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Revenge and Its Consequences in Hamlet

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Published: Jun 29, 2018

Words: 2409 | Pages: 5.5 | 13 min read

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Hamlet and Revenge

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What is arguably Shakespeare 's greatest play, "Hamlet," is often understood to be a revenge tragedy, but it is quite an odd one at that. It is a play driven by a protagonist who spends most of the play contemplating revenge rather than exacting it.

Hamlet’s inability to avenge the murder of his father drives the plot and leads to the deaths of most of the major characters , including Polonius, Laertes, Ophelia, Gertrude, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. And Hamlet himself is tortured by his indecision and his inability to kill his father's murderer, Claudius, throughout the play.

When he finally does exact his revenge and kills Claudius, it is too late for him to derive any satisfaction from it; Laertes has struck him with a poisoned foil and Hamlet dies shortly after. Take a closer look at the theme of revenge in Hamlet.

Action and Inaction in Hamlet

To highlight Hamlet’s inability to take action, Shakespeare includes other characters capable of taking resolute and headstrong revenge as required. Fortinbras travels many miles to take his revenge and ultimately succeeds in conquering Denmark; Laertes plots to kill Hamlet to avenge the death of his father, Polonius.

Compared to these characters, Hamlet’s revenge is ineffectual. Once he decides to take action, he delays any action until the end of the play. It should be noted that this delay is not uncommon in Elizabethan revenge tragedies. What makes "Hamlet" different from other contemporary works is the way in which Shakespeare uses the delay to build Hamlet’s emotional and psychological complexity. The revenge itself ends up being almost an afterthought, and in many ways, is anticlimactic.

Indeed, the famous "To be or not to be" soliloquy is Hamlet's debate with himself about what to do and whether it will matter. Though the piece begins with his pondering suicide, Hamlet's desire to avenge his father becomes clearer as this speech continues. It's worth considering this soliloquy in its entirety.

To be, or not to be- that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them. To die- to sleep- No more; and by a sleep to say we end The heartache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die- to sleep. To sleep- perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub! For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause. There's the respect That makes calamity of so long life. For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, Th' oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despis'd love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of th' unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin? Who would these fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death- The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn No traveler returns- puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry And lose the name of action.- Soft you now! The fair Ophelia!- Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins rememb'red.

Over the course of this eloquent musing on the nature of self and death and what actions he should take, Hamlet remains paralyzed by indecision.

How Hamlet's Revenge is Delayed

Hamlet’s revenge is delayed in three significant ways. First, he must establish Claudius’ guilt, which he does in Act 3, Scene 2 by presenting the murder of his father in a play. When Claudius storms out during the performance, Hamlet becomes convinced of his guilt.

Hamlet then considers his revenge at length, in contrast to the rash actions of Fortinbras and Laertes. For example, Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius in Act 3, Scene 3. He draws his sword but is concerned that Claudius will go to heaven if killed while praying.

After killing Polonius, Hamlet is sent to England making it impossible for him to gain access to Claudius and carry out his revenge. During his trip, becomes more headstrong in his desire for revenge.

Although he does ultimately kill Claudius in the final scene of the play , it's not due to any scheme or plan by Hamlet, rather, it is Claudius’ plan to kill Hamlet that backfires.

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Exploring the Concept of Revenge in Hamlet

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Introduction

The book Hamlet , authored by William Shakespeare, portrays revenge as a product of Hamlet’s moral compass and his desire for justice, ultimately leading to tragic consequences. Therefore, the play delves into the intricacies of revenge, focusing on the underlying motivations that drive individuals to seek retribution, the inherent destructiveness embedded within acts of vengeance, and the intricate moral difficulties surrounding the pursuit of justice through revenge.

Motivations Behind Seeking Revenge

Hamlet’s desire for revenge is motivated by a complex mix of emotions and beliefs. At its core, his motivation is rooted in a deep-seated sense of injustice and a belief that the murder of his father must be avenged (Shakespeare, 2020, p. 123). Hamlet feels a strong sense of duty to his father’s memory and believes that he has a moral obligation to understand and correct the wrong that has been done. This sense of duty is fueled by his love for his father and his desire to honor his memory. For instance, the desire for justice is further fueled by Hamlet’s feelings of powerlessness and his belief that he must take matters into his own hands to achieve justice (Hameed, 2022, p. 121). In this regard, Hamlet is driven by a desire for justice and a belief that the perpetrator of the crime must be held accountable for their actions. Therefore, this explication essay argues that Hamlet’s motivations for revenge are rooted in a mix of emotions and beliefs, including a sense of injustice, a desire to honor his father, and a belief in justice.

Exploring the Concept of Revenge in Hamlet

Destructive Nature of Revenge

Revenge is a destructive force that consumes Hamlet, ultimately leading to his downfall. According to Shakespeare (2020), Hamlet’s desire for revenge causes him to become increasingly isolated and lonely, pushing away those who care about him, including Ophelia and Horatio (p. 129). In this regard, Hamlet’s obsession with avenging his father’s death leads him to make harmful decisions for himself and others. His actions become more erratic and violent, leading to the deaths of several innocent people, including Polonius, who he thought was Claudius (Haque, 2019, p. 58). As a result, Hamlet’s pursuit of revenge destroys his relationships with others as he becomes more and more consumed by his desire for vengeance. Hence, the play highlights the destructive nature of revenge, showing how it can lead to a cycle of violence and harm, ultimately causing more harm than good.

Moral Complexities Surrounding Vengeance

Shakespeare presents a nuanced exploration of the moral complexities surrounding revenge in the play. Hamlet’s desire for revenge is understandable, given the circumstances of his father’s death, but it also leads him to commit violent acts that challenge the moral values of the play (Zhao, 2022, p. 68). The character of Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle and the murderer of his father, adds to the moral complexity of the play. For instance, the pursuit of vengeance leads to a cycle of violence, as Hamlet’s actions spark a chain of events resulting in several characters’ deaths (Shakespeare, 2020, p. 203). Claudius’s guilt and subsequent remorse raise questions about the nature of forgiveness and redemption and whether such acts can truly be forgiven. Thus, the play highlights the complexity of moral issues surrounding vengeance and the difficulty of finding a clear moral path in a world where justice and morality are not always clear-cut.

The book Hamlet offers a profound exploration of the concept of revenge. Through the character of Hamlet and the events that unfold, Shakespeare delves into the motivations behind seeking revenge, the destructive nature of revenge, and the moral complexities surrounding vengeance. As the play unfolds, it becomes clear that revenge takes a heavy toll on the avenger and those caught in its path. By examining the theme of revenge in Hamlet , individuals are compelled to reflect on the futility and tragedy that often accompany such pursuits.

Hameed, F. S. (2022). The theme of revenge in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies, 4 (5), 119–125 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/365153173_International_Journal_of_Arts_Humanities_and_Social_Studies_Open_Access_Original_Paper_The_Theme_of_Revenge_in_Shakespeare’s_play_Hamlet

Haque, F. (2019). Revenge and vengeance in Shakespeare’s Hamlet: A study of Hamlet’s pursuit and procrastination regarding revenge. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science , 21 (09), 55–59. https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-2109095559

Shakespeare, W. (2020). Hamlet – Entire play . Folger Shakespeare Library. https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/hamlet/read/

Zhao, X. (2022). New interpretation of the ‘to be or not to be’ soliloquy in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Pacific International Journal , 5 (4), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.55014/pij.v5i4.246