In William Shakespeare's most famous play, "Hamlet," the main character, Hamlet, is either directly or indirectly responsible for the murder of many characters throughout the play. The audience of the play is left wondering which of the deaths are justified and which is not. The play does provide many murders and many other deaths, but it is up to the reader and the audience to decide who is to blame for these tragedies.
             Prince Hamlet is directly involved with the deaths of Polonius, his son Laertes, and his daughter Ophelia. After Hamlet discovers from his father's ghost that the newly crowned King Claudius murdered his own father, Hamlet is out for revenge. In order to keep his revenge tactics a secret, Hamlet puts on the act that he is insane. His insanity draws the attention of all those nearest to him, and when he murders Polonius it is obvious to the audience that this murder happens with intent. Hamlet claims that he has killed a rat when instead he has slain Polonius who is hidden behind a curtain, "How now! A rat? Dead, for ducat, dead,"(1441). Hamlet's act is a malicious attack on Polonius. He knows that Polonius is conspiring with the King to have Hamlet killed. This murder helps Hamlet to stay alive and seek revenge for his father's death. Hamlet does slay Laertes at the end of the play. Laertes and Claudius lace poison on Laertes' blade when he and Hamlet square off in !
             a gentlemen's duel. The duel comes about when he and Laertes are fighting over who loved Ophelia more. While Laertes mortally wounds Hamlet he returns with his own mortal blow and finishes off Laertes. By now Hamlet knows that he is marked for death. In order for him to avenge his father and kill Claudius he must kill Laertes to stay alive. Though the reader never truly knows whether or not Ophelia committed suicide or if her death was accidental, it is obvious th
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