Revenge is a prominent theme in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, and the characters of Prince Hamlet and Laertes exemplify it. Both characters are driven by the desire to avenge the death of their respective fathers, King Hamlet and Polonius. Moral dilemma and madness take control of Hamlet, while Laertes acts more impulsively and seeks immediate retribution. Hamlet and Laertes’ revenge methods may differ, but their struggle to justify their actions and consequences are very similar. Shakespeare implies the theme of revenge through its impact on the play’s central characters and its central themes of justice, morality, and sinful human nature. Despite their different approaches to revenge, both characters ultimately fall victim to the destructive …show more content…
At the beginning of the play, Hamlet grieves over the loss of his father and is disturbed by his mother's sudden remarriage to his uncle, Claudius. Not so long after the remarriage and King Hamlet’s funeral, The ghost of King Hamlet appears to Hamlet. The ghost reveals Claudius’ murder in order to take the throne and to marry the queen. “Insert quote from King Hamlet’s speech at the forest”. King Hamlet’s words give hints to Hamlet in which it sets Hamlet’s desire for revenge in motion, as he feels a duty to restore justice to the kingdom and avenge the death of his father. A combination of grief, anger and a sense of moral obligation causes Hamlet’s revenge. The loss of his father, the betrayal of his uncle and mother, and the responsibility of restoring justice deeply affects …show more content…
One of the key methods that Hamlet uses to evaluate his decision is his use of performance and disguise. In the play, Hamlet stages a play within a play, known as the "Mousetrap Scene," to confirm his suspicions about his uncle's guilt. This allows him to observe Claudius' reactions and confirm his guilt without taking direct action. In this way, Hamlet uses performance as a way to test his theories and gather the evidence before making a final decision about whether to kill Polonius. Hamlet also employs a technique of delaying his revenge. Throughout the play, he procrastination and is slow to act on his desire for revenge. This delay allows him to think through his actions and evaluate the morality of his intentions. For example, when Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius in Act 3, Scene 3, he does not do so because Claudius is praying and Hamlet believes that revenge should not be taken on a soul that is in the process of seeking