William Shakespeare wrote “Hamlet” at a time where Elizabethans were undergoing change in their beliefs. One of the biggest changes was that of revenge, and it was with that point that Shakespeare focused his play on. Through building a play with senecan revenge characteristics, having the three main plotlines revolving around revenge and having the play start with revenge and end once vengeance had been taken, Shakespeare wrote “Hamlet” as a play primarily focused on revenge. When writing “Hamlet” Shakespeare was influenced greatly by Senecan revenge tragedies and with that formed the foundation of his play with multiple Senecan revenge characteristics; revenge was prompted by a ghost, terrible punishment awaited for an unnatural revenge,
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When looking at the beginning of the play, revenge was prompted by the Ghost of the old King Hamlet, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (1 .5. 25). In addition to it being a Senecan characteristic, the play began with revenge and being prompted by a Ghost, Hamlet was the first character in the play to seek revenge. The play’s body was filled with plotting, planning and devising revenge but revenge itself was never carried out until the end of “Hamlet” . Once Laertes successfully abraded Hamlet, his vengeance was completed. Once King Claudius was killed Hamlet’s vengeance was achieved and once all of the royal lineage in Denmark was killed, Fortinbras was given all of Denmark, by the deceased Hamlet, and Fortinbras successfully completed the revenge that he originally intended. At that point, the play ended. “Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more mischance/ On plots and errors happen” (5. 2. 387-388). When Horatio spoke that quote, all notions of future revenge were put to rest. When the primary focus of “Hamlet” ended, so did the play. . William Shakespeare ended “Hamlet” at that moment as revenge was the main substance and reason for the story, leaving “Hamlet” as a play the was primarily focused on
When looking at the beginning of the play, revenge was prompted by the Ghost of the old King Hamlet, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (1 .5. 25). In addition to it being a Senecan characteristic, the play began with revenge and being prompted by a Ghost, Hamlet was the first character in the play to seek revenge. The play’s body was filled with plotting, planning and devising revenge but revenge itself was never carried out until the end of “Hamlet” . Once Laertes successfully abraded Hamlet, his vengeance was completed. Once King Claudius was killed Hamlet’s vengeance was achieved and once all of the royal lineage in Denmark was killed, Fortinbras was given all of Denmark, by the deceased Hamlet, and Fortinbras successfully completed the revenge that he originally intended. At that point, the play ended. “Even while men’s minds are wild, lest more mischance/ On plots and errors happen” (5. 2. 387-388). When Horatio spoke that quote, all notions of future revenge were put to rest. When the primary focus of “Hamlet” ended, so did the play. . William Shakespeare ended “Hamlet” at that moment as revenge was the main substance and reason for the story, leaving “Hamlet” as a play the was primarily focused on