Quest For The Truth—The Conflict Between Hamlet And The Hamlet-World

Hamlet is one of the most problematic texts in all of literature. It presents the title character抯 failure in accurate assessment of reality. With his former vision of the world in shambles, Hamlet lapses into total disorientation. He launches a persistent search so as to gain a firm grasp on reality, but falls ultimately into the trap of the elusive Hamlet-world. However, his heroic search bespeaks human beings?eternal desire for the truth and enlightenment, and gives that deceptive world a thorough shake.Starting from Hamlet抯 much-discussed procrastination, the first part of the thesis introduces three main trends of criticism about the tragedy represented by T. S. Eliot, A. C. Bradley and C. S. Lewis, and points out that the key to an understanding of this tragedy is the conflict between the title character and the world of the play. Part two illustrates the collapse of the hero抯 subjective world after a series of attacks. Part three delineates the hero抯 persistent search for an absolute knowledge of reality and its frustration --- Hamlet抯 dilemma, deceptive Elsinore, defeated thought and detente. In the fourth part, Hamlet attributes his failure to the divine providence, acquires a new understanding of death and finally chooses resignation to heaven ordinant. Part five elaborates on the inner need of Hamlet and the qualities of the Hamlet-world, which contribute to the tension of this tragedy. The last part is the conclusion of the thesis. It examines the Renaissance period, outlines the ordeal of the tragic hero and eulogizes Shakespeare抯 greatness in perceiving, presenting and confirming human beings?everlasting thirst for the truth and their readiness to struggle for it even in a most deceptive and inscrutable world.