Shakespeare’s play Hamlet has long been linked to the philosophy of existentialism. Existentialism is rooted in individual freedom and responsibility. Sartre best stated this human position as, “Existence before essence.” This statement means, for Sartre, that a person is born without soul, Fate, destiny, divine promise, etc. As such, an individual is thrown into existence with a tabula rasa, blank slate. The individual, thus, makes his own godless life and purpose.
Hamlet in his soliloquy of his to be or not to be speech tests the notion of existence itself. Are the slings and arrows of life such torment that Hamlet considers death over life. Hamlet feels a need to act against what life has dealt him in circumstances. He fails to act even when he know he must act in revenge against the murderer of his father. Hamlet represents bad faith in the terms of existentialism by not acting. He has the freedom to choose, to act, but fails to do so. His lack of action leads to his inauthenticity as a human beingS
(from Hamlet, spoken by Hamlet)
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