The Complexities of Conflict: An Analysis of the Role Religion Played in Hamlet, During Physical, Emotional and Mental Conflict Through one’s experiences in life, they quickly garner knowledge that reveals life to be more than a two dimensional challenge. Religion effectively plays a role in giving humanity guidelines to follow, a standard to live up to, and a moral system to abide by, although this system remains contingent upon one’s self accountability and honesty. A person’s moral and religious value often comes into question, when their self desire supersedes the religious or moral law; these forms of legislation persistently advocate and promote the “right” action to take, although humanity has come to not always value a “right” action as the most just one. Throughout the duration of Hamlet, Shakespeare consistently presents examples where characters consciously converse with each other, and make decisions based off of their own moral and religious value system. First, Hamlet contemplates the idea of suicide, but ultimately deters himself due to his foundational respect for his religion; on the contrary, he fears eternal punishment if he perishes. Shakespeare also exposes the fraudulent nature and mentality of humanity, demonstrated by the hypocritical actions of King Claudius, when he naively chooses to manipulate his own moral and religious value system. Lastly, Shakespeare cleverly demonstrates the counterintuitive influence that religion has on Hamlet and King Claudius’ decisions; therefore he further highlights the complexity of life, and opposes the idea of life being two dimensional. In Shakespeare’s Play, Hamlet, Shakespeare emphasizes the effect religion has on the complexity of decisions made by the main characters, and through this, he demonstrates how life is not just a two dimensional entity; in this way, Shakespeare’s Hamlet is the most insightful text. To further prove, Shakespeare first hints at the affect of religion on Hamlet’s decision to not commit suicide. As Hamlet continues to mourn after his father’s death he contemplates the idea of taking his own life, but ultimately decides not to and rather adheres to the law of his religion.While still in mourning of his father’s death, Hamlet cries out “O that this too sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew, Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter (Act 1, Scene 2, lines 129-132).” Here, Hamlet describes how he wishes his body could melt, and wishes that there wasn’t a religious law prohibiting the action of suicide. In this example, Shakespeare portrays Hamlet to have an honorable self value system, as he chooses to obey the law of the religion. In addition, Shakespeare utilizes Hamlet’s soliloquy to further highlight the mental conflict religion brings, as it requires a person to refrain from fulfilling their own true desires; which in Hamlet’s case was suicide. In this way, Shakespeare displays Hamlet’s inner turmoil as an example of how religion can affect one’s ability to pursue what they want. Hamlet continues to ponder taking his life, as he asks himself “Who would fardels bear,To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death.. (Act 3, Scene 1, lines 70-72)” In act three, scene one, Shakespeare again portrays Hamlet to be suicidal, although Hamlet contradictingly feels he cannot kill himself, only because of the eternal punishment that would proceed after. Here, Shakespeare displays the idea that decisions are not always made from a two dimensional perspective; Hamlet was able to deter himself due to his respect of his religion, but equally fears the punishment that would occur after if he decided to kill himself anyway. Explanation: Therefore, Connecting point: Outro: Assertion: Support: “Is she to be buried in Christian burial when she willfully seeks her own salvation (Act 5, Scene 1, lines 1-2)?”) Explanation: Explanation: Explanation: Support: “And where th’offense is, let the great ax fall (Act 4, Scene 5, line 213).” Explanation: Explanation: Explanation: Connecting point: Outro: Assertion: Support: “Now might I do it pat, now a is a-praying, And now I’ll do’t. And so a goes to heaven, And so am I revenged (Act 3, Scene 3, lines 73-75).” Explanation: Explanation: Explanation: Support: “My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Words without thoughts never to heaven go (Act 3, Scene 3, lines 97-98).” Explanation: Explanation: Explanation: Connecting point: Outro: Thesis Redux: Roadmap Redux: Roadmap Redux: Roadmap Redux: Broader Connection: Broader Connection: Broader Connection: Broader Connection: Global Statement: