The Moral Code Of Hamlet

“I would not do that if I was you,” is a common statement made by someone addressing a child who is about to do something they should not. As soon as a baby is born, they must learn and implement their understanding of what is right and wrong by how they observe those around them. A moral code is naturally observed and understood by everyone in the world and it is enacted by the laws set within each country. This idea of a moral code is set forth in the story of Hamlet in The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. His actions are defined by a code defined within the David Brooks’, The Humility Code, which describe 15 sets of suggestions and explanations for ways of behavior. Hamlet’s character fits the mold for many of these descriptions of

Hamlet fails to develop a life that is led with a fulfilling purpose as he has been caught up in anger due to his father being killed and his uncle marrying his mother soon after this event. Hamlet’s reaction to visualizing his mother and uncle together and his father dying lead him to saying, "O God, God, How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world!" (Shakespeare 1.2.138-140). The utter distaste for these two thoughts leads Hamlet on a bitter path of revenge. The path and constant efforts for revenge leaves Hamlet room for only one goal in his life, removing the meaningful purpose described in The Humility Code. Brooks explains in the first code, “The best life is oriented around the increasing excellence of the soul and nourished by moral joy.” () It is best to describe this explanation by saying that the best life is found within the pleasures that people surround themselves with. Hamlet finds himself unable to do so due to revenge finding its way into every crevice of his mind leaving him with one sole reason for

An internal struggle develops within Hamlet because of this and draws him to begin to question continuing on with life or fighting against those who have wronged him. Hamlet wonders, “To be or not to be, that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles” (3.1.64-67). After trying to process all of the sudden events in his life, he faces many questions that he does not know the answer to, which in turn degrades his overall character as a person. He has become full of hate, selfishness, and pride by wanting to fulfill his angry desires alone. Brooks says in The Humility Code, “If you make selfish, cruel, or disorganized choices, then you are slowly turning this core thing inside yourself into something that is degraded, inconstant, or fragmented” (). By becoming selfish and cruel, Hamlet has ruined his character and become full of hate. The code has outlined Hamlet as a character in this example and has exemplified the degradation of Hamlet as a