Central Themes in "Hamlet"- Attaining Salvation

In the play "Hamlet", there are many recurring themes. One of the central themes of the play is attaining salvation, a goal which many of the characters hope to achieve. The after life and the hopes of being accepted into heaven were of utmost importance to the people of Hamlet's time. If one died with a venial sin (a "minor" sin such as stealing or lying), on their soul, they would be destined to spend …

…the 17th century, would probably believe that dying without hope of redemption was much too mean on Hamlet's part. Sadly, many of Hamlet's characters were never able to attain the salvation they so desperately desired. And so, although as Christians we know that there is always hope for salvation if only we ask God's forgiveness, the flawed characters of Shakespeare's Hamlet, were either unwilling or unable to ask for the forgiveness they so desperately sought.