Essay: Revenge in Hamlet: Villainous Acts Fought for Love and Justice

Vengeance. A dangerous desire that can lure the madness and slowly deteriorate your personality. It can creep up and take over bit by bit. Vengeance can be a drug, fueling people, acting as “their fire”. You can get addicted, never fully satisfied, and you crave more and more. But it can act as a poison, and lead to a never-ending cycle of war-peace-war-peace. In Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet saw revenge as the key to avenge his father from the malicious murder of his uncle, Claudius. Filled with complex characters with two-faced personalities, Hamlet dealt with tortuous complications, which strayed him from his true path. Hamlet, a character with many personalities and different attitudes, affected this play in many ways. In the play, these main characters had true reasons and intentions of seeking revenge. These characters were doing it out of love, for their family. Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras, three surprisingly similar characters who sought vengeance, sought revenge because they thought they were the hero of their own story. Revenge plays a huge role, but Hamlet is far from a traditional revenge play.
Hamlet is far from a traditional revenge play because Hamlet’s revenge kept stumbling onto confusing pathways which delayed and blocked him from his mission. First, in (III.ii.pg 142), Hamlet said, “The spirit that I have seen maybe a dev’l, and the dev’l hath power.” This proves that Hamlet couldn’t get revenge until he knew the actual truth and had evidence to show that Claudius actually murdered his father. In (III.iii.pg 200), Hamlet said, “Now might I do it pat, now ‘a is a-praying: And now I’ll do’t-and so’ goes to Heaven”. This proves that Hamlet had a chance to kill Claudius, which would lead to the completion of his revenge. Hamlet, surprisingly, didn’t take the chance because he thought if he killed Claudius in the middle of praying, he would be sent to Heaven. In (IV.iii.pg 242), Hamlet got sent to England by Claudius after he mistakenly killed Polonius. This stopped Hamlet from his true mission of getting revenge on Claudius because of their two separate locations. With their two separate locations, of course, Hamlet had no way of gaining contact with Claudius and possibly killing him. Hamlet’s revenge kept on getting delayed because of complications about the truth and some distance.
Hamlet is far from a tradition revenge play because there was a play within a play that lead to the plan of Hamlet’s revenge. After the ghost warned Hamlet about Claudius’s true intentions, Hamlet was still very skeptical and confused if the ghost was his real father or a devil in disguise. In order to seek the truth, Hamlet suggested creating a play reenacting the murder of father. Hamlet said, “I’ll have these players play something like the murder of my father before my uncle. I’ll observe his looks. If he do blench, I know my course.” (II.ii.pg 28) Creating this play was extremely clever to find out the truth without having to turn to harsh ways. This play got Claudius to confess his deep feelings and confess his guilt. This shows that Hamlet wasn’t your typical character who acts out lashingly without any evidence. This play revealed the truth, the terrible crime done by Claudius, a murder. In (III.iii.pg 198), Claudius says, “ It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, A brother’s murder!”. This proves that Claudius himself stated that he was the one who murdered Hamlet’s father. The play within a play played an extraordinary part because it created Hamlet’s revenge plan and confirmed Claudius’s guilt about murdering Hamlet’s father.
Hamlet is far from a traditional play because both Hamlet and Laertes thought they were the hero of their own story. Both of them, though different characters, had very similar mindsets which were used to get revenge because of the death of their fathers. They had a reason, a reason out of love, to seek revenge. Hamlet and Laertes both wanted to avenge their father. In (III.iii.pg 200), Hamlet says, “ A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to Heaven.” This proves that through Hamlet’s eyes, Claudius was the villain and in order to gain peace and avenge his father, Hamlet needed to kill him. Revenge for Hamlet was a little different because he made a promise to his father that he’ll make sure Claudius will suffer in Hell. In (IV.iiii.pg 255), Laertes said, “Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father.” Laertes wanted what was best but he basically said, “I’ll let life happen but I will be getting my revenge for my father’s murder.” This proves that he cared for his father and that he didn’t deserve to die like that. Within these characters, both of them cared for their family and wanted to serve justice. They didn’t seek revenge because they were villainous, they sought revenge out of love, for their family. Hamlet and Laertes was the hero of their own story because they both wanted to make things right for their fathers but in order to do that, they needed revenge.
Vengeance. Something that’s strong enough to completely change one’s thoughts and actions. It can control one’s life until it’s all that’s left in their mind. Revenge played a big part in Hamlet, and it’s what shaped and defined the characters in this play. This play contained heroes who portrayed villainous acts. Hamlet is not your traditional revenge play because it contained “heroes” who fought for what they thought was right.