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ntradictory views about man
In the tragedy, we can read the lines expressing the protagonist Hamlet’s viewsabout man. But what is confusing is that he shows polar attitudes regarding man onthe same occasion. He praises man as follows: “What a piece of work is man! Hownoble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express andadmirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a god! the beauty ofthe world! the paragon of animals1”③ However, what follows his generous praise ishis despise and depreciation of man: “And yet to me, what is this quintessence of dust?Man delights not me: No, nor woman neither” (P189) Such opposing views oftenpuzzle readers and pass on uncertain meaning.Tracing back to the history concerning Renaissance movement, it can be foundthat Hamlet’s soliloquies concern two different trends of thought from humanists. Onegroup, represented by Picco della Mirandola, praises man’s dignity as well as reason;at the same time, affirms the supreme place of man in the universe. Another trendexposes and criticizes the weaknesses, defects and ugliness of man. The twofacets—the praise and skepticism as well as criticism—mark two groups of ideas inthe period of Renaissance. We can hear Picco della Mirandola arguing with Michel deMontagne over the issues with regard to man.
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B Uncertainty in Reason
In Renaissance period, man was believed to be molded in the image of God, andevery creature was created by god. Then came other questions : did all human beingshave the similar or same connotations or personalities? What distinguished man fromother animals except for physical appearance? These are the essential questions thatshould be approached in response to the question “what is man”.When reading the tragedy, thoughtful readers can find a troubling and perplexingissue: on which should man act. emotion or reason? But, Hamlet does not set a modelin this aspect, for he himself does not know what to act on. Let’s look at Hamlet’sinternal activity and external performance which are so inconsistent and contradictory.In the tragedy, Hamlet praises man for having noble reason. More than once,Shakespeare extolled reason on many occasions through the characters in his plays. InHamlet, reason is stressed and praised. In western culture, humanists think that it isreason that distinguishes man from other animals, “without which (reason) we arepictures or mere beasts”(P253). When Hamlet instructs the actors, he emphasizes “ For in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, the withdrawal of passion, youmust acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness.”(P209) With regardto the relationship between reason and passion, Hamlet explicitly expresses hisperspectives to Horatio that man should not be passion’s slave and those “whoseblood and judgment are so well commingled”(P212) would not be “a pipe forfortune’s finger.”(P212).One reason that Hamlet was and is considered as the masterpiece is that the workinvolves deep and comprehensive thoughts that cover various aspects of life, rangingfrom daily trifles such as dressing to serious grand philosophical issues that stillentangle not only the ancient people, people of Shakespeare’s age, but also themodern people. This is where its greatness and attractiveness lie in. Plus, no issuesconcerned in the play are merely particular to one person or one group of people of aparticular location in one given period, but to all