The Theme of Revenge in Hamlet

Suggested Answer:

The three characters serve as crucial foils to one another, representing intellectual, passionate, and political approaches to vengeance.

Hamlet is the intellectual avenger. He is philosophical, contemplative, and deeply concerned with the moral and spiritual consequences of his actions. His revenge is characterised by hesitation as he seeks to verify the Ghost’s claims and ensure not just the death of Claudius, but his damnation. This reflects his identity as a scholar of Wittenberg – he prioritises thought over immediate action.

Laertes is the passionate avenger. Driven by the sudden murder of his father, Polonius, he acts impulsively and rashly. He declares he would "dare damnation" (Act 4, Scene 5) and even "cut [Hamlet's] throat i' the church" (Act 4, Scene 7), showing a complete disregard for the religious morality that tortures Hamlet. His fiery nature reflects a rigid, traditional view of honour, but it also makes him susceptible to manipulation by Claudius, leading him to adopt dishonourable tactics.

Fortinbras is the political avenger. He seeks to avenge his father’s defeat by regaining lost territories. His approach is methodical, military, and focused on national honour rather than personal bloodlust. He is decisive and effective, raising an army to achieve his goals. This reflects his character as a pragmatic leader and soldier, ultimately restoring order to Denmark where the others failed.

Suggested Answer:

Hamlet's delay is deliberately ambiguous and can be interpreted as both moral strength and intellectual weakness.

Intellectual Weakness: Critics often argue that Hamlet suffers from paralysis by analysis. He overthinks the situation to such an extent that he becomes incapable of decisive action. He berates himself for his inaction, comparing himself unfavourably to the decisive Fortinbras, and lamenting that he is "thinking too precisely on the event" (Act 4, Scene 4). His intellect becomes a barrier to fulfilling his duty, leading to significant collateral damage.

Moral Strength: Conversely, Hamlet's delay can be viewed as a sign of profound moral sensibility. In an era where immediate blood vengeance was common, Hamlet grapples with the ethical and religious implications of murder. He questions the authenticity of the Ghost – fearing it may be a devil sent to damn him. His refusal to kill Claudius while praying (Act 3, Scene 3), though brutal in intent, shows a mind concerned with the afterlife and divine justice, rather than just earthly revenge. His hesitation stems from a desire for true justice, not just rash violence.

Suggested Answer:

The Ghost’s command to "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (Act 1, Scene 5) stands in direct conflict with the Christian doctrines that permeate the play.

Christian teaching explicitly reserves the right of vengeance for God, forbidding murder. By taking revenge, Hamlet risks damning his own soul – a fate he fears profoundly.

Furthermore, the nature of the Ghost itself is problematic. While the Ghost claims to be in Purgatory (a Catholic concept), the Protestant context of Elizabethan England (and Wittenberg, where Hamlet studies) often viewed such spirits as demons impersonating the dead to lure the living into sin. Hamlet voices this fear directly: "The spirit that I have seen / May be the devil" (Act 2, Scene 2).

Hamlet is therefore trapped between two conflicting moral imperatives: the traditional duty of a son to avenge his father (an honour-based code) and the Christian imperative to leave justice to divine authority.

Suggested Answer:

The play strongly suggests that true justice cannot be achieved through vengeance. Instead, the pursuit of revenge is portrayed as a destructive cycle that corrupts the individual and destabilises the state.

While revenge is achieved – Claudius is killed – the cost is catastrophic. The climax in (Act 5, Scene 2) is not a moment of triumphant justice, but a chaotic bloodbath. Nearly the entire royal court, including innocent (or near-innocent) parties like Ophelia, Gertrude, and Polonius, are dead.

The avengers themselves, Hamlet and Laertes, also perish. Laertes acknowledges that he is "justly kill'd with mine own treachery" (Act 5, Scene 2), highlighting how the methods used for revenge ultimately destroy the perpetrators.

The restoration of order does not come from the success of revenge, but from an external, untainted force: Fortinbras. He takes control of Denmark, implying that the cycle of internal vengeance had rendered the state incapable of governing itself. The play concludes that vengeance leads only to tragedy, not justice.