A sense of duty motivates or makes a person feel responsible for something due to ethical or moral principles that regulate their thoughts and actions. This idea develops well throughout the play, Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare.The play follows the young Prince of Denmark, Hamlet, as he is mourning his father, Hamlet senior’s death with little support from the people around him. But unfortunately, Hamlet’s mourning turns into anger when he discovers that his father was murdered by his uncle and new King, Claudius, and he now seeks revenge for his father death. The responsibility felt due to a sense of duty can cause a person to feel obliged to commit unethical actions. In the play, Hamlet unknowingly murders Polonius, King Claudius’
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Feeling sorry for Hamlet, Horatio, Hamlet 's good friend, reveals to Hamlet that a ghost resembling his father from head to toe, appears in the middle of the night where guards, Barnardo and Marcellus stand watch. Hamlet decides to see the his father’s ghost for himself and decides to join them on the night watch, where his father’s ghost appears and speaks with Hamlet. Hamlet is told by his father’s ghost that Claudius murdered his father, causing Hamlet to be filled with anger and vengeance. While speaking with the Hamlet, Hamlet senior’s ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his death, then Hamlet answers, “I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records,..That youth and observation copied there,/ And thy commandment all alone shall live” (Shakespeare, I, v, 99-102). In this quote, Hamlet tells his father’s ghost that he will erase all memories in his and only the request of vengeance from his father’s ghost. Hamlet, being the son of Hamlet senior, wants to obey and respect his father. And so, knowing that his father was murdered and knowing who did it, as well as his father’s ghost requesting it makes Hamlet feels like it is his duty and responsibility to make Claudius suffer. As a result, Hamlet impulsively lets himself be overcome by vengeance and completely ignore all other components of his memory. Hamlet is overcome by vengeance because he believes it is his duty to avenge his …show more content…
After hearing news of his father’s death, Laertes, in anger and with supporters storms into King Claudius’ castle demanding answers. Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, tries to calm Laertes down but he is too angry and and only comes down when the King convinces Laertes that he is not Polonius’ murderer. King Claudius then reveals to Laertes who Polonius’ real killer is, Hamlet, and filled with rage, the thought of vengeance takes over Laertes. As Laertes is speaking to the King about who murdered his father he tells the king , “To this point I stand,/ That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged/ Most thoroughly for my father.” (Shakespeare, IV, v, 132-135). In this quote, Laertes is telling King Claudius that he does not care about what happens to him in this world, or the next (after death), but he will certainly get revenge for his father. By saying this, Laertes is saying that he does not care if he is killed or not, and he does not care whether he goes to heaven or hell, all he knows is that he is going to avenge his father. At this point, Laertes is completely overcome by the desire of revenge, he wants revenge so much so that he is willing to sacrifice his life, and go to Hell after he dies, as long as he gets his revenge. Laertes is careless of everything else but the fulfillment of his duty, as the son of Polonius, to make whoever
Feeling sorry for Hamlet, Horatio, Hamlet 's good friend, reveals to Hamlet that a ghost resembling his father from head to toe, appears in the middle of the night where guards, Barnardo and Marcellus stand watch. Hamlet decides to see the his father’s ghost for himself and decides to join them on the night watch, where his father’s ghost appears and speaks with Hamlet. Hamlet is told by his father’s ghost that Claudius murdered his father, causing Hamlet to be filled with anger and vengeance. While speaking with the Hamlet, Hamlet senior’s ghost asks Hamlet to avenge his death, then Hamlet answers, “I’ll wipe away all trivial fond records,..That youth and observation copied there,/ And thy commandment all alone shall live” (Shakespeare, I, v, 99-102). In this quote, Hamlet tells his father’s ghost that he will erase all memories in his and only the request of vengeance from his father’s ghost. Hamlet, being the son of Hamlet senior, wants to obey and respect his father. And so, knowing that his father was murdered and knowing who did it, as well as his father’s ghost requesting it makes Hamlet feels like it is his duty and responsibility to make Claudius suffer. As a result, Hamlet impulsively lets himself be overcome by vengeance and completely ignore all other components of his memory. Hamlet is overcome by vengeance because he believes it is his duty to avenge his …show more content…
After hearing news of his father’s death, Laertes, in anger and with supporters storms into King Claudius’ castle demanding answers. Queen Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, tries to calm Laertes down but he is too angry and and only comes down when the King convinces Laertes that he is not Polonius’ murderer. King Claudius then reveals to Laertes who Polonius’ real killer is, Hamlet, and filled with rage, the thought of vengeance takes over Laertes. As Laertes is speaking to the King about who murdered his father he tells the king , “To this point I stand,/ That both the worlds I give to negligence, Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged/ Most thoroughly for my father.” (Shakespeare, IV, v, 132-135). In this quote, Laertes is telling King Claudius that he does not care about what happens to him in this world, or the next (after death), but he will certainly get revenge for his father. By saying this, Laertes is saying that he does not care if he is killed or not, and he does not care whether he goes to heaven or hell, all he knows is that he is going to avenge his father. At this point, Laertes is completely overcome by the desire of revenge, he wants revenge so much so that he is willing to sacrifice his life, and go to Hell after he dies, as long as he gets his revenge. Laertes is careless of everything else but the fulfillment of his duty, as the son of Polonius, to make whoever