Revenage in William Shakespeare´s Hamlet

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Recommended: Theme of Hamlet

Throughout the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, themes make up very important ingredients for the entire play. The most prominent and important theme is Revenge. Some Shakespeare critics may argue that guilt is the most important theme. However revenge is the most important theme and the reader sees this through revenge advancing the plot, the idea of seeking vengeance allows the reader to learn more about characters, foreshadowing of characters deaths and in the end seeking vengeance causes the majority of main characters deaths.
Some Shakespeare critics may argue that guilt is the most important theme in the play Hamlet. They may believe this because of how guilt advances the plot throughout the play. To prove this critics may use “While to my shame I see/ The imminent death of twenty, thousand men [...] O, from this time forth,/ My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worse”(4.4.59-65). Through Hamlets soliloquy the reader is able to feel the true guilt Hamlet is experiencing. Thousands of people can fight for their country even in the face of death, while Hamlet cannot even kill his father’s murderer. Hamlet decides in the soliloquy it’s time to fight and stop feeling the guilt, which he feels throughout the play. However, even looking at this quote a reader will discover in the end Hamlet decides vengeance is what he must seek and therefore showing it is the most important theme. To show that revenge is the most important theme in which it advances the plot, is when Hamlet says “Haste me to know`t, that I, with wings as swift/ As meditation or the thoughts of love,/ May sweep to my revenge” (1.5.29-31). Hamlet is now stating he wants to know all of the knowledge so he can quickly seek the vengeance for his father, quicker t...

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...oward in thine eternal cell, /That thou so many princes at a shot/So bloodily hast struck?”(5.2.357-359). Multiple characters including Claudius, Hamlet and Laertes are trying to avenge someone or seek vengeance. In the end they all end up meeting their fate and die as well as other characters. Fortinbras knows he arrives to late and is unable to help the kingdom, however he is now the present king.
In conclusion, throughout Hamlet the idea of revenge is very prominent and important. Critics may state that guilt is the most important theme for the way in which is helps move along the play. However, revenge also moves the play along and does it from start to finish. As well, the theme of revenge allows the reader to learn more about character development, foreshadowing of characters death and in the end it is the main reason of the majority of main characters deaths.

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