Examples Of Revenge And Forgiveness In Hamlet

One is often taught to ask for forgiveness beginning at a young age and is taught that if they do something wrong, then asking for forgiveness will help make it better. Revenge and forgiveness often times interfere with each other. When something goes wrong, someone wants revenge and someone wants to be able to forgive or ask for forgiveness. In William Shakespeare 's, Hamlet, it is shown that King Hamlet’s death, causes many to want revenge, while the others ask for forgiveness. A similar story is shown in Andre Dubus’s “Killings”, where a father goes on to take revenge for his son 's murder to only end up regretting the revenge he had taken. The stories show that to be able to move on successfully, it 's more beneficial to forgive rather …show more content…
As the story progresses, it is shown that Claudius is praying and asking for forgiveness, even though he really does not mean it. Claudius says, “It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t/ a brother 's murder/.. May one be pardoned and retain th’ offense” (III, iii, 41-42, 60). Claudius wants to ask for forgiveness, but he knows if he were to ask for forgiveness he would never get it because he still had the kingdom, crown, wife, and wealth. Claudius understood that for him to get forgiveness, he would have to give up all the luxuries he had killed his brother for in the first place and he did not want to do that. Claudius’s apology shows that he did want the forgiveness but not at the account of his new found luxuries, so he still asks for forgiveness even though he knew he did not mean it or was going to get it. The same can be shown for Hamlet as he kills Polonius. At first when Hamlet thinks it 's Claudius behind the curtain he jumps at the occasion to finally get his revenge, but it turns out to be Polonius who has died by the hands of Hamlet. Hamlet, looking to Polonius’s body, later does express remorse, but also says he doesn 't mean it. Hamlet says, “For this same lord/ I do repent; but heaven hath pleased it so” (III, iv, 193-194)). Hamlet does not really feel sorry for having killed Polonius, instead he thinks he was sent from heaven to do it. Hamlet like, Claudius at this point, states that he …show more content…
As Hamlet sets out to get his revenge, people join along the way to get theirs too. As it all comes to an end, the revenge did no good for anyone. Many if not all the characteries died because they all were seeking revenge instead of forgiveness. Laertes’ need for revenge caused him to lose his sister and kill Hamlet. When Laertes came back, his first instinct was to get revenge for his father’s murder and not to help his sister who had gone mad at the time. Had Laertes been taking care of his sister, instead of making plans with Claudius, he may have been able to help his sister. It is shown that Laertes is more preoccupied with revenge when he says, “Hadst thou thy wits and didst persuade revenge/ It could not move thus” (IV, v, 92-93). Seeing his sister having gone mad, his first reaction should have been to get her help or even just him helping her. He uses Ophelia 's madness as an excuse to carry out his revenge. Hamlet like Laertes was blinded by his need for revenge. He wanted to avenge his father’s death, get back the crown and kingdom, and get his mother back. In the end, Hamlet ends up losing everything he was fighting for in the first place. His kingdom and crown goes to Fortinbras, and his mother is dead. It all starts when Hamlet first meets the ghost. Hamlet does not know how his father was murdered, but when the ghost asks him to take revenge, Hamlet could not be any more eager. Hamlet shows how eager he is when he says, “Haste