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Suicide and Madness

Introduction

One of the most important themes in Shakespears' play 'Hamlet'. In this play, Hamlet is portrayed as a very confused person who is unsure about death. The soliloquy begins with the line “to be or not to be, that is the question”. This line alone shows that Hamlet is very confused about something. His opposing views of life make him unsure about his decision to commit suicide. One thing that makes him confused is whether his decision to commit suicide will honorable or will it be considered a sin. This makes him mad because he now has two distinct concepts in his mind and does not know which view to follow. Although he is a violent person and is not afraid of death, something stops him from this act.

Hamlet views life as being painful and dreadful and thus wishes to die. He views death as being full of pleasure and thus welcomes it. He uses the words, “to say we end, the heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks”, emphasizes that death ends all the issues of life but at the same time, he is confused with what he says. Although he speaks of death being a source of pleasure and something that will end all troubles, he is confused whether he should follow his thoughts or continue to face the hardships of life.

Discussion

Scientists and experts have still not understood the human conscience behind suicide and the madness that leads people towards this act. Those who commit such acts can be considered their own murderers and at the same time, they can gain sympathy for their action because of the possibility that they were suffering from stress and hardship. Another argument is that some people think that people commit suicide when they are not in the right state of mind while some think that when they commit this act, they are in the perfect state of mind. Suicide is related to the conscience of individuals and is multidimensional. In order to study the reason for suicide, each individual will have to considered and related to the situation he was going through. Understanding the reason for suicide is related on the actions of individuals as well as the assumptions and social norms. These factors have to be analyzed when someone suffering from depression decides to end his life (Wing, 58).

Death is the primary these in Hamlet as considered by several critics. The play is begins with the appearance of the Ghost who was killed showing that death is the focus of this play. Hamlet himself is obsessed with death but cannot decide his future. The only thing that keeps him away from death is the fact that he is religious and is kept away by the spiritual awe. Almost all religions are of the view that suicide is unethical and sinful. Some religions consider it a grave sin while others consider it just like any other sin, but at the end, it is a ...