Essay on Revenge in Hamlet

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Amongst the most tragic story lines of Shakespeare’s plays, Hamlet is definitely one of them. In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Fortinbras, Hamlet and Laertes each demonstrate the ways revenge leads to tragedy when they are unable to cope with the loss of a loved one. Young Fortinbras has intentions of honoring his father’s loss by gaining the territory that was rightfully theirs. The lengths he is willing to go compare to Hamlet’s determination to seek revenge upon his uncle, and father’s murderer, Claudius. Hamlet’s hopes of wanting to destroy Claudius the way he had done to King Hamlet are delayed several times throughout the play, making it nearly impossible to follow through with his plan. One of Hamlet’s setbacks is being shipped …show more content…
Hamlet wants to assure that Claudius not only dies, but suffers in Hell. At the end of the play, Hamlet succeeds his goal in murdering Claudius, and stabs him with a poisoned sword.

Throughout Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet and Laertes develop into contrasting characters. Laertes discovers that Hamlet is responsible for the death of his father Polonius and as well the early death of his sister Ophelia. Claudius uses his manipulative skills to convince Laertes that Hamlet should be killed and pay for what he has done to Polonius. Claudius’ clever act influences Laertes to seek immediate revenge on Hamlet for the murder of his father and for the relationship he had with his sister, Ophelia. “How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with/To hell allegiance, vows to the blackest devil/ Conscience and grace to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation/To this point I stand/That both the words I give to negligence/Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged/Most thoroughly for my father”(IV.V.127-133). Hamlet comes clean to Laertes about murdering Polonius, and tries to explain that he was not himself; however there was no stopping Laertes while he was drowning in such anger and rage. After plotting to kill Hamlet, Laertes poisons the tip of the sword in which he plans to use to murder Hamlet. However, during the duel the swords somehow mix up, and Hamlet strikes Laertes with the poisoned sword. Laertes was responsible for his own tragic death all
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