The Restoration of Moral Order in Hamlet - 1683 Words

The Restoration of Moral Order in Hamlet The fabric of every society relies on a set of laws, morals and ethics. When these aspects of a good society are corrupted, disorder ensues. A play which examines the result of a corrupted state is William Shakespeares play Hamlet. The audience immediately witnesses the corrupted nature of the play when early on in the story a character observes, Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.(1.4. 99) In the Elizabethan era it was believed the king was directly appointed by God. This is known as the divine right of kings. When the divine order of kings is broken by unlawful means, the natural order is ruined, and this leads to a state if corruption. The moral order is upset when the king, Old†¦show more content†¦Upon taking over Denmark, Fortinbras ensures that Hamlets honorability is recognized, by giving him a royal burial. Once noticing that Hamlet dead, Fortinbras instructs, Let four captains Bear Hamlet like a soldiers to the stage, For he was likely, had he been put on, To have proved most royally. And for his passage, The soldiers music and the rites of war Speak loudly for him. (5. 2. 419-424) A proper burial is significant because Hamlet is recognized as a hero, rather then an insane killer. The audience feels pathos for Hamlet because of all the struggles he has been through, and also because it seems as if everyone was plotting against him. The audience feels relieved that Hamlet, who is one of the only good characters, is remembered as a hero, rather then forgotten by Fortinbras. Therefore Justice for the audience is served because Hamlet is given a royal burial at the conclusion of the play, and is remembered as a hero. This leads to moral order further being resorted in the play. In order for justice to be fully served, not only must the audience get what they want, but also justice must be served in the play, amongst the character. Therefore all the evil, and corrupted characters must be brought to justice for the wrongful deeds that they carried out throughout the play. In the final duel scene, justice is finally complete when Claudius is poisoned by Hamlet. Claudius is the most corrupt, and evil characterShow MoreRelatedThe Human Condition and Ideologies in Hamlet by Willliam Shakespeare1522 Words   |  7 Pages Hamlet Texts reflect their context and paradigms but transcendental texts that explore aspects of humanity can resonate through time and remain relevant and accessible to audiences. William Shakespeare’s introspective play, Hamlet, explores the complexity of the human condition by reflecting ideologies such as justice, loyalty and morality. 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