The Ethics of Selfless Action in Hamlet and The Bhagavad Gita

Abstract

This essay offers a comparative study of the two classical texts of East and West, the Indian scripture of The Bhagavad Gita and Shakespeare’s tragedy, Hamlet. Both heroes, Arjuna and Hamlet, face the similar moral dilemma of killing of their kinsmen, and both fulfill their duty by overcoming the initial inaction through some insight into the mystery of life. I explain this insight with Krishna’s central teaching in the Gita, the ethics of Nishkam-Karma or selfless action, comparing it with Hamlet’s “readiness” in the last act. Nishkam-Karma is based on other key concepts in Indian philosophy, such as the immortality of the soul, reincarnation, Trigunas, detachment and discernment, some of which find parallel expression in Christianity. While discordant with the current politicized “turn to religion” in Shakespeare studies, this essay stresses the need for ethical reflections in religious approaches. It also aims to contribute to a better understanding of Indian philosophy, which is an under-researched field of study as compared to Shakespeare.