Religion in Shakespeare - 1024 Words

The religion of William Shakespeare is a subject about which very few people have a complete understanding. His plays and poems contain an almost overwhelming number of biblical references and allusions to biblical thinking, which can be seen as either Protestant or Catholic in understanding. His concealment of various understandings and interpretations of religious ideology make it difficult to ascertain his own religious beliefs, however, through further analysis of [insert names of plays], once can begin to understand the socioeconomic issues he sought to raise through his biblical allusions. Sandra Hole’s The Background of Divine Action in King Lear comments on how the play â€Å"is a religious rather than a secular play in the sense that its real focus is not on the hero but on the background of divine action.† (Hole, 217) A lot of Shakespeare’s plays are set in religious environments were allusions to Protestant and Catholic doctrines reflect Britainâ€℠¢s religious stance in that period of time. The original source material for King Lear, The moste famous Chronicle historye of Leire king of England and his Three Daughters, was abandoned, with Shakespeare’s play being set in pre-Christian Britain. This may be indicative of Shakespeare’s desire to reduce the characters to basic states of religious or atheistic belief, so as to question religion itself. The characters in Shakespeare’s King Lear are represented as belonging to varying degrees of religious beliefs, fromShow MoreRelated Essay on Religion in the Works of William Shakespeare1720 Words   |  7 PagesReligion in the Works of Shakespeare       The purpose of this essay is to explore the religious nature of William Shakespeares plays. This essay covers three topics surrounding Shakespeares work: the religious climate of 16th Century England, Shakespeares upbringing (school, parents, Stratford itself), and a brief introduction into the impact his society and upbringing had upon his work.    I. THE RELIGIOUS CLIMATE OF 16TH CENTURY ENGLAND    In order to understand the religiousRead MoreHamlet By William Shakespeare : Religion Is A Key Theme865 Words   |  4 PagesIn the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, religion is a key theme in the play. Throughout the play Hamlet struggles with trying to avenge his fathers death, and how that would impact his and other’s standing with God. The relationship Hamlet has with God plays into the way he responds to certain things. Hamlets actions are impacted by religion, and Hamlet stops and thinks about his actions and thoughts and how that would impact his stance in heaven. In Hamlet religion plays a vital role in Hamlet’sRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Morality And Religion1442 Words   |  6 PagesMorality Religion in â€Å"Hamlet† In William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Hamlet,† the prince of Denmark embarks on a quest of revenge against his Uncle Claudius, the new king, for the assassination of his father. In the beginning, Hamlet was contemplating suicide with the news of his father’s sudden death and the quick marriage of his mother, Gertrude and Uncle Claudius, but decides not to by virtue of being a sin. In the play â€Å"Hamlet,† Shakespeare examines the role of suicide in morality and religion providingRead MoreElements of Religion in the Renaissance Portrayed in Hamlet by William Shakespeare751 Words   |  4 PagesElements of Religion in the Renaissance Portrayed in Hamlet by William Shakespeare Literature of the Renaissance was far different from that of the previous eras. Man was now thought of as the center of life, as opposed to God being the center in earlier times. Also, man was thought to have free will over his life, not being simply a pawn of the Gods. These new ideals were presented in the theaters as well as written literature. The esteemed WilliamRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet - Hamlet Religion And The Self851 Words   |  4 PagesHamlet-Religion and The Self in 1600 In 1600 Europe had abandoned the ideas and teachings of Catholic Christianity and began having a Protestant view on the world. When Protestants changed their worldview they rejected the idea of purgatory, causing a key foundation of their new religion. The Protestant Worldview and reaction of it can be reflected in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. In this time of religious and spiritual changes many people are very confused which can be closely related to PrinceRead MoreEssay on Imperfect Faith in The Merchant of Venice891 Words   |  4 Pages      Ã‚   Though William Shakespeare accurately portrays both Christianity and Judaism in his play The Merchant of Venice, the characters in the play do not represent their religions well. A reader unfamiliar with these religions could easily misinterpret flaws in a characters nature as the teachings of his religion. After a preliminary glance at the play, one would assume that Shakespeare wrote unjustly of the two religions depicted therein. However, Shakespeare had to write the play to pleaseRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Morality Of Hamlet- Sweet Prince Or Arrant Knave Essay1340 Words   |  6 Pages the purpose of religion during Elizabethan times to set moral value sets that often conflicted with man’s nature. Additionally, Cruttwell states the actions in the play aggressively clash with the religious values of the time period. Shakespeare illustrates throughout the play that not abiding by the only moral structure of the time period, religion, man is doomed to self destruction by giving into his chaotic Dionysian nature. Shakespeare sets up this necessity for religion in Laertes’ monologueRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet As A Play That Contains Frequent Meditations On Suicide Essay1590 Words   |  7 Pagesthe question† (Shakespeare 3.1.56). Audiences know Shakespeare’s Hamlet as a play that contains frequent meditations on suicide, yet despite suicide’s obvious religious connections, audiences do not often consider how religion as a whole functions within the play. This lack of awareness partially results from the subtlety of many of Hamlet’s religious elements. Through his religious references and the resulting emphasis on the gravity of the sins of murder and suicide, Shakespeare clarifies the contradictoryRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Hamlet 1137 Words   |  5 PagesAt the very beginning Shakespeare could not have been a Catholic even if he wanted to, because Queen Elizabeth I had outlawed Catholicism during her reign. That being said, I can also use q uotes and historical facts to solidify my basis of belief that Shakespeare was a protestant either through forced beliefs or in his own beliefs shown in the play. In the play, â€Å"Hamlet†, by Shakespeare there are specific quotes that show certain beliefs that only a Protestant would have. In the very beginning, theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Elizabethan Era And Shakespeares Hamlet807 Words   |  4 Pagesduring the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare incorporates aspects of that time in order to engage the audience. Hamlet’s soliloquy in act four scene four, lines 33-66, targets the original Elizabethan audience by displaying cultural, social and economic aspects of that time period. In order to engage the audience, Shakespeare incorporates a large portion of the Elizabethan culture, which is religion. Throughout the play, there are countless references to the religion of Christianity and God. The