The Theme Of Revenge In Hamlet

Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a play filled with revenge. A revenge play was a common genre of play in Shakespeare 's day, and Shakespeare showed superb mastery in his style of writing one. The play centers on the fact that revenge leads to tragedy. When Hamlet tries to kill his uncle, he ends up killing Polonius and getting himself killed. Laertes wants to kill Hamlet because of his father 's death and ends up dead himself. A stark contrast to the two, Fortinbras listens to the good advice not to turn to revenge due to the death of his father but is patient and eventually ends up earning the crown of Denmark. As the play begins, Hamlet is still mourning over the death of his father. What makes it worse is that only a few weeks after the

He had left Denmark to go to school in France, but comes swiftly back to Denmark to deal with the issue at hand. He goes right to King Claudius, whom convinces Laertes that Hamlet is fully to blame, and persuades him to think in the same way as him. Laertes, flattered by Claudius’s constant praise of him, is deceived by him and Claudius gives the impression that he is just as angry and revengeful, determined to take revenge on Polonius’s and Ophelia’s death due to his concern for Laertes. Claudius takes full advantage of Laertes, and with his mastery of manipulation and cunningness, he builds on Laertes ' resentment and rage to get Hamlet killed, accomplishing his goal. How came he dead? I 'll not be juggled with. Laertes rages, "To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand, That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes, only I 'll be revenged Most thoroughly for my father. (4.5.148-154)Laertes and Claudius together concoct a plan to exact revenge on Hamlet. They are planning to have Hamlet and Laertes duel. Laertes sword is dipped in poison, so that Hamlet will die if he is sliced with the sword. However, just to make sure that Hamlet ends up dead, King Claudius fills a cup of wine with poison for Hamlet. There is a huge touch of irony that Shakespeare paints in the motives and actions of Hamlet and Laertes. Hamlet wants to avenge his father 's death, but in the heat of the moment, his rash actions lead to Polonius 's death. Laertes now switches places with Hamlet, desperately desiring to exact revenge on Hamlet. This reversal in their roles greatly adds to the themes of revenge and murder in the book. Another contrast between Hamlet and Laertes can be made in that Hamlet seems to have a good conscience, reminding him that murder is wrong. He is guided by his inner feelings,