Orestes and Hamlet: Vengeance
Hamlet and Orestes had duties on avenging their fathers. However whose vengeance was
more rightfully so? By explaining the backstories and comparing Hamlet and Orestes we will
conclude whose vengeance was more acceptable. Excerpts from Earl Showerman, a
Shakespearean expert and excerpts from Aeschylus The Oresteia and Shakespeare's Hamlet will
support who was more justified in avenging their father.
Going over the characters stories is important in deciding on whose vengeance is more
justified. First events in The Oresteia, in Agamemnon, Orestes father, Agamemnon was killed by
his wife Clytemnestra and her new lover Aegisthus. The reason Agamemnon sacrificed his
daughter, Iphigenia, was to help himself and troops
…show more content…
Hamlet promises to avenge his father, but takes a long
time to do so because he want Claudius to be acting guilty so he goes to hell. Claudius and
Gertrude believe that Hamlet is acting strangely and asks his friends to watch him. Soon, a group
of actors who are traveling come to Elsinore, Hamlet uses them to try make Claudius guilty.
When the actors do the play they do make Claudius leave the room, Hamlet follows him to kill
him but he sees him praying and believes that it is not the right time. Hamlet meets with his
mother, who is in the room with Polonius. Polonius hides, Hamlet then kills him believing he
was Claudius. Claudius notices that Hamlet is acting different and wants to send him England
and will have him killed as soon as he get there. Polonius son Laertes hears the news and returns
to Denmark from France, Laertes and Claudius meet and plan to kill Hamlet with poison. Laertes
will challenge Hamlet to a duel and fight with a poisoned blade. While Claudius will give a
poisoned drink every time Hamlets wins a round. The fight happens and Hamlet