In the play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, there are many different motifs that are used to express the author’s message or ideas. The motif of revenge is used all throughout the play. Revenge plays a major part in the play because it seems like everyone is trying to get it in some form.
In the very beginning of the play, Hamlet’s thirst for revenge is created by the ghost of his recently deceased father. The king’s ghost tells Hamlet who murdered him and asks him to avenge his death. When Hamlet finds out his father had been killed and who his killer is, he gets angry. Hamlet promises to avenge his father’s death. First, though, Hamlet wants to make sure he’s stealthy and careful. He doesn’t want to be too rash and get himself caught, or worse, killed. Hamlet feels it’s his duty to his father to avenge him, so he can’t mess up and get caught. Hamlet’s duty to avenge his father is tied to his honor as a ‘good son’. When speaking to his father’s ghost, Hamlet declares, ‘Speak, I am bound to hear’, to which the ghost says, ‘So art
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Laertes also vows revenge when he learns of his father’s death. Unlike Hamlet. Laertes acts swiftly on his revenge. He returns to Elsinore to threaten Claudius with overthrowing him if Claudius doesn’t tell him who killed Polonius. Claudius, of course, tells him that Hamlet is responsible. Claudius already wants Hamlet dead because he knows Hamlet knows he killed his father. He also knows Hamlet arranged the play in which the character of Claudius kills the character of the king. So, for that, he wants revenge on Hamlet. So, he gives Laertes the details on his plan to kill Hamlet. Laertes, angered by learning of Hamlet’s involvement in Polonius’ death, agrees to be a part of Claudius’ plan. The two come up with the plan to challenge Hamlet to a fencing match in which Laertes’ rapier would have poison on it. In case this doesn’t work, Claudius fills a cup with poison for