Revenge In Hamlet

Revenge in Hamlet

Revenge is a major theme in the story of Hamlet. The characters in Hamlet are so intent on gaining revenge that they act blindly due to their emotions and angers, and can not think clearly. They feel that they must act on the principles of the vendetta system, and avenge their lost honor, however these actions are not always the best possible responses to the situation. Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet were all looking to avenge the killing of their fathers. All of them responded emotionally, obsessed by their wish to gain revenge of the deaths of the fathers. Their revenge-fueled actions led to the demise of two, and to the rise to power of one. The heads of the three major families were each murdered. Therefore, according to their system of values, the eldest sons of these families felt that it was their responsibility to take some kind of action to avenge the murders of their fathers. This requirement to return the lost honor to their families was ultimately what led to the ruin of Laertes and Hamlet.

There were three major families in the story of Hamlet. These were the family of King Fortinbras, the family of Polonius, and the family of King Hamlet. Fortinbras was the King of Norway. He was killed by King Hamlet. He was slain by sword during a man-to-man battle. "...Lost by his father, with all bonds of law, to our most valiant brother."[Act 1, Scene 2; lines 24-25]. This victory in war entitled King Hamlet to certain spoils of war. This turned out to be land that was owned by Fortinbras. This arrangement was agreed upon because it was written in a sealed compact. Polonius was an advisor to the King. He was also the father of Laertes and Ophelia. He was nosy and arrogant, and he did not trust his children. At one point in the play, he used his daughter to probe Hamlet. Young Hamlet killed Polonius while he was secretly listening in on a conversation between Hamlet and his mother. "How now! A rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!"[Act 3, Scene 4; Line 25].

King Hamlet was the King of Denmark, and Hamlet's father. He had killed King Fortinbras. However later on he was, in turn, killed by King Fortinbras’s brother Claudius. "...My offence is rank, it smells to heaven; A brother's murder..." Each of these events affected the sons of the deceased in the same way.

Laertes found out about his father's death, and immediately returned home. He confronted the King and accused him of the murder of his father. In response to the accusations Claudius tells Laertes that Hamlet was responsible for his father's death. He then decides to kill Hamlet to avenge the death of his father. Laertes and Claudius put together a plot to kill Hamlet. They arrive at a plan to kill Hamlet using a sword that is laced with poison. After stabbing Hamlet in a duel, Hamlet dies of the wounds from the poisoned tipped sword that Laertes used. "...Hamlet, thou art slain...the treacherous instrument is in thy, unbated and envenom'd...'[Act 5, Scene 2; lines 306-313].

Hamlet was incredibly sad and depressed by the knowledge of his father's death. In a state of extreme sadness he sees a ghost. This ghost tells Hamlet that his father's death was a murder, caused by the treacherous plot of his uncle, Claudius as well as Laertes. "The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." Hamlet was astonished at what this vision had told him. He then swears vengeance for his own father's death. He proceeds to try and prove that his uncle is guilty of the murder of his father, and then finally kills his uncle while he himself is dying of poisoned wounds inflicted by Laertes during their duel. "The point envenomed too! Then venom,