Revenge in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

Revenge in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

            Revenge is played out in Hamlet, such as when Hamlet wants to kill Claudius for killing his father, Prince Fortinbras intends to take back Denmark, and Laertes wants to kill Hamlet for killing Polonius. The leading causes for revenge in Shakespeare’s play are betrayal and killing of loved ones. The acts of revenge are realistically, and this is evident when the Ghost of King Hamlet insists on talking to Hamlet, and he proceeds to delay the revenge since he is not sure of allegations (Haque 56). As Hamlet goes out of his way to stage a play to ascertain if Claudius will feel guilty if he sees a replica of King Hamlet’s killing, this shows his willingness to ensure that he is realistic if he proceeds to kill him. This mirror other cases such as acts of revenge by Prince Fortinbras of Norway and Laertes. It is in this regard that this analysis seeks to answer: Is revenge a realistic concept as shown in the play?

Principal Causes of Revenge in Hamlet

The primary causes of revenge in Hamlet point towards realistic factors, including betrayal, taking advantage, and killing of close persons. The roots of many acts of revenge, as depicted in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, point towards pragmatic elements that would make any person proceed to a similar path. One would argue that the numerous cases of revenge water their significance, which should not be the case. Instead, Shakespeare paints potential pictures that reveal each party had solid reasons to revenge. One of the causes for revenge was the killing of King Hamlet, a factor that leads his son, Hamlet, to consider killing Claudius (2.5). Claudius murdered King Hamlet, and it should not come as a surprise when his son avenges the action. The same is realized when Laertes seeks to revenge Polonius’ killing. The two forms of revenge point toward pain and efforts to avenge the murder of one’s father. These are realistic and not idealistic efforts aimed at attaining some for, of social justice. Apart from death, betrayal comes out as another source of revenge in Hamlet when Prince Fortinbras wants to regain Denmark, which was under his father before the seizure. In this regard, the causes of revenge appear realistic from betrayal to killings.

Convincing from the Ghost

The Ghost of King Hamlet starts Shakespeare’s play, and the convincing effort put in place to depict its thoughts and intentions reveal practical efforts. Revenge, as revealed in Shakespeare’s play, aims at attaining justice for involved parties. ‘Tis gone and will not answer’ (1.1). The words are said by Marcellus, who refers to the leaving Ghost. The Ghost came and left without talking and only talked afterward to Hamlet. The fact that the Ghost of King Hamlet only agreed to speak to Hamlet, his son, provides appropriate convincing that it is Claudius who killed him by pouring poison into his ear. If the Ghost talked to anyone, the message would get touted as a rumor. However, the Ghost only communicates to Hamlet, who is directly affected by his death and bears the strongest will to revenge if necessary. The Ghost seeks revenge, although he cannot change it due to the invisible nature (Haque 57). However, the intention to appear to Horatio then Hamlet reveals potential concerns to any person. The concern for revenge for killing or murder, which warrants such effort.

Delaying of Revenge

Revenge appears realistic in Hamlet because of Hamlet delays in undertaking the same. The delay of revenge implies Hamlet’s intentions to ensure that he does not make mistakes and punish the wrong person. The wrong person here refers to someone who does not commit the crime of killing King Hamlet. ‘To be, or not to be- that is the question:’ (3.1). The line is the beginning of a soliloquy as Hamlet fathoms whether to proceed with killing Claudius. The delay gives an impression of the concerns of an average person. A person who wants to revenge with killing another but is cautious to reason with himself. The result is that Hamlet’s interest in revenge appears realistic, considering he takes his time to assess and find if he will be doing right in the process. The soliloquy points towards deep thoughts on Hamlet’s part that he does not kill Claudius when he prays. Hamlet delays his revenge because he notices that Claudius will go to heaven if killed during prayers. Looking into the final point when Hamlet kills Claudius, this does not happen due to a plan. Instead, it is Claudius’ plan to end Hamlet’s life that fails to go as planned, and Hamlet stabs him after learning of the plot from Laertes. These are actions of a disturbed man with realistic reasons to revenge but still delayed to do what seemed right.

Hamlet seeks Confirmation during Play

The Ghost of King Hamlet goes out of his way to convince Hamlet, and, notably, the latter does not act fast. Apart from the delays stated above, the staging of a play to ascertain Claudius’ guilt reveals his intentions to justify his revenge. Shakespeare’s play shows that Hamlet is aware that he gets taken over by his feelings, and he prefers to find further proof on whether Claudius murdered King Hamlet. It is in this regard that Hamlet performs the play with Claudius present. The aim is to enact how King Hamlet was killed in front of Claudius and find if he will be disturbed (Haque 58). Notably, Claudius murdered his brother King Hamlet by pouring poison in his ear when he is asleep. When playing the part, Claudius calls for more light then more light before leaving the play. The act of walking out assures Hamlet that Claudius is guilty, and this is when he finds it justifiable to proceed with revenge. Seeking clarification on Hamlet’s part illustrates that his revenge is real because it is based on evidence rather than assumption after getting news from a ghost.

Fortinbras Revenge to Take Denmark

Another case of revenge is when Prince Fortinbras of Norway seeks to revenge and take back Denmark. His father was the King of Denmark before King Hamlet seized the land and became a new ruler. Prince Fortinbras is aware of these factors, and he wants to revenge and regain the area under his territory. ‘Craves the conveyance of a promis’d march, Over his kingdom’ (4.4). The words are said by Fortinbras, who expresses his interest in taking over Denmark and make the kingdom his. The will for revenge comes from the seizure of the land from his father. Technically, Fortinbras is allowed by nature to consider Denmark and its Kingship as his. Understandably, Fortinbras harbors grudges, especially if he grew up in Denmark. The then traditions required that he inherits Denmark, although this does not happen. There are two instances of revenge: to regain Denmark and use these to avenge his father’s death. Fortinbras is realistic in his intention to revenge where he does not kill Hamlet since it is not him, but the father who murdered King Fortinbras. Prince Fortinbras only wants what is rightfully his, and the only way to gain the same is through revenge.

Revenge became Life and Death

That said, revenge becomes a matter of life and death in Hamlet, and this makes it realistic rather than idealistic. Take the case of Claudius and Laertes plot to kill Hamlet. They do this with the knowledge that Hamlet planned to kill Claudius, and the latter does the same to save his life. This makes revenge realistic and justifiable. ‘I am justly kill’d with mine own treachery’ (5.2). Admittedly, Laertes wants to avenge the killing of Polonius, his father, by killing Hamlet. The result is a duel where the two fight for each other’s life and end up dying. The emotions in play in the revenge and final death of Claudius after being stabbed by Hamlet are realistic.

Conclusion

In conclusion, revenge is a realistic concept as shown in the play, such as when the Ghost King Hamlet only talked to Hamlet, Hamlet delayed his attack and sought assurance through a play, and Prince Fortinbras wants to take over Denmark. The leading causes of revenge in Hamlet are due to betrayals and the killing of loved ones. The primary revenge in Hamlet, who seeks to kill Claudius after his father’s Ghost told him he poured poison in his ears. However, Hamlet delays his revenge, such as when he wonders whether to proceed, as shown in the soliloquy in act 3, scene 1. That said, Prince Fortinbras is justified in his revenge because King Hamlet seized Denmark from his father, King Hamlet. With the acts of revenge in Hamlet proving to be a matter of life and death in most cases, they are realistic.

Works Cited

Haque, Farhana. Revenge and vengeance in Shakespeare’s Hamlet: A study of Hamlet’s pursuit and procrastination regarding revenge. IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Science, vol. 21, no. 9, 2016, pp. 55-59.

Shakespeare, William, and Cyrus Hoy. Hamlet. New York: W.W. Norton, 1996.