The Power Of Revenge In Hamlet

Hassan Fofana
Mrs. Bartlett
English IV
June 3, 2018

The Power of Revenge

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, revenge is used as a major igniter in conflict between the people in the play. Revenge singlehandedly developed the character of Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet. Those three individuals were all seeking vengeance for the murder of their father. The problem with revenge is that people who are filled with vengeance will go to any means to fulfill their need, like Hamlet and Laertes. As the play continues on, each of these three go down a course that could end with them fulfilling their thirst for revenge, or choosing a different path based on the guidance around them. Although all three of these characters felt strong feelings of revenge towards
someone at some point, the outside guidance for these characters is the difference between Hamlet dying, and Fortinbras living.

Prince Fortinbras, the son of King Fortinbras of Norway, is the first character to seek out revenge.
Before the start of the play, it is told that King Hamlet, the former King of Denmark was responsible for the death of King Fortinbras. Prince Fortinbras does not care for this, and instead decides to hold the entire country of Denmark responsible for his death. Horatio, a friend of Hamlet said, “As it doth well appear unto our state, but to recover of us by strong hand and terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands so by his father lost??” (101-104). Horatio is hinting at the fact that Fortinbras will attempt to forcefully seize Denmark from Hamlet’s family. If it were not for King Claudius sending two courtiers to Norway, Fortinbras would have definitely assaulted Denmark a lot sooner then later. After the courtiers visited, Fortinbras uncle would not allow Fortinbras to deploy an army for Denmark and asked Fortinbras to settle for a smaller group of people to attack instead of Hamlet (74-75). After attacking the smaller people, Fortinbras vows to never fight out of anger, and to stay honorable in battle (70-71). This intervention is what could have saved Fortinbras from a fate that is like that of Hamlet, or
Laertes.

Hamlet is hesitant to act on his revenge because of his persistent doubt of whether Claudius killed his father or not. Hamlet is the hardest of the three characters being analyzed to become influenced to act vengeful, as it took the ghost of his own father to convince him to go down the dark path of revenge. The ghost of King Hamlet tells Hamlet that Claudius was responsible for his father’s death. The ghost askes that he gets revenge for his “foul and most unnatural murder” (25). Murder was an acceptable form of revenge in the time of when Hamlet was written, but Hamlet was not certain if he wanted to kill Claudius. However, upon the request of the ghost, Hamlet promises to avenge his father. It is good to point out here that Hamlet does this not because of his personal desire, but because of he feels like it is his duty to uphold the honor of his father. Hamlet swears to prove his love for his father by killing Claudius.

Unlike Fortinbras and Laertes, Hamlet does not follow the instructions of his advisors without questioning. As time passes through the play, Hamlet still seems hesitant to carry out on the revenge he had promised his father. Out of anger for his slow action for his father he says” why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, that I, the son of a dear father murdered, prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, must like a whore, unpack my heart with words and fall a-cursing like a very drab?” (594-598). This statement makes the reader believe that Hamlet believes the ghost but does not want to act fast. Hamlet questions the accuracy of his revenge by scheming a plan in which he will be able to get evidence of Claudius’s guilt. Hamlet uses his popularity to instruct a group of actors to perform a play that was similar to the way that King Hamlet supposedly had been killed. After Hamlet decides that Claudius will die, he still continues to ponder the nature of revenge itself, and how it will affect everyone in the end. In Hamlet’s” to be, or not to be” soliloquy, he says, ”Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” (83). Hamlet is saying that his conscience is in peril, and he does not know what to do about it. Hamlet fears the consequences of murdering Claudius, but he feels obliged to act out because the burden the ghost put on his conscience. The ghost singlehandedly was able to turn Hamlet into a hateful and angry person, instead of the intellectual and wise person he once was. In a messed-up attempt to kill Claudius, Hamlet kills Polonius by accident. This mistake would show to become the thing that starts the spiral into a tragedy.

Laertes is the easiest influenced of the three characters being analyzed. He confronts Claudius after hearing that his father Polonius was killed. Claudius informs Laertes that Hamlet was the one that killed his father, and from that point on Laertes promises to kill Hamlet. Claudius tells Laertes to wait until Hamlet returns home to kill him so that Laertes can invite him to a friendly duel. The kings plan would be to give Laertes a poison tipped sword and Hamlet would also be served poisoned wine to ensure his death. When Laertes confronts Hamlet, he is so angered that he would not even consider Hamlet’s apology. Laertes then proceeds to fight Hamlet with the poison tipped sword. During the encounter, both men are wounded and Laertes dies. Laertes thirst for revenge show to be the end of him. His desperation for revenge shows that he would have chosen the revenge route regardless of who told him to kill Hamlet. In Hamlet’s last seconds, he forced Claudius to drink the poisoned wine, which kills Claudius, meaning he was able to avenge his father’s death. As Hamlet is dying, he gives his father’s land to Fortinbras and also allows him to inherit the crown. Due to the guidance of his uncle, young Fortinbras was able to gain his father’s land back without violence, or harm to himself.
The series of events leading to the demise of Hamlet and Laertes and the success of Fortinbras was started by a request made by someone close to them. Claudius had the motive was to keep Denmark from being attacked, and by telling Fortinbras, Fortinbras uncle was able to deescalate the situation and keep Denmark out of harm. The ghost of Hamlet’s father caused Hamlet’s death by telling him to go after Claudius. Before the seeing of his father’s ghost, he had no intention of going after Claudius. In an attempt to follow his father’s wishes Hamlet kills Polonius, which ultimately would cause his demise. Laertes listened to Claudius’s ill-advised help and that brings death upon himself and Claudius. Laertes did not think of a world where he would have gotten stabbed by his own sword. In conclusion, all three of these characters felt strong feelings of revenge towards someone at some point, the outside guidance for these characters is the difference between Hamlet dying, and Fortinbras living.