Mentality Of Revenge In Hamlet

It is common to seek ways to vent hostility and anger after being hurt physically or emotionally. However, those who commit acts of revenge end up hurting themselves more profoundly than before. In William Shakespeare's timeless tragedy, Hamlet, many characters adopt a vengeful mentality. Pursuing paths that have the potential to strike back at those who hurt them, characters like young Hamlet find out the hard way that this step proves to be unsuccessful. What truly lies at the end of the road to revenge further deepens the wounds of the past. In truth, these wounds never fully heal. Rather than using vengeance to create more injuries, it is more mature and logical to let emotional wounds heal. Revenge is often more harmful and damaging than

As soon as Hamlet discovers his father's murder, he exclaims “Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love may sweep to my revenge” (Shakespeare 26). Hamlet admits that, although his heart is generally tranquil and loving, it is now overtaken by the need for revenge. He believes that returning the favor to the murderer will give his father justice. However, near the end of the play, when Hamlet is stabbed during his attempt to get revenge, he says “Oh, I die, Horatio. The potent poison quite o’er crows my spirit” (Shakespeare 133). After it is too late, Hamlet realizes that he made a mistake by allowing his vengeance to take control of his actions. The poison of revenge overpowered any potential justice for his father's death. These outcomes will never have as many positive effects as negative, especially when it comes down to fighting for the sake of loved

When another character in Hamlet, named Laertes, discovers that his father has been killed, he storms into the room shouting “Where is my father? … How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with. To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand, that both the worlds, I give to negligence, let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged most throughly for my father” (Shakespeare 99). Without knowing who killed his father, Laertes bursts into a rage that threatens the murderer to hell. His immediate need for revenge guarantees that his emotional wounds will not heal. Laertes shows regret for his retaliations and admits “the treacherous instrument is in thy hand, unabated and unvenomed. The foul practice hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie, never to rise again. Thy mother poisoned. I can no more. The King, the King’s to blame” (Shakespeare 131). As he is dying, Laertes finally realizes that he should not have taken revenge on Hamlet. He becomes fully aware that the result causes more damage to himself than it does to his target. After it is too late, the realization arrives that it is not possible to get even with someone without hurting the wounds of the