Aquinas and Shakespeare on Guilt

Brad Miner explores the relationship between Catholic doctrine and literature in an analysis for The Catholic Thing, examining how the Sacrament of Penance interacts with the concept of guilt.

Miner notes that while a priest's absolution forgives guilt before God, it does not erase the temporal consequences of sin or return a person to a clean slate. He uses the example of a murderer who confesses sacramentally but must still face legal consequences and the lasting impact of the crime on the victim's family.

The analysis connects these theological realities to Shakespeare's Hamlet. Miner highlights how Hamlet uses a play to trigger the conscience of King Claudius, noting that the term conscience can refer to both a moral guide and a sense of internal guilt.