The Search for Symmetry: The Conflict between Humanism and Existentialism in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

The portrayal of a wholesome character who will be the embodiment of humanistic and existentialist ideals appears to be the preoccupation of William Shakespeare in his play, Hamlet. Whereas Humanism promotes limited freedom in the affairs of man, existentialism sees human freedom as limitless and absolute. In the play under consideration, Shakespeare creates a character who strives to resolve the pulls of the conflicting tendencies in his life. The struggle by Hamlet, the character, to strike a balance between the opposing world views eventually leaves him fractured. This paper examines the differing concepts of Humanism and Existentialism and the way they shape the character of Hamlet. It inquires into whether Shakespeare achieved success or not in his depiction of a character who is expected to harmonize the contradictions inherent in the differing world views. The paper delves into the search for symmetry by Hamlet in the bid to give meaning to his existence. On one hand, Hamlet as a humanist creation tries to think and exercise himself but the limited sense of freedom which Humanism imposes on him constrains him. On the other hand, the frightening and limitless freedom which Existentialism thrusts upon him propels him into toeing a certain course of action. But he fails because he is incapable of taking those actions. The paper underlines the fact that the burden imposed on Hamlet by Shakespeare is an uneasy one and too strenuous to resolve. Thus, in trying to resolve them, Hamlet lapses occasionally into acts of futility and absurdity. In the end, he fails both as a humanist and as an existentialist. The study concludes that even though Hamlet fails to attain selfhood, Shakespeare succeeds in giving us a character whose portraiture opens for us fresh insights into his creative ingenuity.

Humanism, Existentialism, conflicting, struggle, symmetry, futility

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