Author Izaak Walton observed, "The person who loses his conscience has nothing left worth keeping." The characters in Hamlet constantly struggle with the power of their conscience, as they are tempted to satiate their innermost desires. Hamlet, the prince of Denmark, is the epitome of the power of conscience in the play. Although he is initially governed by his conscience, he only begins to realize his father's will when he turns away from his moral sense. However, the other characters in Hamlet also feel the power of conscience as they consider the actions they are about to take and as they reflect on their past actions. Shakespeare uses the struggle between morality and immorality to create characters with real depth and with whom the audience can connect. The presence and duality of consciousness in Shakespeare's Hamlet illustrates the depth of Laertes, Claudius, and Hamlet. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Laertes' depth is evident in his struggle with conscience as he attempts to avenge the murder of his father, Polonius. When Laertes learns of his father's murder, he returns from France in a rage. He seeks immediate revenge and shouts: "Conscience and grace, to the deepest abyss!" (4.5.131) Clearly, Laertes is willing to ignore his conscience and “dare damnation” (4.5.132) to satisfy his own sense of justice. Laertes is also willing to commit the most disgusting actions imaginable to gain revenge. When Claudius asks how far he is willing to go, Laertes exclaims that he would "cut [Hamlet's] throat in the church!" (4.7.124) Laertes is ready to kill Hamlet in cold blood in the holiest place, the Church. However, when Laertes duels Hamlet, he begins to feel guilty for carrying out Claudius' plan. In one aside Laertes reveals that he feels that poisoning Hamlet "is almost against my conscience". (5.2.274) Even though he carries out the plan, the presence of Laertes' conscience adds depth to his character by showing his innate goodness. Ultimately, Laertes dies with a clear conscience as he asks Hamlet to "exchange pardon with me [Laertes]" (5.2.307). By illustrating the duality of Laertes' consciousness, Shakespeare creates a three-dimensional character rather than a typical man seeking revenge. Like Laertes, Claudius also struggles with his conscience, and this conflict paints him as a real character rather than a standard villain. In contrast, however, Claudio is able to completely ignore his conscience when carrying out his plans. This ability is illustrated when he kills the king while he sleeps. As the ghost describes, during my hour of safety, your uncle stole the juice of the cursed ebona in a vial, and in the porches of my ears he poured the leprous distillate (1.5.61-64) The complete lack of conscience of Claudio described by the ghost immediately classifies him as a villain. However, when Claudio reflects on his actions, it demonstrates the moral struggle he is experiencing. In a soliloquy, he reflects: What a lash this speech gives to my conscience! The prostitute's cheek, artfully embellished, is no uglier for what helps her than my action is for my most painted word. (3.1.50-54) Claudius knows that his actions and lies are immoral and buries this guilt deep within himself. Claudio uses his lies to deceive others, but in doing so feels he is no better than a prostitute who masks her venereal diseases with heavy makeup. In showing Claudius' guilt, Shakespeare defines him as a real person, not as a completely evil person. The clearest illustration of the struggle ofClaudio with his conscience is when he tries to pray. He cries: Oh, my offense is rancid, it stinks to high heaven; It has the oldest curse on it, the murder of a brother. (3.3.36-38) Claudius realizes that his sins are wrong and highly offensive to the ultimate judge of morality, Paradise. However, Claudio does not repent as he feels unworthy of forgiveness since he still possesses "those effects for which I committed the murder" (3.3.54). Clearly, the duality of Claudio's immorality and guilt expands his character. When given the opportunity to address the audience directly, Claudio proves that he is no mere villain. Instead, he is simply a person whose desires have swept away the resistance of his consciousness. Unlike Claudius, Hamlet's struggles with his conscience are evident and ultimately a defining part of his character. After the ghost asks Hamlet to seek revenge, Hamlet procrastinates as he considers the moral implications of killing another person. Angered by his inaction he cries, That I, son of a dear murdered father, Driven to my vengeance by heaven and hell, Must like a whore empty my heart of words (2.2.550-553) Hamlet is frustrated by his inability to act without moral consideration. He considers himself cowardly and passionless for not completing his father's quest immediately, and wants to stop analyzing the situation and act decisively. However, his conscience prevents him from satisfying these impulses and, in doing so, gives him enormous depth as a hero. Furthermore, as a person obsessed with his own conscience, Hamlet realizes that he can invoke a reaction from Claudius' conscience to ensure that Claudius is his father's murderer. When the idea for the show comes to him, he remarks: More relative than that: the show is the thing in which I will capture the king's conscience. (2.2.571-572)Hamlet wishes to use the power of conscience to ensure that the ghost is telling him the truth. This exploitation of conscience illustrates Hamlet's profound awareness. However, Hamlet also shows his immorality in the play. He completely ignores his conscience when he kills Polonius in a fit of rage. He simply comments: "Miserable, reckless, foolish intruder, farewell!" (3.4.32) Hamlet completely ignores the fact that he killed Polonius in cold blood, but instead attempts to justify the murder. At this point Hamlet loses his moral perfection and part of the audience's respect. Furthermore, he does not take his conscience into account when he sends his former friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to execution in England. He justifies himself to Horatio: because, man, they made love to this job. They are not close to my consciousness; their defeat grows thanks to their own insinuations. (5.2.160-162)Hamlet shows absolutely no remorse in sending his schoolmates to their deaths. He does not consider the morality of his actions and instead tries to justify his execution. Most rational people would agree that some punishment for the betrayal of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is reasonable, but death seems too high a price. Once again, Hamlet's judgment diminishes his initial moral perfection as he distances himself from the image of the ideal hero. His disintegrating morality prepares him for the subsequent murder he must carry out to avenge his father. The presence of a conscience and his moral duality distinguish Hamlet from traditional heroes. Although he is a great man, he is obviously flawed. Clearly, the depth of character in Shakespeare's Hamlet is illustrated by the moral struggles of Laertes, Claudius, and Hamlet. Each character has a different duality of consciousness. Laertes ignores his conscience until he is about to.