In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses revenge as a major theme present throughout the work. Revenge plays a crucial role in the development of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, and Laertes, son of Polonius. Those two men seek revenge for the murder of their fathers. Revenge can be interpreted as a separate character in Hamlet. Revenge is set to overcome anyone who seeks it. Initially, after each of the murders, every son had a definite course of action to obtain vengeance. Or in Hamletfs case the choice was to seek no vengeance. As the play unfolds, two young men approaches the desire for revenge and chooses a different path towards gaining it based on the guidance of another character in the play.
             In Hamletfs case, because of his persistent doubt of whether Claudius did, in fact, kill his father Hamlet defers making plans to act out his revenge. Hamlet is the hardest of the two to be influenced to act vengefully. Although deeply sorrowed by his fatherfs death, he did not consider payback as an option until he meets with the ghost of his father. The ghost tells Hamlet King Claudius, his own brother, murdered him. The ghost then tells Hamlet to revenge ghis foul and most unnatural murderh Although murder was an acceptable form of revenge in Hamletfs time he is uncertain about killing Claudius. However, upon his fatherfs command, Hamlet reluctantly swears to retaliate against Claudius. Hamlet does this not because he wants to, but because his father makes it clear that it is his duty as a son. Hamlet promises to prove his love and duty by killing Claudius.
             Hamlet, unlike Laertes, did not follow what his advisor told him without questioning why he should take the advice. As time passes, Hamlet still has not acted out the revenge he promised his father. Out of disgust for his irreverence for his father he says, gwhy, what an ass am I! This is most brave, that I, the son of a dear father murdered, prompted to my revenge by heaven and h...