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Hamlet: The Theme Of Having A Clear Conscience - College Essay

Hamlet: The Theme Of Having A Clear Conscience

The most important line in Hamlet is, "The play's the thing, wherein I'll catch
the conscience of the king." (II, ii, 617). In the play, the issue of a clear
conscience forms a key motif. When the conscience of the characters appears, it
does so as a result of some action; as in the case of the aforementioned line,
which follows Hamlet's conversation with the player. This line is of particular
significance because it ties action and its effect on the conscience of the
characters. The nature of Hamlet is conscience, and action plays an important
role in creating the development of the plot.

No where is this development seen clearer than with Hamlet. The Prince's
development comes as ...

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to incestuous
sheets. . . but break my heart, for I must hold my tounge." (I, ii, 156-159).
Hamlet's conscience tells him what is wrong-in this case, the hasty marriage-but
he is ambivalent as to how to approach it; before he meets the ghost, silence is
his method. When Hamlet meets his father's ghost however, he feels sure of
himself, and knows what he must do. As a result of the dialogue with the ghost,
Hamlet's conscience makes him feel that revenge is the best method to deal with
the problems that face him.

The consciences of Hamlet, and to a lesser extent, Claudius, affect their
decisions in the play. However, both characters only question themselves after
they have been prompted by some specific action or dialogue. By self-evaluation,
the characters then make the conscious decision to take action with their
feelings. An example of this is at the end of act II, following Hamlet's
conversation with the player. In the soliloquy to end the act (whereupon the
most ...

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Hamlet: The Theme Of Having A Clear Conscience. (2005, August 2). Retrieved May 30, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hamlet-The-Theme-Having-Clear-Conscience/31008

"Hamlet: The Theme Of Having A Clear Conscience." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 2 Aug. 2005. Web. 30 May. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Hamlet-The-Theme-Having-Clear-Conscience/31008>

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 8/2/2005 09:01:42 AM
Category: Arts
Type: Free Paper
Words: 727
Pages: 3

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