The protagonist in the play, Hamlet, has one goal: to avenge the murder of his father. Hamlet is set off on this path after being told who killed the king by the ghost of his father. Through Hamlet’s actions, the message of the play comes to light: revenge is powerful emotion that is primarily an internal struggle with many consequences. While it has power to not affect the intended target, it also has the ability to be volatile to the lives of others when used incorrectly.
Although present consistently in Hamlet throughout the entirety of the play, Act II, Scene iv, is when Hamlet crosses the threshold from internal to external revenge. In the scene, Shakespeare uses mocking questions coupled with word choice to illustrate Hamlet’s lust for …show more content…
Seizing what he believes to be a perfect opportunity to exact revenge says, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead! (III.iv) and stabs him. This marks a turning point in Hamlet’s journey, by serving as the play’s climax. Up until now all of Hamlet’s actions have been in the form of verbal threats, but this is the first physical action. Hamlet has drawn blood and there is no way to undo the actions he has just committed. Hamlet’s use of the word “rat” allows the reader into the attitude of Hamlet: he trusts few. Hamlet is very paranoid in the scene, and will use any excuse he can extract revenge. To Hamlet’s surprise, he has not slain the person he thought he had: “Nay, I know not. Is it the king? (III.iv). Hamlet’s words, “I know not” demonstrate that Hamlet truly did not know who he was killing, but the idea that it might the king was enough to justify his action. Again, Hamlet’s word choice illustrates how his rage overwhelms his logical thinking.The question asked by Hamlet leads the viewer to believe that he has remorse for his action, however, he quickly proves the reader wrong. Hamlet immediately changes the subject when Gertrude calls him out for his “bloody act,” “A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good
Although present consistently in Hamlet throughout the entirety of the play, Act II, Scene iv, is when Hamlet crosses the threshold from internal to external revenge. In the scene, Shakespeare uses mocking questions coupled with word choice to illustrate Hamlet’s lust for …show more content…
Seizing what he believes to be a perfect opportunity to exact revenge says, “How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead! (III.iv) and stabs him. This marks a turning point in Hamlet’s journey, by serving as the play’s climax. Up until now all of Hamlet’s actions have been in the form of verbal threats, but this is the first physical action. Hamlet has drawn blood and there is no way to undo the actions he has just committed. Hamlet’s use of the word “rat” allows the reader into the attitude of Hamlet: he trusts few. Hamlet is very paranoid in the scene, and will use any excuse he can extract revenge. To Hamlet’s surprise, he has not slain the person he thought he had: “Nay, I know not. Is it the king? (III.iv). Hamlet’s words, “I know not” demonstrate that Hamlet truly did not know who he was killing, but the idea that it might the king was enough to justify his action. Again, Hamlet’s word choice illustrates how his rage overwhelms his logical thinking.The question asked by Hamlet leads the viewer to believe that he has remorse for his action, however, he quickly proves the reader wrong. Hamlet immediately changes the subject when Gertrude calls him out for his “bloody act,” “A bloody deed? Almost as bad, good