Shakespeare Use Of Revenge In Hamlet Research Paper

Everyone has heard the popular phrase giving someone a “taste of their own medicine” to justify revenge. In the time of Shakespeare revenge plays were in high demand. In Hamlet William Shakespeare uses revenge as a primary theme throughout. Shakespeare utilizes revenge to drive the play, although many unanticipated deaths result and revenge is shown to be bitter sweet. The play opens in the midst of Hamlet’s grief. His father has just passed away, and his mother has abruptly married his father’s brother, Claudius. Hamlet is furious because of his mother’s betrayal by marrying the person he believes caused the King’s death. In Hamlet’s rage he sends himself into a pit of insanity. Hamlet, in his psychotic state, sees and hears a ghost telling him to, “Revenge his [the King’s] foul and most unnatural murder.” (1.5.31-32) This is the only character he wishes to seek revenge with, however, because of this foul relationship many more plots spiral out of control. The Queen …show more content…
Their idea is to manipulate his ego challenging that Hamlet to a dual of swords that Laertes will not beat Hamlet by more than three touches. Hamlet plays into their hand by accepting the bet. What Hamlet is unaware of is that poison has been placed at the tip of Laertes’s sword to kill Hamlet in their fight. As a backup plan Claudius fills a cup with poison for Hamlet to drink incase Laertes is unable to pierce Hamlet with the poisoned sword. Gertrude is not aware of the plan and drinks from Hamlet’s cup and dies. In Hamlet’s fury he and Laertes begin to scuffle and drop their swords. In all of the confusion Hamlet picks up Laertes’s sword and cuts him with the poison. Realizing he is close to death, Laertes gets his sword back and stabs Hamlet. Laertes does not want to die without Hamlet’s forgiveness and pins all of the blame on the King. Once Laertes is dead Hamlet is finally stabs the King ending