Revenge And Corruption In Hamlet

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Over the years, William Shakespeare has amassed much fame for his well known work, Hamlet. In this tragedy a young man takes on the task of avenging his father’s death. However, despite the countless renditions and remakes of this timeless classic, the play is constantly under inspection for its true underlying message. Living under the strain of his uncle’s betrayal, revenge grows inside Hamlet to such an immensity there is no going back. Nevertheless, the consuming nature of revenge causes the downfall of many, which is inevitable. Through this play it can be seen in the presence of corruption, humans waver between choosing to continue to live in a corrupt world or seeking change through revenge, despite the consequences.
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However, vengeance can cause more injury than benevolence. Therefore, characters constantly waver between revenge and succumbing to their powerless state. Even Hamlet, who seems sure of his need for reprisal, thinks to himself, “To be, or not to be…whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them,” obviously choosing the latter (3.1.56-60). In the play people are put up against several trials to test their character. While some choose to hide under the overbearing arms of those in power, others choose to reveal the corruption for what it is and all those involved along with it. For Hamlet, “‘To be’ refers to taking arms against Claudius and ‘not to be’ indicates suffering or inaction…or to endure one’s troubles passively” (Petronella, 73-74). Polonius and Gertrude choose this route of inaction even when offered the choice to rebel. However, surrounded by corruption the only feasible option left for Hamlet is “to take arms against [the] sea of troubles” regardless of the outcome

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