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Revenge In Hamlet Research Paper

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In the play hamlet by William Shakespeare, the theme of revenge is put into perspective when the ghost appears before hamlet and reveals the truth behind his death. The burning desire for revenge is instantly fixated into hamlets mind and the emotion that hamlet displays after his otherworldly encounter convinces the audience that his conviction for revenge is indeed real. As the play progresses we see hamlet get put into these situations where his revenge could be fulfilled, but he somehow manages to cower away or finds an excuse to not go through with it. thus the question is put forth, why does hamlet delay his revenge ? One of which being hamlets idea of the afterlife and how he does not want Claudius to go to heaven, his self-image and …show more content…

Hamlet has numerous chances to exact his revenge on Claudius but he ends up with a mental conflict and over thinking the opportunity in order to accomplish the act. he had a clear opportunity in act three when he sneaks into the chapel where Claudius was attempting to pray . he keeps telling himself to stop and find a better chance to kill Claudius by over thinking the situation and outcome. His ideology on the after life is a major contributing factor to why he does not kill Claudius. The irony of this scene is that hamlet thinks that Claudius is praying when in actuality he is not. Since Christian religion is reflected in the play, hamlet does not kill Claudius because he thinks Claudius will go to heaven as he is confessing his sins. (3.3,80-83). This quote displays the point on hamlets strong belief and obedience to Christianity. As he is about to kill Claudius he stops and wonders what will happen as a result. He will satisfy …show more content…

(3.3.89-100). This quote displays hamlets character and how he is a man of words instead of the man of action. It is easy for the audience to doubt his words at this point because he has failed to live up to his previous words from previous scenes. This quote furthers our understanding on hamlets point of view on religion and how he believes that Claudius will go to hell when he dies while doing a something sinful like drinking or swearing during a card game. He declares yet again that he will kill Claudius, but this time while he is indulged in sinful

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From a young age, Claudius dreamed of being king and he was looking hopeful until Hamlet stole the throne from beneath him. This betrayal manifested inside Claudius and he was determined to reap his revenge, even if he never envisaged going to Hell, it was in the grasps of possibility. He felt like this was the only way to prove himself superior. Killing the King in his slumber, even if it meant everlasting

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Hamlet was given the prime opportunity to kill Claudius when he found him on his knees begging for forgiveness. Hamlet negated not to kill him right then and there because he wanted Claudius to go to hell, not heaven. Hamlet’s lack of sanity, or his tragic flaw, in the play is definitely what caused his inability to

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However, in Act 3, Scene 3, when Hamlet says, “No. Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent. ”(3.3.88-89) This shows how Hamlet’s inaction led to him not killing Claudius when he had a perfect time to do so. Hamlet was truly looking for any reason to not kill Claudius in this scene because his conscience wouldn't let him kill. His burning for revenge, but his inability to follow through drove him to

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In choosing to avenge the crimes committed against them, everyone died. Revenge is unjustifiable because it hurts the revenger seeker, causes dire political disturbance, and creates negative karma. Hamlet is driven mad by the mental anguish of justifying revenge. He knows “ 'tis almost 'gainst [his] conscience” (Hamlet 5.2.304) to commit revenge in the form of murder. For Hamlet, plotting revenge furthered his mental torment, while making peace with the situation could have saved

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And so am I revenged. That would be scanned, a villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven” (line 74-79). Hamlet believes that Claudius is praying and doesn’t want to kill him, because he doesn’t want him to go to heaven. This inability is the tragic mistake that hamlets creates, to his soon to be

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In the entire play of Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, Hamlet is contemplating about his role of taking revenge on Claudius, his uncle, for his father’s death. Hamlet, the main protagonist, was told by the ghost of his father to kill Claudius. However, throughout the play, Hamlet finds reason to delay the killing. There has been bad timing such as Claudius trying to get him sent off to England and accidentally killing Polonius. Even though Hamlet knows that he should get revenge for his father, Hamlet delays killing Claudius because his inability to trust the ghost and his conscience.

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As Claudius repents, Hamlet feels as though it's the best time to kill him until he says: And so ’a goes to Heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be scanned. A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his son, do this same villain send To heaven (3.3.73-78) Essentially, Hamlet wanted to murder Claudius because he was the Old King’s murderer.

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⇒ Hamlet is satisfied with the outcome with the play ⇒ He is finally ready to put his revenge into action ⇒ When Claudius prays, the audience is given certainty that he did kill the late King Hamlet ⇒ Hamlet waits again because he doesn’t want to kill Claudius while he is confessing his sins; Hamlet believes he will go to heaven ⇒ Hamlet wants a more radical revenge, he wants to make sure that the punishment will be sufficient - not just to kill him, but to make sure he goes to hell ⇒ Hamlet is trying to find certainty in something that is uncertain (death and the afterlife) ⇒ Hamlet cannot control Claudius fate because he will never no for certain if Claudius’ spirit has gone to heaven or hell ⇒ But Hamlet wants to ensure fairness and that’s

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O cursed spite, That I ever was born to set it right.”- Hamlet (1/5 pg. 96). Here he questioned if he truly wanted to kill Claudius and how he ended up with the responsibility in the first place. Once again Hamlet was unsure if he is even capable of killing

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Throughout Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, it is evident that Hamlet is indecisive and contemplative, he is stuck in an internal conflict between what choices he should make and how he should go about avenging his father’s death. Hamlet acts mad in order to make people believe he has gone crazy so no one is suspicious of his plans to kill Claudius. He does not want to kill Claudius while he is praying because he believes Claudius may go to heaven-- he wants Claudius to pay for the murder of King Hamlet and burn in hell. Hamlet suggests that he kill Claudius “when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,...about some act That has no relish of salvation in ’t—Then trip him,...his soul may be as damned and black As hell, whereto it goes”(83). Hamlet often overthinks situations and in this process fails to act and releases the

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Revenge is a major part of life, even with minor things people like to get major revenge, and the same can be said for major things also. While revenge is a huge thing it can lead to bad results. Revenge is a major theme in William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, revenge is seen through Hamlet’s revenge for his father, Laertes’ revenge for his father, and Fortinbras’ revenge on Denmark for Norway. Hamlet’s revenge is the main part of the play, after his uncle killed his father and married Hamlet’s mom Hamlet wanted to get revenge. However due to Hamlet not being able to do it fast, his revenge tends to drag on leading to many other people getting affected by it, namely Polonius.

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By the end of the play, Shakespeare shows how all of the characters attempt to get their revenge and how revenge does not always work out for the best. Hamlet is the main character of the play and it seems as if everything he does is based off his wanting to revenge Claudius for killing

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Hamlet feels if he can convince others that he has gone mad then people will be less suspicious about Hamlet’s plans with Claudius. Hamlet lets time pass and decides to spy on Claudius. During Act three, Hamlet witnesses Claudius praying for forgiveness for murdering his brother. It states, “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; and now I will do’t. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I revenged.

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