Revenge In Hamlet Research Paper

Samuel Johnson is attributed with having said, "Revenge is the act of passion, vengeance is an act of justice." This means that revenge is done because of one's strong emotions and vengeance is because one's feelings of fairness. A reoccurring theme throughout Hamlet is revenge, usually it is because of the death of a father. Many of the important characters Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras all want to avenge the wrongful death of their father. Hamlet and Laertes are similar characters that are each other's foils, but Hamlet is the one is the one who reacted properly when dealing with his father's death.

Hamlet is the main protagonist of Hamlet and is the one that the reader supports throughout the play. This character is the son of the

For a vast majority of Hamlet this character is away at college and seems to not matter much to the plot of the play. However, there are changes when Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius. Simon Blackmore observes:

If in a former brief appearance, Laertes left a good impression, he now destroys it by

actions which disclose his real character. Naturally impetuous, fiery of temperament, and

ruled by passion rather than by reason, he reveals himself, on returning from his libertine

life in Paris, as indifferent to noble ideals of honor and of justice, and willingly agrees to

become the base tool of a crafty criminal. (Blackmore)

This quotation shows that while Laertes seems to be a caring, calm person when he is first introduced; this façade soon falls away when there is trouble. His father's death shows his true character, that he is a passionate person that is quick to anger. Immediately after finding out about his father's death, he returns to Elsinore questions King

In contrast, Laertes reacted rashly to the death of his father by quickly planning the attack on Hamlet and trusting that what Claudius tells him is best for his well-being. Part of the reason that Laertes reacts differently than Hamlet is because Laertes is Hamlet's foil; this means that the goal of Laertes is opposite of Hamlet. Hamlet is a thinker and Laertes is a doer; this leads to Hamlet taking the entire play to attack Claudius and Laertes attacks Hamlet the same day that decides that this is the only plan of action. One instance that shows how Hamlet ponders before making rash decisions is when he overhears Claudius confessing, "My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer / Can serve my turn? "Forgive me my foul murder?'' (3.3.53-34). Claudius confesses aloud to God, not knowing that Hamlet can overhear what he is saying. Still Hamlet does not act even though Claudius says that he killed King Hamlet. Wright acknowledges this by stating, "When he finds Claudius at his prayers, he does not take his revenge by stabbing him but delays for a more fitting time. Had he reacted automatically, as the choleric Laertes would have done, he would have killed Claudius and realized too late that he had slain him in a moment of repentance and given him the rewards of heaven." (13). This shows the key