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Hamlet, being a university student in Wittenberg (a center of Protestant Reformation thought), is likely influenced by Protestant ideas. At the same time, Catholicism, with its emphasis on ritual, purgatory, and the afterlife, still shapes Hamlet’s ethical and spiritual thinking. This duality creates a complex moral framework through which Hamlet views the world.

• Catholic beliefs: In Catholic theology, ideas such as purgatory, absolution of sins through confession, and the possibility of eternal damnation play a central role in the play. The ghost of King Hamlet claims to be in purgatory, suffering for sins unconfessed and seeking justice through revenge. Hamlet’s Catholic upbringing makes him take the ghost seriously, as he is torn between avenging his father and ensuring that his actions do not damn his own soul.
• Protestant beliefs: Protestantism, on the other hand, emphasizes personal responsibility for salvation, the rejection of purgatory, and the idea that faith alone grants salvation. Hamlet’s education at Wittenberg reflects a Protestant skepticism toward certain Catholic rituals and beliefs, making him question the reality of the ghost and the morality of revenge.

These competing worldviews drive Hamlet’s introspection and his philosophical grappling with the ethical implications of his actions.

2. The Ghost and Hamlet's Religious Dilemma

The ghost of King Hamlet introduces one of the key conflicts in the play, and it represents a theological problem that stems from Hamlet’s religious upbringing.

• Catholic view of the ghost: The ghost’s claim of being in purgatory aligns with Catholic doctrine, suggesting that King Hamlet’s soul is in a transitional state, suffering until his sins are purged. Hamlet, with his Catholic background, is inclined to believe that the ghost is his father’s spirit, seeking justice.
• Protestant skepticism: However, Protestantism rejects purgatory, which makes Hamlet question whether the ghost is truly his father or a demon sent to tempt him into sin. This Protestant skepticism fuels Hamlet’s indecision. In Act 2, Scene 2, Hamlet famously says, “The spirit that I have seen / May be the devil: and the devil hath power / To assume a pleasing shape,” showing his uncertainty about the ghost’s true nature. This suspicion leads Hamlet to delay his revenge, waiting for further confirmation of Claudius’ guilt.

Thus, Hamlet’s religious uncertainty contributes to his philosophical hesitation. He fears the consequences of acting on the ghost’s command without being sure of its moral legitimacy.

3. Hamlet’s Views on the Afterlife and Damnation

Hamlet’s religious upbringing deeply affects his understanding of death and the afterlife. Catholicism and Protestantism both emphasize the fear of eternal damnation, and Hamlet’s thoughts on these matters complicate his ability to act.

• Fear of damnation: One of Hamlet’s primary concerns is the potential damnation of his soul if he kills Claudius, particularly if the act is done in the wrong way or for the wrong reasons. In Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius while he is praying because, under Catholic belief, killing Claudius in a state of grace would send his soul to heaven rather than hell. Hamlet says:

  “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;

  And now I’ll do’t: and so he goes to heaven;

  And so am I revenged. That would be scann’d:

  A villain kills my father; and for that,

  I, his sole son, do this same villain send

  To heaven.”

  This reveals Hamlet’s concern about the eternal consequences of his actions, informed by his Catholic sense of sin and redemption. Hamlet wants to ensure that Claudius receives appropriate punishment in both life and the afterlife.

• Contemplation of suicide: Hamlet’s famous “To be or not to be” soliloquy (Act 3, Scene 1) explores his existential contemplation of life and death, and reflects his deep inner conflict about the morality of suicide. In Catholic doctrine, suicide is a mortal sin that leads to eternal damnation. Hamlet’s inability to see death as an escape from suffering is influenced by his religious fears. His fear of what comes after death—the “undiscovered country”—is largely shaped by his Catholic anxiety about judgment and damnation, which prevents him from viewing suicide as a legitimate option to end his earthly suffering.

4. Moral Hesitation and Religious Duty

Hamlet’s struggle to act can be seen as a conflict between religious moralities. On the one hand, he feels the need to avenge his father’s murder, a demand that comes from his Catholic sense of familial and moral duty. On the other hand, Protestant individualism and skepticism make him question whether revenge is morally justifiable, especially when it may compromise his own salvation.

• The conflict between revenge and morality: In the Catholic tradition, revenge might be seen as a duty to family and justice, especially in cases of murder, where justice has not been served. However, Protestantism rejects vengeance, emphasizing forgiveness and leaving judgment to God. This theological tension is reflected in Hamlet’s profound moral dilemma: should he fulfill his father’s demand for revenge, or should he avoid sinful actions that might lead to eternal damnation? Hamlet’s delay is, in part, a result of this religious conflict.
• Confession and repentance: Hamlet’s Catholic background also influences his understanding of sin and repentance. Hamlet wants to ensure that Claudius dies without the opportunity to confess and repent, thereby condemning him to eternal punishment. In contrast, Protestantism would place less emphasis on the efficacy of last-minute repentance and more on faith and inner conviction. This creates tension within Hamlet as he navigates different concepts of justice, sin, and redemption.

5. Corruption and the Role of Religion

Throughout the play, Hamlet perceives Denmark as morally and spiritually corrupt, referring to it as an “unweeded garden” and commenting on the decay and hypocrisy around him. His religious upbringing informs his sense of the world’s corruption, especially regarding Claudius and Gertrude’s morally questionable actions.