Revenge tragedies often have barbarous scenes, a play within a play, grievances, and vengeful apparitions. In the play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, readers often see these key topics throughout the work and can associate them with the cycle between justice and revenge. Readers meet several characters in the play who attempt aggressive attacks to prove vengeance for their departed family, but as they grow more conscious of their problems, the characters mature out of their blood thirsty revenge and shape it into justice. Hamlet seeks forceful revenge when he is first approached by his father’s apparition, but, as his mind labors itself with countless thoughts, he feels more justice than revenge when he eventually finds action. Laertes,
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154). To get revenge, however, Laertes thinks killing Hamlet will benefit him the most, since Laertes’ “noble father lost, [and] a sister driven into desp’rate terms…” is caused by him (4.7. 27-28). Laertes is determined to kill Hamlet and his persistence is noticed by Claudius. Claudius talks with Laertes and asks him if he really did love his father, psychologically embarrassing Laertes into proving his love by killing his father’s murderer. Claudius uses his insecurity to persuade Laertes into “[cutting] [Hamlet’s] throat i’ th’ church,” both men under the impression that revenge is the best answer for the situation (4.7. 144). Laertes, misguided by Claudius’ selfish desire to benefit himself, blindly attacks Hamlet with no thought whatsoever besides the concentration for revenge. Laertes, using a sword dipped in poison, eventually kills Hamlet as revenge, but justice is served when Laertes is also harmed. Laertes realizes that Claudius is an immoral man, and he is troubled by the fact that he was willing to serve the corrupt king. Although he killed Hamlet as revenge for his father, Laertes is “justly kill'd with mine own treachery” (5.2. 337). Laertes used the same tactic as Claudius to kill Hamlet, by poison, which shows that he is as corrupt as the king is. Laertes’ death is justice for Hamlet, King Hamlet, and for the kingdom as
154). To get revenge, however, Laertes thinks killing Hamlet will benefit him the most, since Laertes’ “noble father lost, [and] a sister driven into desp’rate terms…” is caused by him (4.7. 27-28). Laertes is determined to kill Hamlet and his persistence is noticed by Claudius. Claudius talks with Laertes and asks him if he really did love his father, psychologically embarrassing Laertes into proving his love by killing his father’s murderer. Claudius uses his insecurity to persuade Laertes into “[cutting] [Hamlet’s] throat i’ th’ church,” both men under the impression that revenge is the best answer for the situation (4.7. 144). Laertes, misguided by Claudius’ selfish desire to benefit himself, blindly attacks Hamlet with no thought whatsoever besides the concentration for revenge. Laertes, using a sword dipped in poison, eventually kills Hamlet as revenge, but justice is served when Laertes is also harmed. Laertes realizes that Claudius is an immoral man, and he is troubled by the fact that he was willing to serve the corrupt king. Although he killed Hamlet as revenge for his father, Laertes is “justly kill'd with mine own treachery” (5.2. 337). Laertes used the same tactic as Claudius to kill Hamlet, by poison, which shows that he is as corrupt as the king is. Laertes’ death is justice for Hamlet, King Hamlet, and for the kingdom as