To Be Human

            
             Sometimes the only way to describe something is to give their direct opposite or prime example. We already learned from Polonius's description of Hamlet's behavior how not to define. He says, "Your noble son is mad./Mad I call I it, for to define true madness,/What is't but to be nothing else but mad?" (II, ii). Although Shakespeare's description on being human takes a whole play, he does a little better than Polonius. Shakespeare displays the sometimes cloudy relationship between God and man by showing God and Hamlet's plans next to each other. This relationship is put in real life terms for the audience to see. The Tragedy of Hamlet reveals to be human is to not be God, to not be God is to not be perfect, and not to be perfect is to be flawed. Shakespeare even goes so far as to show how humans should act using a conscience in light of their flaws. These problems are evident in Hamlet's movement away from God's plan as told by the Ghost. Whether or not those flaws are forgiven is a different question we should not answer. In fact, this is where Hamlet goes wrong with God's message from the ghost, [proved as being a "spirit of health" not "goblin damned" (I, iv), by Claudius's reaction to the play that shall prick his conscience, "Lights!" (III, ii)] Hamlet is supposed to "Leave [mother] to Heaven" (I, v). Hamlet forgets this part of the plan as he erupts in a not so casual disapproval, "You go not till I set you up a glass.And let me wring your heart" (III, iv) suggesting he"ll call her on her actions himself. Hamlet also deviates from God's plan when he doesn't kill Claudius because he may send him to Heaven. He waits to kill and says, "Then trip him, that his hells may kick at Heaven/And that his soul may be as damned and black/As Hell, whereto it goes" (III, iii).