The theme of revenge is ever present throughout Shakespeare's play, Hamlet. Shakespeare shows this theme through the use of three different characters: Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes. They are all in a similar situation because each of their fathers have been killed and they all feel that they should seek revenge against the murderer. All three characters are foils for each other because of their different views on revenge and how quickly they take revenge. Vengeance does not always come out the way people want it to, and often leads to more than one death as stated by ancient philosopher Confucius: "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves." This shows what can happen when you choose to seek revenge. Hamlet keeps procrastinating the revenge he wants to take against Claudius, Laertes wants to take revenge instantly, and Fortinbras shows the rational part of revenge. These three paths show the different possibilities and what can happen as a result of these paths. There are mostly two different ways to view Hamlets path of revenge. Many critics say that Hamlet fails to take revenge throughout the majority of the play because he either wants to make sure that Claudius actually did kill his father, or that is simply procrastinating because he does not want to take revenge before thinking about every consequence of his actions. Even thought the ghost of his father, King Hamlet, appears before him at night and tells him that his uncle, Claudius, killed him, "The serpent that did sting thy father's life / Now wears his crown" (1.5.39-40) Hamlet does not necessarily believe him and wants to be one hundred percent sure. Hamlet even says that he will act mad in order to be sure: "To put an antic disposition on" (1.5.172) This shows the lengths that he is willing to go in order to get vengeance. Even though Hamlet is willing to go to these lengths he still
The reasons for Hamlet’s obsession with exacting revenge against Claudius are fairly straightforward. The ghost of Hamlet Sr. informed Hamlet that Claudius killed Hamlet Sr. and thus usurped him from his throne. In doing so, he emasculated Hamlet by robbing him of his central role model of masculinity, namely his father. He also committed the moral and political sin of regicide, and the familial sin of killing his brother and subsequently sleeping with his wife. Claudius also deprived Hamlet of his rightful kingship, since Hamlet was second in line after Hamlet Sr. In addition, Hamlet now knows that his love of his mother is corrupted since she is affectionate towards his emasculating enemy.
In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the theme of revenge is very palpable as the reader examines the characters of Hamlet himself, as well as Laertes, son of Polonius, and Fortinbras, prince of Norway and son of the late King Fortinbras. Each of these young characters felt the need to avenge the deaths of their fathers who they felt were untimely killed at the bloody hands of their murderers. However, the way each chose to go about this varies greatly and gives insight into their characters and how they progress throughout the play. Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras are similar in the fact that each had love, or at least respect, their fathers. Enough to make an attempt to wreak revenge upon their fathers murderers at the risk of their own reputation, freedom, and souls.
The theme of revenge is expanded and created by the ghost of King Hamlet because not only does he instruct others to seek revenge but he has such a powerful reach that characters, mainly Prince Hamlet, become driven by this want for revenge. Prince Hamlet shows his eagerness for revenge by saying that “Hast me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift / As meditation or the thoughts of love, / May sweep to my revenge” (34). As the text progresses the message or theme of revengeance fully surfaces when those who are driven by revenge, Laertes and Prince Hamlet, lure themselves to their own demise and this showcases the evil in chasing revenge. In addition, Shakespeare not only uses the theme of revenge but also uses the almost opposite theme of patience to show what mankind “should be and what not to be”. The following shows the outcome of Fortinbras’s patience, “I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, / Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me” (177). In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses the ghost of King Hamlet as a representation and establisher of the theme of revenge and by the end of the tragedy shows how the characters, Prince Hamlet and Laertes, who followed this path lead themselves to their deaths; however, Shakespeare uses Fortinbras to represent the theme of patience and how not seeking revenge or acting upon impulses, like Hamlet and Laertes, led him to the throne of Denmark. Moreover, even though the King Hamlet’s ghost appears in the text for a limited time he plays a significant role in the development of other
An Eye for an eye, measure for measure, ill will; these are all ways of saying revenge, and it is clear that Shakespeare knows a thing or two about the concept of revenge. This theme is clearly illustrated all throughout Shakespeare’s renowned play, Hamlet. The plotting of revenge can be seen most clearly through the eyes of Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras. All three of these men are seeking to avenge their fathers, but not all of them go about it in the same way. Shakespeare shows us how these men have different ideas on how revenge should be taken and when it should be taken.
In the play of Hamlet the main theme is the theme of vengeance and the need of the characters to protect their family's honor. This does not only have to do with Hamlet himself but is also illustrated in two other important characters of the play, Laertes and Fortinbras. All three of these characters are faced with the problem of having to avenge their nemesis who had previously hurt their family or their family's name. The idea of vengeance for the sake of family honor causes great destruction throughout the play and causes many more people get caught up in this circle of destruction and vengeance.
Hamlet's reasons for revenge against Claudius are fairly straightforward. The ghost of Hamlet Sr. informed Hamlet that Claudius killed Hamlet Sr. In doing so, he weakened Hamlet by robbing him of his central role model of masculinity, his father. He also committed the moral sin of killing is own brother and taking his wife. Claudius also deprived Hamlet of his rightful kingship. In addition, Hamlet now knows that his love of his mother is corrupted since she is affectionate towards his enemy.
In the play Hamlet, there were four revengers, Hamlet himself, Laertes, Fortinbras, and Pyrrhus. However, Hamlet and Laertes will be my main focus on examining Shakespeare’s depiction of revenge. Hamlet is the Prince of Denmark, the son of the old King Hamlet. He is very melancholy, and bitter, full of hatred for his uncle’s usurpation. Laertes in the other hand is the son of Polonius. His character is very passionate but contrasts for the reflective Hamlet. These two characters have many comparisons in seeking revenge after the death of their fathers. Although each has the same intentions the outcomes are dissimilar.
Revenge can be sweet, but it's not for everyone. Revenge can fill the emptiness in your heart with a feeling of satisfaction. You could make the person feel the same feeling you're feeling, whether it be physically or emotionally. But as for Hamlet through he took the route of physical revenge “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder”(Act 1, scene 5, page 58) as in Hamlet want King Polonius to suffer the same fate his father did.
Revenge is a major theme throughout William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet. This theme provides motivation for characters to murder each other throughout the play, whether or not characters seek revenge for themselves. Because Laertes and Hamlet are so absorbed with wanting to exact revenge upon certain people, they ultimately cause the deaths of all of the main characters in the play. Revenge is the main root of evil in this play. Laertes is greatly influenced by revenge for his actions, especially when he is seeking revenge for his sister.
Revenge almost always has the makings of an intriguing and tragic story. William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a perfect example of how revenge unfolds and what it unveils. The play tells the story of Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, marries his mother soon after his father’s death. Hamlet greatly disapproves of the hasty marriage and suspects foul play. His suspicions are confirmed when the ghost of his father appears and tells him that Claudius murdered him. Hamlet’s father asks him to take revenge upon Claudius, and soon everything takes a drastic change. The courses of revenge throughout Hamlet surround each character with corruption, obsession, and fatality.
Revenge is a recurring theme in Hamlet. Although Hamlet wants to avenge his father’s death, he is afraid of what would result from this. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet’s unwillingness to revenge appears throughout the text; Shakespeare exhibits this through Hamlet’s realization that revenge is not the right option, Hamlet‘s realization that revenge is the same as the crime which was already committed, and his understanding that to revenge is to become a “beast” and to not revenge is as well (Kastan 1).
In the play, there are several characters wanting vengeance like that of Hamlet. Throughout the play, Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras all had a tragic death of a family member which caused their decision for revenge. Consequentially, these revenges caused the demise of two characters and the rise of power of another. The retaliation shown by the Prince of Denmark, as well as Laertes led to the downfall of their government. In the play, Hamlet seeks revenge on his uncle Claudius.
The fact that he is not contented with the task he has to fulfill is the main reason for his inaction throughout the play, and although on several occasions has the opportunity to take his revenge, he always seems unable to act. So, despite the fact that Hamlet contemplates the idea of taking action, he finds reasons not to do so, always postponing “that it should come to this!” (1.2.136) Needless to say that the inconsistency between what Hamlet says and does evidences more his reluctance to take revenge upon his uncle. His hesitation, whether to kill Claudius or not, is justified as an undeserved favor that he would do him, by taking away his life. “A villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To Heaven.
Hamlet contains three plots of revenge throughout the five acts of the play. Young Hamlet, after getting a shocking realization from his father’s ghost, wants to enact a plot of revenge against his uncle. Laertes, who was struck twice in quick succession by the death of his father and sister, wants to kill Hamlet. Away in Norway, Fortinbras wants to take revenge on the entire nation of Denmark for taking his father’s land and life. These three sons all want the same thing, vengeance, but they go about it in wildly different ways, but as Lillian wilds points out, “he also sees himself in the mirrors of Fortinbras [and] Laertes.”(153) It becomes clear that the parallels presented throughout the play are there to further illuminate the flaws of
“Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand, Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.” - Aaron from Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare. The dominant theme of Hamlet is revenge. Just as Aaron from Titus Andronicus, many of the characters’ minds are consumed by thoughts of revenge. Three examples of this situation involve the characters Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras.