The issue of revenge in the tragedy of Shakespeare's Hamlet - Essay Example

The essay "The issue of revenge in the tragedy of William Shakespeare's Hamlet" investigates the question of revenge and explores the role of this phenomenon in one of the best-known tragedies. There are essentially three characters who seek revenge – Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras. They all sought to avenge their fathers’ murders. The other themes of humanity are love, justice and the elements of good and evil that are vividly illustrated in the play along with the most evident theme of madness that has been depicted especially in Hamlet while he is confused about identifying his father’s murderer and consequently seeks revenge.

Laertes tries to avenge the death of his father Polonius who has been accidentally killed by Hamlet. The actions of Hamlet and Laertes illustrate the reason or the initiator of revenge. Revenge in them is incited mostly by anger, which creates impulse and thus leads them to take further steps that bear worse consequences. For instance, when Hamlet and Gertrude were having a conversation he hears something move behind the curtains and thinks it to be the King (that is, Claudius) whom he seeks revenge against for his father’s murder.

Both the instances show an outburst of emotions, which have either led to negative consequences or are most likely to lead to the same. Such a fury initiated by a desire ot seek revenge is often guided by impulse which gives rise to a carefree attitude about the moral consequences. This is evident in the words of Laertes. Initially Laertes suspects the King is responsible for Polonius’ death but Claudius tells him it is Hamlet and Laertes promises himself to kill him. Claudius and Laertes plot together against Hamlet and use a sword with a poisoned tip, which slays him finally.

In fact Claudius manages to cleverly manipulate Laertes and provoke him to avenge Polonius’ death and kill Hamlet. In Act 4, Scene 7, he says, “Laertes, was your father dear to you? Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, as face without heart?” (Shakespeare, 364)) This leads to the death of both the revenge seekers and even Gertrude who accidentally drinks the poisoned wine. Despite Hamlet’s apology before the duel begins, Laertes carries on with his plan and finally the same poisoned sword kills them both.

This could have been avoided if Laertes was not enraged at the deaths of both his father and sister and Claudius did not get a chance to manipulate him. Here we find a difference between the to characters. Hamlet tries to verify the source of his information (the ghost of late King Hamlet) regarding the murderer of his father lest he does not perform a sin in the process by arranging a play to arouse the guilt of Claudius. He even grants him life when he sees him repenting to God for his sins.

Laertes does not pay much heed to Hamlet’s apology and also does not bother to check his source of information (Claudius tells him that Hamlet has killed Polonius). This obviously raised questions of