People often utilize the expression “an eye for an eye” to justify revenge. They believe that in the interest of restoring order to society, one must balance out the bad deeds that have been performed against him. However, the saying “two wrongs don’t make a right” also exists in common vernacular. This perspective believes that in the end, taking the “other eye” is a sin and will not improve the state of the world. Humans have often grappled with the need to avenge wrongdoings but hold onto their morality. Thus, playwrights began creating revenge tragedies to discuss this conflict. In the Elizabethan era, the scandal and barbarity that took place in these plays drew in large audiences. They adored watching the main character struggle with
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In Act Three of Hamlet, Claudius watches the play Hamlet directs and promptly exits when he witnesses a murder similar to the one he committed. This reveals his guilt to Hamlet. Hamlet then confronts his mother, expressing his disapproval that she would abandon her love for King Hamlet so soon. He demonstrates his determination to show her the fault in her actions as he exclaims “you go not till I set you up a glass/ where you may see the inmost part of you” (III.iv.24-25). Here, he takes his own personal revenge on his mother without actually harming her, as the ghost advised. Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, believing it was Claudius and the two of them could have his final confrontation. In Act Four, the revenge plot is delayed by the banishment of Hamlet and the death of Ophelia, Hamlet’s lover. Finally, in the conclusion of a traditional Elizabethan revenge tragedy, all the revenges are completed, often resulting in the death of the revenger himself. In Act Five of Hamlet, a final duel finishes all revenge plots. Hamlet finally kills Claudius, and Laertes dies as well in killing Hamlet to avenge his father’s death. In the end, while the need for vengeance is greatly satisfied, the devastating tragedy lies in the overall decline of Hamlet 's character and the horrible effect his demise has on innocents in the
In Act Three of Hamlet, Claudius watches the play Hamlet directs and promptly exits when he witnesses a murder similar to the one he committed. This reveals his guilt to Hamlet. Hamlet then confronts his mother, expressing his disapproval that she would abandon her love for King Hamlet so soon. He demonstrates his determination to show her the fault in her actions as he exclaims “you go not till I set you up a glass/ where you may see the inmost part of you” (III.iv.24-25). Here, he takes his own personal revenge on his mother without actually harming her, as the ghost advised. Hamlet accidentally kills Polonius, believing it was Claudius and the two of them could have his final confrontation. In Act Four, the revenge plot is delayed by the banishment of Hamlet and the death of Ophelia, Hamlet’s lover. Finally, in the conclusion of a traditional Elizabethan revenge tragedy, all the revenges are completed, often resulting in the death of the revenger himself. In Act Five of Hamlet, a final duel finishes all revenge plots. Hamlet finally kills Claudius, and Laertes dies as well in killing Hamlet to avenge his father’s death. In the end, while the need for vengeance is greatly satisfied, the devastating tragedy lies in the overall decline of Hamlet 's character and the horrible effect his demise has on innocents in the