Hamlet Essay

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Recommended: Complexity of revenge in Hamlet

In the tragedy play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare the Prince Hamlet of Denmark is called to seek revenge on Claudius by King’s Hamlet apparition. Claudius has murdered his own brother to steal the throne and has seized power over the state of Denmark. In this journey of Hamlet trying to find retribution for Claudius's sinful acts Shakespeare expounds themes regarding revenge and moral corruption. Shakespeare depicts how Hamlet’s path to revenge and the complexity of taking revenful action leads more often than not to moral corruption. This is primarily depicted with Hamlet who experiences moral degradation as he struggles to take action against Claudius. Revenge leads Hamlet to act both irrational and rational that Shakespeare directly …show more content…

This is also seen with Hamlet’s struggle to take revenge as he comes upon Claudius confessing the murder while trying to pray. This scene reveals the larger meaning of the play that revenge and the complexity of taking action can lead to great turmoil within both the state and family. To begin, in act 3 scene 3 King Claudius is badly shaken by the apparent madness of Hamlet aroused by his revenge and hate towards the new king. Claudius agrees to send Hamlet to England where he will be executed and sends Polonius to spy on Hamlet’s encounter to Gertrude. This scene helps reveal the complexity of Hamlet’s revenge leading to internal turmoil within both the state and family. For example, Claudius states the threat of Hamlet to the state when he says, “I like him not, nor stands it safe with us/To let his madness range… the terms of our estate may not endure/Hazard so near” (3.3.1-5). Within this scene Claudius addresses the prominent threat of Hamlet on the state of Denmark. In Hamlet’s endeavors to seek revenge it leads to chaos for the king who is associated with the health of Denmark. In the play everything in Hamlet is connected including the welfare of the royal family and the health of the state as a whole. Claudius attempts to betray Hamlet depicts the …show more content…

In the play Shakespeare depicts how Hamlet’s path to revenge and the complexity of taking revenful action leads more often than not to moral corruption. The revenge Hamlet seeks causes the state of Denmark to be in disarray. The state of Denmark is deteriorating with the death of the old king Hamlet and causes turmoil within the royal family that is augmented by Hamlet. Throughout the play the king has explicit connections between the moral legitimacy of the ruler and the health of the nation. Denmark is described as a physical body who has been made corrupt by Claudius when the guard Marcellus famously says "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (1.4.100). The dead king is portrayed as strong capable leader whereas Claudius is seen as a wicked politician. Shakespeare develops this theme intensely with Hamlet’s path to revenge causing many unforeseen consequences with him degrading his mother for her disloyalty and mistakenly killing Polonius. His revenge also causes Hamlet to be very spiteful towards Ophelia leading to her suicide and sparking more chaos within the state with Laertes seeking revenge on Hamlet. These events weaken the state of Denmark with the royal family falling into a state of self destruction. This is depicted throughout the play primarily in act 5 scene 2 when Claudius plots to kill Hamlet resulting in the death of many major characters. Within this act filled with

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