William Shakespeare wrote in The Merchant of Venice, “If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?” What makes Shakespeare so timeless is his use of everlasting themes. Throughout the play, Hamlet, Shakespeare illuminates situations and emotions that as humans it is inevitable that we face. In Hamlet, Shakespeare uses figurative language and motifs to develop the central theme of revenge throughout the play. In the beginning of the play, Shakespeare sets up the theme of revenge. When Prince Hamlet is outside and meets the Ghost that resembles his dead father, King Hamlet, he does not tremble away but talks to this ghost; he not only talks to the Ghost but believes in every word he says. The conversation in Act 1, scene 5 hilights the central theme of the play when the Ghost commands Hamlet, “If thou didst ever thy dear father love...Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” (1.5.23-25). By saying this to Hamlet, this kickstarts the plot and theme of Hamlet, of the Prince trying to seek revenge on Claudius for the unjust murder of his father. With the exodus of the Ghost, he parts by saying, “ If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest....Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught: Leave her to heaven...” (1.5.81-88). Furthermore pushing the theme of revenge, was the motif of incestuous relationship of Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother and King Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle. The Ghost wanted Hamlet to seek revenge on Claudius by killing him and let his mother be and just sit with the pain of knowing what she did and ‘the heavens’ will take care of Gertrude’s wrongdoings. Although this was not a literal incestuous relationship, Prince Hamlet was disgusted with how his mother could do such a thing with her once brother-in-law. This motif of incestuous relationships pushes Hamlet on his endeavors of revenge of Claudius. Throughout the play, Prince Hamlet is finding ways to catch up Claudius into confessing the murder of his father so he can kill him. In Act 3, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to reveal the fact that Claudius killed King Hamlet. During the play that Hamlet is putting on, Claudius is engulfed in so much guilt that he goes and prays confessing the murder of his
