vil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.” Matt 15:19-20 (KJV). If these men would have had a standard to measure against, they could have changed direction, rather than lived by the maxim, “…to thine own self be true”.Even with a moral standard, we still need to be accountable for our actions, because accountability provides motivation to adhere to standards, and to do what is right. Hamlet makes his desire to be free from accountability apparent when he says, “Never make known what you have seen tonight” (Act I Scene 5 Line 142). Hamlet forces the only people that know about his murderous intent to swear to secrecy by forcing them to take an oath on his sword. This allows him up to act completely autonomous. Without the necessary accountability, Hamlet is free to justify any idea that comes to mind, even the murder of the King. Laertes brings an additional twist when Claudius offers him the opportunity to kill Hamlet without fear of reprisal. Laertes responds, “I will do’t, and for the purpose, I’ll anoint my sword.” (Act IV Scene 7 Line 138 – 139). Laertes is deceived to think because the King has given him permission that he has accountability. Being accountable to the King makes Laertes a willing accomplice to murder, for accountability is not necessarily to another person but to a higher standard. All Laertes has accomplished is to find someone agrees to share his guilt. Alfred has a continuing clanging of his wife as a relentless reminder of his faults. Her accusing tone is loud and clear as she points out Alfred’s lack of ambition when she says, “We haven’t even got any way of telling time since you pawned your pocket watch like a fool. … anything to put off getting a job, anything to get out of going to work like a man.” (5). This form ...
