The Revenge in Hamlet Play

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"As a groundbreaking author with numerous plays that are entirely diverse from one another, Shakespeare investigated the range of the human spirit and how it reacted whenever difficulties arose. “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder,"" this saying originates within William Shakespeare's Hamlet. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) The tale of Hamlet is one of William Shakespeare’s most notable works of literature. The creation was published in the early sixteenth century, and one of the most massive plays that William Shakespeare' created. In Hamlet, Shakespeare applies the idea of revenge as an essential theme that is present throughout the work. The involvement of revenge throughout the tale plays is a vital purpose to the advancement of the Prince of Norway, Prince of Denmark, and son of Polonius. With the highlight of revenge as the central theme throughout the play, we ask ourselves how the theme revenge used in Hamlet. Furthermore, we can see how the play Hamlet is clearly constructed on the theme of revenge and how the theme of revenge be justified? The theme of revenge is recognized throughout the play, by how each character seeks revenge from a person who has mistreated them. The three main characters Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras, all desire a type of revenge for a lost father, however, their motivations for murder differ in several methods for revenge.

Among the central issues within the play, the concept of vengeance is very interestingly applied throughout the tale of Hamlet. The application of revenge is explained throughout the play as each character to thinks of an act of vengeance to a person who has mistreated them, someone they loved. Within Hamlet, there are three main characters the Prince of Norway, Prince of Denmark, and son of Polonius that all are seeking retaliation to their fathers deaths. The Prince of Norway is also known as Fortinbras whose father the king was killed by Hamlet’s father and now Fortinbras wants to take vengeance for his father. (Green 2014) The Prince of Denmark is also known as Hamlet. The Prince of Denmark is bitter and cynical and full of hatred for his uncle murdering his father. (Green 2014) As for the son of Polonius, his name is Laertes, who is a young man who wants to take revenge on Hamlet for the death of his father. (Green 2014) In act one of the plays, Hamlet’s seeks out for revenge when the ghost of his father appears and information’s him that Claudius is the reason for his death. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) After the soul, it tells Hamlet that Claudius assassinated him by poisoning. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013)

Hamlet is keen to seek revenge for his father, but he tends to have difficulty with the idea of vengeance. Hamlet is stuck between on wanting to take vengeance for his father and wanting to do what is right. As Hamlet sought out revenge for his father's death, thus the second central character is the Prince of Norway. Fortinbras is acknowledged for being a strong, courageous leader in Norway. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) He acts as Hamlet within the play, with the task to seek revenge. Fortinbras, father the King of Norway, was killed and then Fortinbras to an order to seek revenge on his death. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) Unlike Hamlet, Fortinbras acted quickly on the vengeance for his father. The last central character throughout the play is Laertes role on the theme of revenge. In act four point five Laertes is bent on the idea of vengeance towards Hamlet since he murders his father. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) Laertes acts on to get revenge for his father's murder, with the help Claudius, manipulation to Laertes to kill Hamlet. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) These three central characters explain how the notion of revenge is manifested and revealed throughout the play of Hamlet.


In the play Hamlet revolves the around tragedy and revenge, that leads to Hamlet's death and to others that were close to him. Hamlet hunts for the vengeance of his father's death that mislead him from his morals and intelligence which influence him to his unfortunate death. Thus, this can be argued that Hamlet is the most enigmatic character Shakespeare has written. There have been numerous debates revolving around his insanity. Revenge throughout the play is a vital function to Hamlet's tragedy, with the death of Hamlet's father and the vengeance he is obligated to take against Claudius. The analysis of the drama during the play comes from the perception of worthlessness and disempowerment. (Green 2014) Hamlet is made to feel for his inability to act, calling himself a 'rogue and peasant slave' to strip himself of his princely status (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) With Hamlet feeling worthless it prompts him to consider suicide in the 'to be or not to be' monologue. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) However, the tragedy in Hamlet appears not only encourage from the theme of revenge, as Shakespeare also describes tremendous sympathy for the emotion of suffering after the loss of a father. The death of Hamlet's father can be observed to be related to Hamlet missing a part of himself, which leads him to consider that the world has lost all value. As a result, of Hamlet mourning his father's death, he became increasingly enraged for the thirst of vengeance. Hamlet tends to isolate himself from the world and his family as they become more hostile towards him as the play progresses.


The outstanding play ""Hamlet"" was one of Shakespeare's most successful pieces that he created. The play is focused on the involvement of revenge, but the concepts of revenge never justified in the tale. The mental conflict that Hamlet develops throughout the play shows a type of justification for the consideration of revenge. Hamlet attempts to get justice by taking matters in his own hands by taking life from another person to satisfy his vendetta. With Hamlet spiraling out of control and slipping into madness leads him down a path of conspiracy and hatred. (Green 2014) Hamlet displays many emotions that get the better of him and are unable to think logically about the consequences to his actions. (Green 2014)

The vengeance that transpired throughout the play reveals a violent aspect of justice that leads to misery and that this type of justice can hold no place in society. With the tragedies that are associated with the distinct missions of revenge throughout the play can be argued that the act for vengeance cannot be justified, but it can be recognized that it can bring justification. Thus, through the stories of revenge throughout society, it has never been seen to be the right way to get justice. However, in ""Hamlet,"" the use of revenge is revealed to show a way of justice by how Hamlets kills his father's friend Polonius to get closer to his father's murderer.

Additionally, also how Laertes is on the quest to kill Hamlet to get justice for the death of Polonius. (Green 2014) Even though Hamlet was not successful in obtaining justice for his father's death, Laertes end up having victory over Hamlet in a dual. (Punchner & Shakespeare 2013) These acts portrayed by Hamlet and Laertes display throughout the play shows a representation of justice that satisfies their need for revenge.

In conclusion, the play “Hamlet” is displayed as a tragic story. With the showing of how all three main characters throughout the play are driven by the desire to enact a form of revenge for the death of their fathers. Hamlet procrastinated his vengeance compared to Laertes who successfully fills his vendetta. While the outcome of revenge blinds each character, they still keep the sense of taking justice in their own hands. Although all three men had a mutual intention of revenge to kill their enemies, they all had different intentions throughout the play. They have all used different tactics to achieve their vengeance. Respectively each one of the characters showed an act of justice to revenge their family name. In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare he used the concept of characterization to show use the human characteristics allows us to enact the need to seek revenge for any wrongdoing done to a human being. Moreover, he explains how humans vary in terms of the reaction of death and how they can have an effect on us. Nevertheless, every one of us has thought of getting payback to someone who has wronged us or even something out of our control has transpired. "

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The Revenge in Hamlet Play. (2020, Sep 08). Retrieved April 25, 2024 , from
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