Hamlet has enjoyed the reputation of being Shakespeare’s masterpiece for centuries. Hamlet is a Tragedy, which implies that Hamlet will experience some kind of downfall by the end of the play. Hamlet experiences several character changes throughout this piece due to external and internal factors. He goes through three distinct periods of development: Hamlet in Act I who is indecisive; Hamlet in Act II who makes plans; Hamlet in Act III who takes action. Hamlets’ character development over these acts creates more than just drama, it creates tragedy.
Tragedies are intended to evoke an emotional response from their audiences, which can be anything from terror to pity or awe (Britannica). The presence of revenge in Hamlet evokes terror. Hamlet is not the only character who experiences revenge, however Hamlet’s way of thinking about revenge shows us what kind of reactions Hamlet will cause in his audience. Revenge is very important to the play Hamlet because it provides Hamlets with his motivation, without revenge Hamlet would not be a tragedy. Hamlets obsession with getting revenge proves that revenge can change people and ruin lives.
Hamlets presence of revenge shows us just how terrifying revenge truly is It has been known for centuries that tragedies evoke an emotional response from their audience, one such emotion being terror. The presence of Revenge within Hamlet evokes terror from its readership. In literature, “revenge” means to “take demand [something] as a punishment” (Dictionary. com). Hamlets actions in Hamlet would count as revenge, in that he is trying to “take something” in order to punish his father’s killer (Hamlet. . 5. 122-123).
Hamlet spends much of the play seeking revenge on Claudius for killing his father and marrying Gertrude (1. 2. 129; 3. 3 159; 4. 7 90). Hamlets desire for revenge is overwhelming; it dominates everything Hamlet does until the very end when Hamlet kills himself rather than live with the knowledge that he did not avenge his fathers death (5. 2 529-42). Revenge can change people or ruin lives, Hamlets presence of Revenge shows us just how terrifying Revenge truly is.
Hamlet, who starts out indecisive and Hamlet, who plans revenge shows Hamlets’ character development over the three acts creates more than just drama, it creates tragedy. Tragedies are intended to evoke an emotional response from their audience; Hamlet evokes terror which has been known for centuries that tragedies evoke an emotional response from their audience one such emotion being terror. The presence of Revenge within Hamlets evokes terror from its readership. In literature “revenge” means to “take demand [something] as a punishment”.
Hamlets desire for revenge is overwhelming it dominates everything Hamlet does until the very end when Hamlets kills himself rather than live with the knowledge that he did not avenge his fathers death (5. 2 529-42). Hamlet, Hamlets desire for revenge is overwhelming; it dominates everything Hamlet does until the very end when Hamlet kills himself rather than live with the knowledge that he did not avenge his fathers death (5. 2 529-42). Hamlets presence of Revenge shows us just how terrifying Revenge truly is.
Shakespeare uses the revenge theme to create conflict among many characters. Revenge causes one to act blindly through anger, rather than through reason.. Hamlets’ presence of Revenge shows us just how terrifying Revenge truly is. Hamlet, Hamlet spends much of the play seeking revenge on Claudius for killing his father and marrying Gertrude (1. 2. 129; 3. 3 159; 4. 7 90). Hamlets’ desire for revenge is overwhelming; it dominates everything Hamlet does until the very end when Hamlet kills himself rather than live with the knowledge that he did not avenge his fathers death (5. 2 529-42).
Revenge is a constant theme in Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Hamlet, being the main character of this play, displays his emotions regarding the topic of revenge throughout the play. Whether it be through thought or action, Hamlet’s feelings about it are easy to depict within Hamlet’s soliloquies and other characters’ speeches. Hamlets first soliloquy is an example of reflection upon his own mortality due to his father’s untimely death that has placed him in royalty.
Hamlets concerns are very evident when he states “to die, to sleep / No more; and by a sleep to say we end / The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks . . . ” (Act 1 Scene 2 Line 6-8). Hamlet shows his fear of death which is solely brought upon by the fact that he was never able to say goodbye to his father. Hamlets second soliloquy comes after Hamlet has heard of the ghost that has spoken with the guards outside The Castle (Elsinore). Hamlet questions whether or not what he had witnessed could be true.
He ponders, “What if this cursed hand / Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood, / Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens / To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy . . . ” (Act 1 Scene 5 Line 85-88). Hamlet contemplates on how cruel it would be for someone kill a family member and then seek mercy because their hands are stained with blood. Hamlet realizes that even if the ghost is telling the truth, it would have to be dealt with in a very careful way so as not to upset the already angered spirit.
Hamlets third soliloquy comes moments after Hamlet has witnessed his mother and Claudius pray for forgiveness of young Hamlets death (Act 3 Scene 1 Line 40-43). Hamlet believes that he can’t allow this type of praying allowing them on an action such as praying to god to make him forgive for something like murder, when they cannot apologize or feel remorse for what they have done themselves. Hamlet then questions whether or not revenge is justified throughout the verse “O, my offense is rank . . . it smells to heaven” (Act 3 Scene 1 Line 70-71).
Hamlet believes that by killing Claudius will only make Hamlets offenses “rank” which means they are too strong and can’t be ignored. Hamlet realizes, in this soliloquy, the only course of action is to kill himself before he takes any more lives. Hamlets fourth and most famous soliloquy begins with Hamlet speaking about death and how it is something we all face (Act 3 Scene 1 Line 131-132). Hamlet then delves into great detail on what life would be like if we could never die. Hamlet contemplates on all of his past mistakes such as allowing his mother to marry her late husbands brother.
Hamlet then questions if his uncle is the reason for his fathers death because Hamlets father, “Did that give [Claudius] cause to do it? ” (Act 3 Scene 1 Line 133). Hamlet realizes he will never know the truth and decides there is no way of knowing whether or not Claudius was responsible for murdering Hamlets father. Hamlet contemplates on how he has been a coward in all of drama and says, “I have a speech of fire . . . ” (Act 3 Scene 1 Line 172). Hamlet knows that there is nothing left for him to live for other than revenge upon Claudius.