Hamlet Essay

Religion, Honor and Revenge

Thesis

The first act of revenge is foreshadowed in the first scene when the ghost appears

Appearance of Ghost
Horatio states the ghost might be a warning of an attack
(Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 80- 87)
… Our last king,
Whose image even but now appear’d to us,
Was, as you know, Fortinbras of Norway,
Thereto pricked on by most emulate pride
Did slay Fortinbras, who by a sealed compact…
…Did forfeit, with his life, all those his land
Prince of Norway, Fortinbras is building an army
(Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 94-97)
… Now, sir, young Fortinbras,
Of unimproved mettle hot and full,
Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there
Sharked up a list of lawless resolutes…
Army is to over take the lands King Hamlet won from Fortinbras’ father

During the second scene, the information that Horatio foreshadowed proves to be correct. King Claudius received a message from Fortinbras demanding Denmark to give up their lands. Claudius sends

First act of revenge is foreshadowed in the first scene of the play when the ghost appears.
Horatio thinks that the appearance of the ghost may be a warning sign that something bad is going to happen. (1,1,80-87) The appearance of the ghost is immediately connected to the theme of revenge. Horatio tells about Fortinbras, a young man whose father was defeated by King Hamlet and is obligated to avenge his father’s death and reclaim the conquered properties. This scene supports that this society’s code of conduct is to seek revenge no matter how unreasonable the command may seem. Horatio explains to Bernardo that because Young Fortinbras is set on avenging his father’s defeat to King Hamlet, he is preparing Denmark for war. (1,1,94-97)

During the second scene, the information that Horatio foreshadowed proves to be correct. King Claudius received a message from Fortinbras demanding Denmark to give up their lands. Claudius sends Cornelius and Voltenmand with a message to Forninbras’ older uncle, the King of Norway to inform him about young Fortinbras’ plans. (1,2, 28- 32) This scene provides evidence that Fortinbras is a son looking to avenge his father’s death.

But in Act 2, Polonius returns with Ambassadors Voltenmand and Cornelius with news from Norway. They explain that Fortinbras’ uncle has managed to restrain his nephew, young Fortinbras, from invading Denmark. In return, they ask that Denmark provide some assistance in Fortinbras’ campaign against Poland. They ask that Claudius allow them to pass through Denmark on their way to Poland. (2,2, 61-70) These lines show that Fortinbras has agree to give up his effort to revenge of his father and will seek honor in another way. This is the only time in the play where we see a character that is seeking revenge discontinue his actions.

The second act of revenge develops throughout the play as the relationship between Polonius and his son Laertes grows. Laertes and Polonius is another father and son relationship that is established in the play of Hamlet. The first time the audience sees the relationship of Polonius and his son Laertes is when Laertes asks King Claudius permission to return to France. But Claudius ensures that Laertes has his father’s permission before he agrees for Laertes to return to school in France. (1, 2, 57) Polonius’s response to Claudius also shows that he has a strong relationship with his son. (1,2,59-61)

The third and last act of revenge in first developed when Horatio tells Hamlet about the ghost. (1, 2, 196-198) Despite Horatio’s uncertainty whether the Ghost come from heaven or hell, Hamlet immediately identifies the ghost as his father. (1, 4, 40) ((1, 4, 45- 50) The ghost beckons Hamlet to follow, and despite, Horatio’s warnings, Hamlet follows. When Hamlet and the Ghost are alone, the Ghost claims to be the spirit of Old Hamlet, murdered by Claudius. The ghost commands Hamlet to seek revenge against Claudius for murder and corrupting Gertrude. But the ghost states very clearly for Hamlet not to harm his mother. Hamlet promises to seek revenge. But Hamlet despairs the burden the Ghost has given him: (1.5.189-190) Even though Hamlet promised to seek revenge he is already cursing his own fate.

The code of conduct comes into play once again in this scene. Hamlet’s mother’s lover is also her husband’s murderer. This intensifies Gertrude’s crime of incest. Hamlet is robbed of any choice. He may not want to turn to violence, and he may want to live by strict Christian principals whom the society has in place but he must avenge his father’s honor. The only way Hamlet can honor his father is by killing Claudius. Forced by his father’s orders and societies tradition, Hamlet becomes a prisoner of his responsibility for revenge. The major conflict is obvious and Hamlet is sympathized because he is driven by revenge but his Christian morality makes him to be charitable.

In Act 2, Hamlets creates a plan to justify that Claudius is guilty of killing his father. Even through Hamlet proclaimed that he would be “swift” sweep to my revenge”. In his second soliloquy, Hamlet admits that he has been unpregnant of my cause (2,2. 564) and asks himself if he has been acting like a “coward” (2,2,158) Hamlet explains himself the main cause of his dilemma. He compares himself to an actor playing out the drama of his own life, but cannot find the motivation to move past his unhappy state. (2,2, 554-567) Hamlet also states that he is an actor prompted by heaven and hell to seek revenge for his murdered father but is hesitates because he fears the consequences. (2,2,580-582) He fears the Claudius might not be guilty and that the ghost may be lying.

Hamlet finally acts on revenge by having the players show a scene similar to Claudius’s murder of his father. Hamlet hopes that Claudius will react emotionally or physically to the play, which Hamlet has devised to prove that he is guilty. (2,2,603)

In a soliloquy, Hamlet agonizes over whether to kill himself. (3.1.156-61) Hamlet’s dilemma underlies this entire soliloquy. If he kills Claudius, he is confident that he will be killed himself. Hamlet is unsure of death because life is all he knows and fears he unknown. He understands it is his duty to avenge his father’s murder, but knows that killing Claudius could sentence him to his father’s fate forever. But this idea totally disappears when Claudius reacts to the play. Hamlet now knows he has no reason to delay revenge now, but forces himself not to hurt his mother. (3.3. 381-383)

In Act 3, Hamlet is ready to act on revenge. He enters as the king is keeling, Hamlet reaches for his sword but cannot act once again. His Christian morality informs him that because the King appears to be praying he is probably confessing. Hamlet knows that by killing King Claudius in the middle of confession, his soul would go to heaven. Hamlet wants his soul to go to hell. Once again, Hamlet’s religious codes impede his actions to take revenge. (3.3.74-79) But Hamlet proves that it wasn’t the fear of killing that caused him to delay because he immediately stabs Polonius who was hiding behind a tapestry. (3.4.43-45) This scene proves that quests for vengeance often result in more than the intended death.

In act 4 Hamlet finally realizes that his duty to revenge is important and the end will justify the means. Until this scene, the consequences of the murder he must commit consumed his mind. The code of conduct impeded his actions and he thought “too precisely on the event” (4,4,40). Even though, Hamlet states: (4.4.31-32) Hamlet considered the willingness of the Norwegian soldiers to give up their lives for a worthless piece of land, Hamlet understands that he has stalled for too long. (4,4 56-61)

The final scene also completes the revenge triangle. All the sons of the murdered fathers (King Hamlet, King Fortinbras, and Polonius) have seen vengeance served. The sons have appeased the medieval code of honor while satisfying the Christian expectation of forgiveness. Most importantly, Hamlet is finally a warrior. Like Achilles' son Phyrrus, to whom the First Player referred in Act II, Hamlet has stopped standing "like a neutral to his will and matter." After his stunned pause, Phyrrus took a "rousèd revenge" and killed King Priam. So Hamlet has overcome his paralysis and has killed King Claudius. And, like Phyrrus, he will be buried with the hero's glory that he has finally earned.