The Theme of Hamlet's Revenge in The 'Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'

Revenge is a way to get back at somebody for their wrong-doing against one. Revenge is often times prompted by previous events and occurrences. Prior to hate towards an individual can influence the degree of revenge. The reason for revenge also determines the intensity of revenge. The worse the wrong-doing is, the greater the revenge shall be. However, revenge is something that is not always necessary or right. It has a time and a place, but it is not always the answer. In the play, Hamlet, Hamlet is prompted with the idea of revenge. This idea comes from the Ghost of his father. This idea of revenge will guide Hamlet throughout the rest of the story.

The first time where the Ghost comes to Hamlet, he does not know who the Ghost is. To Hamlet's surprise, it is the Ghost of his father. The first thing that the Ghost suggests is revenge to Hamlet. The Ghost tells Hamlet that he must seek revenge on the murderer of his father. 'I am thy father's spirit, doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, and for the day confin'd to fast in fires, till the foul crimes done in my days of nature are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid to tell the secrets of my prison house, I could a tale unfold whose lightest word would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, thy knotted and combined locks to part, and each particular hair to stand on end like quills upon the fretful porcupine. But this eternal blazon must not be to ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list! If thou didst ever thy dear father love.' (1.5.745) This is a line from the play that clearly demonstrated the Ghost's ideas on revenge. Since it is his father's spirit, the Ghost clearly wants revenge on his own death. The spirit states that he is confined until revenge is brought amongst those who committed foul crimes against him. Hamlet is very shocked with this proposal and unsure of what he must do to get revenge. The Ghost then reveals what it believes is the only way to get revenge. The Ghost says, 'Revenge his foul and most unnatural murther.' (1.5.162) This is a suggestion that Hamlet must murder whoever murdered his father. He must murder them in the most unnatural way possible. This shows that the spirit wants the person who committed these crimes to suffer as much as possible.

It ultimately becomes the mission of Hamlet to seek revenge for the death of his father. The first thing that he must do is figure out who the murderer of his father was. Throughout much of the play, that is what is guiding Hamlet. 'Nay, do not think I flatter; for what advancement may I hope from thee, that no revenue hast but thy good spirits to feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd? No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear? Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice and could of men distinguish, her election hath seal'd thee for herself. For thou hast been as one, in suff'ring all, that suffers nothing; a man that Fortune's buffets and rewards hast ta'en with equal thanks; and blest are those whose blood and judgment are so well commingled that they are not a pipe for Fortune's finger To sound what stop she please. Give me that man that is not passion's slave, and I will wear him In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, As I do thee. Something too much of this I there is a play to-night before the King. One scene of it comes near the circumstance, which I have told thee, of my father's death. I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot, even with the very comment of thy soul observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt do not itself unkennel in one speech, It is a damned ghost that we have seen, and my imaginations are as foul As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note; for I mine eyes will rivet to his face, and after we will both our judgments join in censure of his seeming.' (3.2.1935) This is a quote that reveals Hamlet's plan to put on a play with a scene of his father's death, hopefully finding guilt in somebody's actions in the play. The person that Hamlet suspects of is his uncle. At this moment in the play, he believes his uncle was the murderer of his father. Hamlet continues to find out that it was not his uncle, it was Claudius. His goal then becomes to murder Claudius. His first idea of murdering takes place while Claudius is praying. 'Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; and now I'll do it. and so he goes to heaven, and so am I revenged. That would be scanned. A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven. Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge! He took my father grossly, full of bread, with all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; And how his audit stands, who knows save heaven? But in our circumstance and course of thought, 'Tis heavy with him; and am I then revenged, To take him in the purging of his soul, When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No. Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent. When he is drunk asleep; or in his rage; Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed; at gaming, swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation in't- then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, and that his soul may be as damn'd and black as hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays. This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.' (3.3.2356) This quote from Hamlet shows his process in finding the right time to murder Claudius, he does not believe that while he is praying is the correct time because that is when he is the closest to God. He plans to get him in a time of sin or when he is the farthest from God.

Towards the end of this play, the ultimate goal of revenge is achieved by Hamlet. The only way that Hamlet sees fit to reach this goal is by murdering Claudius. Claudius is eventually killed by Hamlet. Hamlet finally is given the moment to kill Claudius. When Claudius poisons Hamlet's mother, Hamlet proceeds to poison and kill Claudius. 'Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous, damned Dane, drink off this potion! Is thy union here? Follow my mother.' (5.2.5984) This quote shows the moment in which Hamlet's revenge is achieved. Unfortunately, his revenge leads to the death of many people, including himself, as they are all poisoned. 'O, I die, Horatio! The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit. I cannot live to hear the news from England, but I do prophesy the' election lights on Fortinbras. He has my dying voice. So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less, which have solicited- the rest is silence.' (5.2.4014) These are the last spoken words of Hamlet as he dies from the poison.

In conclusion, the theme of Hamlet's revenge is extremely evident within the play of Hamlet. Throughout the entirety of the play, Hamlet is seeking revenge of the death of his father. This revenge ultimately becomes a reality as Hamlet kills Claudius. However, this revenge comes at a cost, with the death of many people. Was the revenge worth the consequences?

Works Cited

1. “Please Wait.” Hamlet (Complete Text) :|: Open Source Shakespeare, opensourceshakespeare.org/views/plays/play_view.php?WorkID=hamlet&Scope=entire &pleasewait=1&msg=pl.