Thread by @SeanBerube4

Hamlet is the greatest play of all time

It also asks one of the most disturbing questions in all of literature

Not, “To be or not to be?”

But a simpler 2-word question:

It drove Hamlet insane, and still haunts readers to this day…🧵

The central question of Hamlet is the opening line:

“Who’s there?”

On the surface it's a simple question - a guard asks it as a stranger approaches

But there's far more to this question than meets the eye:

It hauntingly lingers throughout the entire play

As a plot recap, Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his Father, who reveals:

“My brother murdered me. Avenge me!”

Hamlet then swears a dreadful vow:

“From the table of my memory

I'll wipe away all trivial fond records…

And thy commandment all alone shall live”

Hamlet promises to erase all morality except vengeance

However, this vow sends him into a deep turmoil of paranoia, cynicism, and insanity

By act 3, he loses his will to live:

“To be or not to be? That is the question”

Why does he despair? It goes back to the opening line

“Who’s there?” is not just a guard’s question

It’s a question Hamlet keeps asking as he debates whether or not to avenge his Father

It’s the very question that leads to his spiritual collapse

Hamlet first asks “Who’s there?” when the ghost appears:

He wonders if its a real ghost, or a vision, or a demon

Here, Hamlet begins doubting his senses

But his uncertainty doesn’t stop there

After hearing of the murder, Hamlet starts asking “Who’s there?” to his community

His uncle, his mother, and the court of Denmark:

“Are you all who you claim to be? Or are your liars and murderers?”

Unhealthy paranoia begins to rot his soul

Next, Hamlet asks “who’s there?” to himself:

He wonders if he’s insane, or a coward, or both

His skepticism isolates him. He becomes a stranger in his own body

Finally, Hamlet turns his doubt to Heaven itself:

“To be or not to be? That is the question?”

Hamlet becomes suicidal

He doubts whether life itself is even good:

“Who’s there… Are you there, God?”

Hamlet, doubtful of reality, can no longer bear existence itself

This is the point:

Hamlet’s vow to murder Claudius destroyed his moral foundation

Without morality, he cannot know good from evil, nor truth from lies

And without that, he cannot know anyone. Not even himself

"Who’s there?" Is a cry of existential dread

Without truth, Hamlet cannot know God, neighbor, or self

He loses all certainty, and his very will to live

This then, is why Hamlet is the “first modern man”

Modern man, like Hamlet, is plagued by doubt

He’s skeptical of truth, morality, and even his own identity

So Hamlet’s despair is a warning:

Abandon truth and morality, and life becomes unbearable

However, Hamlet’s doubt points to a solution too:

“Who’s there?” teaches us that relationship is the root of reality

Hamlet's misery came from his isolation:

Becoming a stranger to God, man, and self

But man was made for relationship, and relationship is perfected by love

To love is to will the Good of God and neighbor

When you seek to know and love God and others, you begin to know yourself

The answer to “who’s there?” becomes clear:

“I am who am”

So to live well is to love well:

To know God and neighbor, and will the Good towards them, is to know yourself

Destiny then, is not asking "who's there?"

It's answering "who's there?" through a constant, charitable love that desires Goodness for all

If you want to go even deeper into Hamlet, join me at the Athenaeum book club tonight at 8pm EST!

athenaeum-book-club.circle.so/join?invitatio…

Bonus:

I offer faith-based fitness coaching for Christian men looking to:

- Get fit
- Grow in their faith
- Learn the great books

If interested, DM me "fitness" to discuss!