The story of Hamlet rings with the theme of revenge, and is seen throughout the play “Hamlet” written by William Shakespeare. Hamlet is thrown into turmoil with the grief of his father’s death and then the untimely marriage of his mother queen Gertrude to his Uncle Claudius. It becomes revealed to Hamlet by his father’s ghost that Claudius had murdered him to gain his mother’s bed and the throne. Hamlets actions and behaviors affected those around him astounding and severe consequences.
As the play ends Hamlet asks his friend and companion Horatio to tell his story to Fortinbras; which Horatio speaks to Fortinbras and tells Hamlets tale of complete revenge and the events that occurred leading up to the bloodshed. Horatio’s account to Fortinbras is as follows: Hamlets father’s death hit him hard, His heart, soul and mind were marred. His mother’s grief did not last long, Her heart was soon rejoicing in a marriage song. “O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason Would have mourned longer – married with my uncle, My father’s brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules.
Within a month, Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not, nor it cannot come to good. But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue. ” (1. 2. 150-159) Hamlet told me such things which I shall repeat in time. For now, his words will become mine. The new King Claudius sits upon the throne’ A kingdom and Queen Gertrude did he now own. Hamlet mocked his mother in lament, his heart broken and his mined rent. This cast a shadow into his mind, that all women were of the same kind.
Let me not think on’t. Frailty they name is woman” (1. 2. 146) spoken by Hamlet. Ophelia’s love he had bequest, now thrown away like the rest. His love was gone, lost in his torment and sorrows, For Hamlet and Ophelia had no future tomorrows. Hamlet told Ophelia: “Go to, I’ll no more on’t. It hath made me mad. I say we will have no more marriage. Those that are married already, all but one, shall live. The rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go. ” (3. 1. 139-141) Hamlet sets a trap for Claudius in a play, to see what his face would say.
Brother kills brother in this as it came to be, King Claudius face distorted did flee To pray for forgiveness and circumstance, now at last Hamlets revenge had a chance. Hamlet could not send Claudius heaven bound. He would wait until another sin was found. “A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. He took my father grossly, full of bread, With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; And how his audit stands who knows save heaven.
But in our circumstance and course of thought ’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged To take him in the purging of his soul, When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? No. Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent. When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in th’ incestuous pleasure of his bed, At game, a-swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation in ’t— Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, And that his soul may be as damned and black As hell, whereto it goes. ”(3. 4. 76-95) Hamlet’s mother so amazed, the play was lifelike in many ways.
To her chamber confused, she went, to clear her confusion for Hamlet she sent. In Gertrude’s chamber Polonius hid, when Hamlet came to his mother’s bid. Hamlet heard a sound from where Polonius chose to hide, Hamlet drew his sword and thrust it through to the other side. Hamlet thinking it was Claudius and had his revenge, that this madness could come to an end. Yet it was not to be true, was poor old Polonius dead on the floor near Hamlets shoe. Gertrude asked Hamlet what the play meant, and who the players were to represent.
Hamlet in his reply -twas his father who had died, by the hand of her husband, Hamlets Uncle who had lied. The shock of this upon her face, Hamlet knew he treated her with disgrace. Hamlet hid Polonius’s body without lament, and off to England Hamlet was sent. “Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety -Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve For that which thou hast done- must send thee hence With fiery quickness. Therefore, prepare thyself. The bark is ready, and the wind at help, Th’ associates tend, and everything is bent For England. ” (4. 3. 5-41) Claudius spoke this to Hamlet. Claudius plots Hamlets demise, to which he believes Hamlet is not wise. Hamlet in turn tricks his companions, it they and not him who die in England. Back to Denmark Hamlet doth go, Only to hear the laments and sounds of woe. Ophelia’s death and funeral reveal, that Hamlet’s heart she did steal. Anger and grief, he could not hide, His love for Ophelia he had inside.
At her graveside, he spoke these words: “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers Could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum. ” (5. 2. 21-223) Polonius who Hamlet had slain, was father to Ophelia who mind was maimed Laertes was Ophelia’s brother, who hated Hamlet like no other. His anger grew like a fire, with Claudius encouraging the flames to grow higher. With a murderous plot Claudius does contrive, with Laertes the course for Hamlet’s demise. A duel of swords between Hamlet and Laertes is set, With large wagers places to set the bet. With a poison cup which Claudius sets up, with Laertes poison sworn to assure Hamlets soul will give up. Gertrude sits by Claudius’s side, over the duel they will preside.
Laertes and Hamlet soon find that they are swordsman matched in time. The queen drinks from the poison cup, alas her soul did give up. Laertes cut Hamlet and he bled, into his blood the poison spread. Laertes and Hamlet tussle, their swords get exchanged in the hustle. Hamlet cut Laertes with the envenomed blade, Laertes tells Hamlet was Claudius who’s treacherous plans been made. Laertes declaration to Hamlet: “It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain; No med’cine in the world can do thee good. In thee there is not half an hour’s life. The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenomed.
The foul practice Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie, Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned. I can no more. The King, the King’s to blame. ” (5. 2. 281-288) Hamlet hastily with the poison sword drove straight through, the heart of Claudius whom Hamlet did slew. To ensure Claudius’ death did take place, the poison cup poured into Claudius’s mouth spilling onto his face. With promise to Hamlet did I say, that to you this story to tell and I obey. For the cries of treason this story I must tell, to you Fortinbras these cries to quell.
Horatio was a man of few words, but a man of honor. In this account of Horatio’s story, Horatio does not state anything of the former Kings ghostly visit as he had sworn never to reveal it to anyone. He was not present in Polonius’s house so he would not know of what was said to Ophelia by Polonius and Laertes. Horatio kept his promise to Hamlet in telling Fortinbras the events and circumstances that brought upon his actions. Hamlet’s acts of revenge demonstrate his cavalier attitude towards bloodshed and death. Hamlet acted as judge, jury and executioner towards most he encountered.
His anger still present against his mother by telling Claudius to join his mother, as Hamlet stabs him with the sword. When Hamlet questioned his own mortality and death, along with his mother’s sins, He didn’t appear to be concerned about being caught enacting his revenge or death. The play concludes with the royal family’s death, insuring that the crimes of the family would not continue. Hamlet enacts his vengeance in a complete fashion by having Horatio tell Fortinbras his story. Hamlets ultimate revenge will continue if his story is told.