Revenge in Hamlet
Revenge has caused the downfall of many a person. Its consuming nature causes one to act recklessly through anger rather than reason. Revenge is an emotion easily rationalised; one turn deserves another. However, this is a very dangerous theory to live by. Throughout Hamlet, revenge is a dominant theme. Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet all seek to avenge the deaths of their fathers. But in so doing, all three rely more on emotion than thought, and take a very big gamble, a gamble which eventually leads to the downfall and death of all but one of them. King Fortinbras was slain by King Hamlet in a sword battle. This entitled King Hamlet to the land that was possessed by Fortinbras because it was written in a seal'd compact. "…our valiant Hamlet-for so this side of our known world esteem'd him-did slay this Fortinbras."Young Fortinbras was enraged by his father’s murder and sought revenge against Denmark. He wanted to reclaim the land that had been lost to Denmark when his father was killed. "…Now sir, young Fortinbras…as it doth well appear unto our state-but to recover of us, by strong hand and terms compulsative, those foresaid lands so by his father lost…"
While Hamlet mourned, he encountered the ghost of his father, who made him aware that his death had in fact been murder, and the guilt laid squarely on the shoulders of Denmark’s new King. Polonius was King Hamlet’s advisor and the father of Ophelia and Laertes, both of whom respected and loved him, despite his arrogant demeanour. Once Claudius told Laertes that Hamlet was responsible for his father's death, he and Claudius concoct a scheme to kill Hamlet using a poison tipped sword. " Instead he chose to fight Hamlet. e of Fortinbras’ plans, and in an evasive move, sends a message to the new King of Norway, Fortinbras’ uncle. " Unfortunately for Hamlet, the only sin Claudius commits is the poisoning of his own nephew. " This left the Claudius dead, and King Hamlet’s death avenged, but at a grave cost to Hamlet. "The serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown. His efforts to prove his uncle’s guilt are hindered by his indecisiveness until he finally kills Claudius, while he himself is dying of poisoned wounds caused him by Laertes in their duel. Perhaps it is these qualities that lead us to allow ourselves to act on its impulses. "The point envenomed too! Then venom, to thy work…Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, drink off this potion,-is thy union here? Follow my mother. He regains his fathers land, without use of violence, simply because Hamlet, Laertes and Claudius had all killed each other. He and wounds him fatally with the poisoned tipped sword, however, their swords become switched, and Hamlet inflicts the same wounds on with as those that had been inflicted on him. Hamlet’s opportunities to kill his uncle were plentiful. It is the lack of thought used in exacting their revenge which led to the deaths of both Laertes and Hamlet.
Common topics in this essay:
Laertes Hamlet,
King Hamlet,
Astonished Hamlet,
Fortinbras Fortinbras,
Ophelia Laertes,
King Denmark,
,
Unfortunately Hamlet,
Norway Fortinbras’,
King Hamlet’s,
tipped sword,
poisoned tipped sword,
laertes hamlet,
poisoned tipped,
king hamlet,
hamlet murdered,
kill hamlet,
emotion easily,
wounds inflicted,
father's death,
denmark father,
|
Acceptance Essays
