While reading this play, several themes seem to make their way to the forefront. These themes include madness, family, and mainly, revenge. Revenge takes center stage because it is the reason all of the events take place. Revenge causes the characters in Hamlet to act blindly through anger and emotion, rather than through reason. The characters base their thought process on the principle of “an eye for an eye” even if it is not the best way. Hamlet’s main motivation for wanting to murder Claudius is to get revenge for his father. Although Hamlet does seem to delay actually doing something to get revenge, he accomplishes his mission in the long run. Throughout the duration of the play, events happen that make more people want to get revenge. Now Hamlet is not the only character wanting to exact revenge in the play; others include Laertes and Fortinbras. All three of these characters are looking to avenge the deaths of their fathers. …show more content…
There are three main families in Hamlet: the royal family of Hamlet, the family of Polonius, and the family of King Fortinbras. As mentioned earlier, they are all looking to avenge their father’s deaths. Fortinbras, the former king of Norway, was killed by King Hamlet during the war with Denmark. “Lost by his father, with all bonds of law, to our most valiant brother,” (Shakespeare, 1601). Polonius was an advisor to the king, and the father to Laertes and Ophelia. Hamlet accidentally killed Polonius while he was listening in to a conversation between Hamlet and his mother. “How now! A rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead!” (Shakespeare, 1601). King Hamlet was the former king of Denmark. Because of his position in power, he was murdered by his own brother, Claudius. “...My offence is rank, it smells to heaven; A brother’s murder…” (Shakespeare, 1601). Once this is discovered by Hamlet, he vows to get revenge on