The Tragic Power Of Revenge

Submitted To: Mr. Freitas

Submitted By: Eric Napolitano
Date: Friday, February 24th, 2022
Course Code: ENG4UP - 01
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Revenge is the most common form of response when one feels that they have been

wronged, and consequently have endured unjustified amounts of pain or loss. In William

Shakespeare’s Hamlet, revenge seems to be the centered theme that leads to the ultimate

tragedy within the play. Hamlet is driven to madness as he attempts to find the strength to

seek vengeance for his father by killing his uncle Claudius. Laertes blames Hamlet for the

deaths of his sister Ophelia and his father Polonius, and wants nothing besides Hamlet’s

blood on his hands. King Claudius must get rid of Hamlet in order to survive, however his

choices result in his own death and that of his wife. As a result of the revenge sought and

fulfilled by the others, Fortinbras has the ability to reclaim the land that was once his fathers

without any obstacles interfering with him or his army. The desire for revenge that

permeates throughout the entire tragedy, ultimately led to the destruction of Hamlet and

those dear to him, because no good comes from revenge.

A frightful scene came upon Hamlet as his father returned to him in the form of a

ghost. Hamlet was informed by the ghost that his uncle Claudius murdered his father and the

only task that his father’s ghost had for Hamlet, was to get revenge on his uncle by murdering

him. “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder (Shakespeare 1.5. 31) ” .The pressure on

Hamlet to fulfill his father’s order drove him crazy. He struggled to find the inner tenacity that

would give him enough power needed to avenge his father. “Now might I do it pat. Now he is

a-praying. And now I’ll do ’t. And so he goes to heaven.” (Shakespeare 3.3. 77-79) Hamlet

had a clear opportunity to kill Claudius, but he was not able to follow through with his actions

because at that moment, Claudius was praying and asking God for forgiveness. Hamlet felt

that Claudius would go to heaven if he killed him. He also felt an incline of remorse towards
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Claudius, as he was the man who was sleeping with his mother. A confused and unstable

Hamlet felt as if he would be killing a part of himself, if he inflicted more pain on his mother.

It was not until the death of Hamlet’s mother, Gertrude, caused by Claudius, that Hamlet had

enough courage and strength to end the life of the King. Hamlet was finally able to get

revenge for his father, but the revenge came with many deadly ramifications.

Returning home from school abroad and finding out your father has been murdered,

causes a great amount of internal rage that can rarely get controlled. Laertes struggles with his

father’s death. Soonafter, his sister Ophelia killed herself and Laertes also blames Hamlet for

this loss. He could not believe what had happened and his first instinct was to get revenge on

Hamlet for his actions. “And so have I a noble father lost, A sister driven into desperate

terms, Whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood challenger on mount of all the age

For her perfections. But my revenge will come.” (Shakespeare 4.7. 27-31). A tragic trend that

occurs within the play is further evident. Laertes did as much as he possibly could have done

to avenge his father and take out his murderer. Laertes did not thoroughly review his plan and

what could have possibly gone wrong. All of the negative energy and anger that built up

inside of him formed a type of beast that could not be tamed until the job was finished.

Laertes was able to get the revenge that he wanted, but ended up dying from his own

poisonous sword that was supposed to be used only to kill Hamlet. “Why, as a woodcock to

mine own springe, Osric. I am justly killed with mine own treachery.” (Shakespeare 5.2. 336)

Similar to Hamlet, Laertes had to exchange his life in order to achieve his vengeance.
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King Claudius believes that the murder he committed is a secret that nobody knows.

Hamlet then indirectly lets the king know that he is aware of what happened to his father.

Claudius is in shock and he now knows that Hamlet is out to seek vengeance for his father. To

stay alive and remain triumphant, Hamlet must die. King Claudius sends Hamlet to England

with his two friends and orders the friends to murder him because he is not able to kill Hamlet

himself since Hamlet is his wife's son. “Our sovereign process, which imports at full, By

letters congruing to that effect, The present death of Hamlet.”(Shakespeare 4.3. 72-74).

Claudius is in disbelief that Hamlet returned from England, alive. Cladius knows that Laertes

wants revenge on Hamlet, therefore the two of them form an alliance, and instantly create a

careless plan for the murder of Hamlet. The plan ultimately worked, but with a large degree of

failure and tragedy. Not only did the execution of this plan take out Hamlet, but Claudius

ended up killing his wife, and even got himself killed. The fear of knowing Hamlet was on a

mission to get revenge for his father made Claudius react in such a way that contributed to the

destiny of his own death and that of his loving wife.

Much commitment and effort from Fortinbras to reclaim the land that was once his

fathers, proved to be unnecessary. Frotinbras had been craving revenge for his father and was

eager to lead his army to victory over the land. The revenge sought by Hamlet, and the

revenge sought by Laertes helped Fortinbras regain what he longed. Fortinbras’ timing could

not have been more perfect as he walked into a setting of slaughtery, and was able to claim the

throne. “Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. For me, with sorrow I

embrace my fortune. I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, Which now to claim my

vantage doth invite me.”(Shakespeare 5.2. 429-433). Unlike the others, Fortinbras was able to
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get revenge, simply because of the madness and obsession with vengeance that were driving

forces of Hamlet, Laertes and King Claudius. The tragedy of Hamlet portrays that there is no

positive outcome when looking for revenge, and people will inevitably lose those who are

extremely dear to them. Revenge and rage have the power to tragically destroy everything.
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Works Cited

- Shakespeare, William, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Simon & Schuster
Paperbacks, 2012.
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Point Form Outline

Topic: Discuss the overall meaning of Hamlet.

Question: Is Hamlet primarily a tragedy of revenge?

Thesis: The desire for revenge that permeates throughout the entire tragedy, ultimately led to
the destruction of Hamlet and those dear to him, because no good comes from revenge.

Points:

1. Hamlet is driven to madness as he attempts to find the strength to seek vengeance for
his father by killing his uncle Claudius.

2. Laertes blames Hamlet for the deaths of his sister Ophelia and his father Polonius,
and wants nothing besides Hamlet’s blood on his hands.

3. King Claudius must get rid of Hamlet in order to survive, however his choices result
in his own death and that of his wife.

4. As a result of the revenge sought and fulfilled by the others, Fortinbras has the
ability to reclaim the land that was once his fathers without any obstacles interfering
with him or his army.