Revenge in Shakespeare´s Play Hamlet

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Recommended: Hamlet's character development

Hamlet and Laertes both contribute to the play main theme, revenge. Both characters dearly loved their fathers, thats the reason for revenge. But, their love has been distorted and all they feel now is a need for revenge for their fathers’ deaths. But they cope with it differently. Hamlet knows who killed his father, but does not take immediate action. Laertes is a little unclear on who is responsible for his fathers death, but he takes immediate action to avenge him. "To hell, allegiance! vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation: to this point I stand, that both worlds I give to negligence, let come what comes; only I'll be revenged most thoroughly for my father." Laertes Act 4 Scene 5. Both Hamlet and Laertes love their father and seek revenge, but they have different responses to their fathers death.

Hamlet and Laertes have different responses to their fathers death. Hamlet mourns for a couple of months, and is never really over it, then eventually goes insane. Then he procrastinates to revenge his father. He returns to Elsinore with a mob, threatening to overthrow Claudius if he does not explain his fathers murder. He questions nothing, and conspires with the King to kill Hamlet. Both Hamlet and Laertes love their family, and will go to all cost to protect them, including Ophelia.

Hamlet and Laertes both have feelings for Ophelia. Being her brother Laertes openly expresses throughout the whole play. He warns her to be wary of Hamlet’s love. He warns her that Hamlet is only using her. At first it does not seem like Hamlet loves Ophelia, shown by his actions to her. “If thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague for thy dowry. Be thou as cha...

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...ir fathers death. They both have the same reaction to finding out that their father figure has sent spies for them. Both men grew up in royalty, but in different situations. Hamlet, being the king’s son. Laertes was the son of the kings counsellor. Both Hamlet and Laertes die because they want to prove they are honorable and their want for revenge. Hamlet killed Polonius, Laertes father. Laertes swore to revenge him and he does by killing Hamlet. To kill off Hamlet, Laertes and Claudius set up a sword fight. Before the sword fight both Hamlet apologizes Laertes for killing his father but they still fight for honor. But Laertes really wants Hamlet dead as does the King. Laertes uses a poisoned sword and slashes Hamlet. Then swords get switched and Laertes is slashed and killed by his own sword. “I am justly kill’d with my own treachery” (Act V Scene ii)

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