Theme of Revenge in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”: A Catalyst for Conflict and Tragedy

Introduction

The topic of revenge has been around for centuries on centuries. Eye for an Eye, right? If someone insults you, you insult them back, right? In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Revenge is an ongoing theme. Eight of these characters die by the end of the play as a result of the murder initiated by revenge. Shakespeare uses the theme of revenge to create conflicts between many characters.

Body

Revenge and Its Impulsive Nature

Revenge causes one to act recklessly through anger rather than with reason. It is based on the idea of an eye for an eye, but this idea is not always a smart way to live by. Young Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet are all looking to get revenge for the deaths of their dads. There are three major bloodlines in the Tragedy of Hamlet. These are the bloodlines of King Fortinbras, Polonius, and King Hamlet. The fathers of each of these families are brutally murdered within the play. Fortinbras, King of Norway, is killed by King Hamlet; killed by sword during a hand-to-hand battle. “our valiant Hamlet-for so this side of our known world esteemed him-did slay this Fortinbras. ” This boastful Hamlet received land that was possessed by Fortinbras because it was written in a sealed contract.

Hamlet’s Internal Conflict and Self-Doubt

Polonius is subordinate to the King and a dad to Laertes and Ophelia. He is nosey and arrogant, and he does not trust his children. He is murdered by a young Hamlet while he is in a conversation between Hamlet and his mother, “How now! A rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!” King Hamlet is the King of Denmark and Hamlet’s father. He has killed King Fortinbras, only to be murdered by his brother, Claudius. “My offense is rank; it smells to heaven; A brother’s murder?” Each of these events affects the sons of the deceased in the same way; it enrages them. Shakespeare uses the revenge theme to create conflict between Hamlet and Claudius. In Act I, scene 5, Hamlet is awoken by the ghost, who was his father. He makes Hamlet aware of his murderous death when he tells Hamlet how Claudius murdered him.

The ghost says this to Hamlet about Claudius, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” This is when Hamlet is first introduced to the revenge plot between himself and Claudius. Hamlet wants to make sure that the ghost is his deceased father before he kills Claudius. In order to do this, Hamlet has people recreate the death of his father presented before Claudius and declares him guilty based on his reaction to the play. “O good Horatio, I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pounds. ” Hamlet declares Claudius’ guilt to Horatio and now understands that he must continue with his revenge plot.

The conflict between Hamlet and Claudius is delayed by Hamlet but does invently occur in the last scene. Hamlet’s mother has just died before this, Hamlet has been brutally murdered by Laertes’ poisoned sword, and Hamlet has just struck Laertes with a fatal blow when Laertes says that this was all brought on by Claudius. Hamlet, now understanding that there is no more time for him to postpone his revenge, stabs Claudius and kills him.

Interpersonal Conflicts and Tragic Consequences

“The point is poisoned too! Then venom, to thy work Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, drink off this potion-is thy union here? Follow my mother. ” This left the King dead, and his father’s death avenged. Shakespeare uses the revenge plot to create conflict between Laertes and Hamlet by having Laertes avenge his father’s and sister’s death which Hamlet is responsible for. After learning of his father’s death, Hamlet decides that he can no longer trust anyone besides Horatio. While acting out his madness, he visits Ophelia and cuts off his ties with her because of his distrust of everyone. In Act III, when Hamlet talks with his mother, he notices that he is being spied upon. Thinking that it is the King, Hamlet mistakenly kills Polonius, who was hiding behind a big rug, which for some medieval reason, was hung on the wall. It is believed Ophelia herself went mad because of Hamlet’s rude and violent treatment of her and also because Hamlet killed her father.

In Act IV, Ophelia’s madness drives her to walk into the river and drown. When Laertes comes back from France, he hears the horrible news and says, And so have I a noble father lost; A sister driven into desperate terms, Whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood challenger on mount of all the age For her perfections: but my revenge will come. Laertes is plotting revenge against the murderer of his father and sister, Hamlet. Claudius asks Laertes, “What would you undertake, To show yourself in deed your father’s son, More than in words? ” Claudius and Laertes conclude that they will hold a sword duel between Hamlet and Laertes. Laertes will have poison on his sword, and Claudius will have a glass with poison in it ready for Hamlet to quench his thirst.

During the duel, Hamlet is scratched by his poison-tipped sword of Laertes. It is now inevitable that Hamlet will die. Therefore, the conflict between Laertes and Hamlet resulted in revenge for Laertes. The lack of thought used in exacting the revenge leads to the deaths of both Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes plans with Claudius to kill Hamlet with the poisoned-tipped sword, but they had not thought that the sword might be used against them.

With Laertes believing the King’s accusations that Hamlet had murdered his father, he was in a blind rage and would not listen to Hamlet’s explanation and apology. “I am satisfied in nature with my revenge. I stand aloof and will not reconcile. But till that time, I do receive your offered love like love and will not do it wrong. “. He fights Hamlet and wounds him once with the poisoned tipped sword, but unfortunately, their swords are switched, and Hamlet and Laertes with the sword. That is the wound by which Laertes dies. Hamlet had many chances to kill his uncle, but his rage outweighed his intelligence; he chose to wait until the lord could see no good in Claudius and then strike him down into a world of eternal damnation.

“Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. ” Hamlet waits until he can kill his uncle while he is performing a sin; unfortunately for Hamlet, the sin is the poisoning of his son-in-law. Hamlet dies of his poisoned wound. Young Fortinbras regains his father’s land without the use of violence or death to himself. Hamlet crowns him the new ruler of Denmark before he dies, and Fortinbras once again gains all of his father’s taken land and becomes King of Denmark.

Delayed Revenge and Its Outcomes

Through the revenge theme, Shakespeare creates an interior conflict between Hamlet and himself. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, Hamlet displays his melancholy state of being and his unwillingness to live. ” Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter! ” Hamlet states that if God was not against suicide, then he would take his own life. In Hamlet’s second soliloquy, after the meeting with his father’s ghost, he beats himself up by saying, “Am I a coward…?, and, I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall”. Hamlet is craving revenge at this time, but he is questioning his will to kill Claudius, so he calls himself a coward. Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must like a whore unpack my heart with words,(2. 2. 584-588)

The greatest interior conflict between Hamlet and himself occurs when Hamlet delays the killing of Claudius. Hamlet carefully examines the need to avenge his fathers death: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. (3. 4. 76-79) Postponing at this point is Hamlet’s tragic flaw. The conflict between Hamlet and himself is solved when Hamlet kills Claudius because he knew was going to die soon and has very little time left. Therefore, the self-conflict between Hamlet and his mind evolved from the revenge plot. Since the Heads of the three major kings were each murdered, the oldest sons of these families wanted vengeance, and two out of the three sons perished while carrying out their acts of vengeance, revenge is a major theme in the Tragedy of Hamlet.

Conclusion

As a theme, revenge was in all parts of the play. It seems weird that Claudius, Laertes, and Hamlet have been murdered by the same sword. It is also ironic that the first to seek revenge against Claudius, Fortinbras, becomes King of Denmark. Revenge was the motive behind the three of the protagonists of the play; for two, it ended up downfall, and for the other, it led to power.