't) Be Hamlet

            Throughout Shakespeare’s Hamlet, a young man is forced to face adversity within his family and himself. Young Hamlet has to deal not only with the death of his father, but also with the fact that it was his father’s brother who was the murderer. In addition to this, he must face his uncle everyday as his mother’s new husband. In his soliloquy, Hamlet is trying to figure out just how he should handle this situation. “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.” He has to take into consideration his royal stature, his personal morals, and his religious beliefs before he can make the decision whether to face the problems in his life or end his life.

            As a prince, Hamlet is in the spotlight of his country, forced to think of his reputation before himself. “To die, to sleep--No more--and by a sleep to say we end;

The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks; That flesh is heir to.” If Hamlet were to commit suicide, as he is considering, his troubles may be over, but his reputation would be forever tarnished by his inability to handle adversity. He would also force his mother to handle the social scorn of his actions. She would be forced to live with the embarrassment and grief of her son committing suicide.

            In his own mind, Hamlet is conflicted. He is not sure whether life itself, with all its troubles and challenges, is worse than death. “But that the dread of something after death,; The undiscovered country, from whose bourn; No traveler returns, puzzles the will,; And makes us rather bear those ills we have; Than fly to others that we know not of?” Hamlet cannot decide if what is unknown beyond the grave would be an improvement from his wretched life. The thought of the unknown scares him, but he isn’t sure if it scares him more than his life troubles him.

            There are also the religious conflicts Hamlet must face while dealing with this dilemma.  “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,; And thus the native hue of resolution; Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,; And enterprise of great pitch and moment; With this regard their currents turn awry; And lose the name of action.” Hamlet, being brought up in a religious family, knows that suicide is a sin and if he were to commit it, he would go to Hell. He also knows his entire country would see him as a sinner, which relates to his first conflict.

            Overall, it isn’t in Hamlet’s best interest to commit suicide.  He would ultimately bring shame to himself and his family in the eyes of his country. He would be perceived as weak and incapable of handling troublesome times. Even in his own mind, he isn’t sure if it’s the best idea, and suicide is a decision you must be completely sure about. If in his own mind, Hamlet isn’t sure if death would be better than his life, he should not commit suicide. Religiously, Hamlet knows it’s wrong. If it is a sin, like he has always been taught, he has no interest in committing suicide because Hell couldn’t possibly be any better than his life is.