Vengeance In Hamlet

n The Tragedy of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, there are numerous events revolving around revenge. Shakespeare utilizes dramatic elements and the plot-line of the play to support the theme that vengeance can ultimately lead to someone’s demise.

One of the main revenge plots within the play is Hamlet’s aim to avenge his father by killing his uncle. Revenge is first mentioned when Hamlet speaks with the ghost of his dead father. As soon as Hamlet learns how Claudius murdered his father, he becomes infuriated and believes it’s his responsibility to do what’s right and avenge his father’s death by murdering Claudius. “And so I am revenged. That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, d this same villain send to heaven” (3.4.161). Hamlet concludes it is now his duty to defend his father and get revenge on his uncle which leads to all the tragic events throughout the play. In an act of revenge, Hamlet attempts to kill Claudius, who was hiding behind the curtain, but it ended up being Polonius. This was the first time Hamlet acted on his urge for revenge. “Thou wretched, rash intruding fool, farewell! I

After Laertes is told about his father’s murder, he switches places with Hamlet. He now feels the same hatred that Hamlet feels towards Claudius. Laertes is immediately filled with rage when he learns it is Hamlet’s fault that Polonius is dead. With his sister Ophelia going mad, and Laertes overwhelmed, he has a strong desire to seek revenge on Hamlet. “And so I have a noble father lost, a sister driven into desp’rate terms, whose worth, if praises may go back again, stood challenger on a mount of all the age for her perfections. But my revenge will come” (4.7.213). Laertes is told that both losses, Polonius being murdered and Ophelia going mad, are because of Hamlet. Laertes vows that he will have his revenge, leading to more desires for revenge to come