“To be or not to be” may be the question, but to forgive or to to take revenge is the action. Humans have constant conflict in their lives, whether it be internal, with another person, or with all other people. When a person is wronged, they have a decision whether to take out their anger and emotions with revenge, or attempt to make amends, and give forgiveness a chance. In William Shakespeare’s plays “Hamlet” and “The Tempest,” characters are continually in an expanding web of enemies and plots against each other, and only when they forgive do they become truly happy. Shakespeare uses symbols, character parallels, and the themes of power over life and death to advocate that forgiveness trumps revenge, although revenge may not be out of malice,
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Two go insane, one starts a useless campaign, three seek revenge, and one is manipulated by a murderer. One commits suicide, one finds forgiveness, one takes a throne, and one finds vengeance. In “The Tempest” there are two servants, two owners, two saviors, one murder, and one drunken plot. In both plays, Shakespeare uses these repeated relationships between many characters to show how point of view and circumstance define the outcome of situations that are deceivingly similar at first glance. To start with Hamlet, there is a complex web of murders, but going straight to methods of grieving, we see what happens. In the end, those who forgave each other, such as Hamlet and Laertes and Fortinbras, were able to achieve inner peace, although two of the three died in the process. Ophelia gave into her daemons and committed suicide in her madness. Hamlet did take revenge on Claudius, but died in the process, and although he was at peace with Laertes, he did carry the weight of not killing Claudius sooner. Laertes’ last words, spoken to Hamlet, were “Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me.” (5.2.324) Laertes forgives Hamlet for all the death that came in his wake, and by doing so, Laertes did not have to hold the blame for Hamlet’s death, which ensued. Hamlet’s last words were ultimately self-centered, forcing his best friend, Horatio, to live on …show more content…
In the Tempest, Prospero has all the power in the world to kill all his enemies, but leaves every single one alive. Hamlet nas nearly no power over Claudius as Claudius takes the throne for himself. Hamlet must seek revenge as he cannot control others, much less his own emotions. Claudius uses his power to pit Hamlet’s mother, friends, love, and everyone against him. Prospero wields his power to manipulate all characters to be horrible to each other, but ends up letting them forgive each other. If Prospero didn’t have powers, the Tempest never would have brought everyone to the island in the first place, and he never would have been able to guide the others to peace. Prospero gives up his power in the end. Claudius did everything in pursuit of protecting his power, killing Hamlet Sr., attempting to kill Hamlet, marrying Gertrude, and putting on his whole persona. Claudius controlled people to gain power, but Prospero controlled people so he wouldn 't need power over them. Claudius and everyone else died in the end of Hamlet, while Prospero and everyone else lived in the end of The
Two go insane, one starts a useless campaign, three seek revenge, and one is manipulated by a murderer. One commits suicide, one finds forgiveness, one takes a throne, and one finds vengeance. In “The Tempest” there are two servants, two owners, two saviors, one murder, and one drunken plot. In both plays, Shakespeare uses these repeated relationships between many characters to show how point of view and circumstance define the outcome of situations that are deceivingly similar at first glance. To start with Hamlet, there is a complex web of murders, but going straight to methods of grieving, we see what happens. In the end, those who forgave each other, such as Hamlet and Laertes and Fortinbras, were able to achieve inner peace, although two of the three died in the process. Ophelia gave into her daemons and committed suicide in her madness. Hamlet did take revenge on Claudius, but died in the process, and although he was at peace with Laertes, he did carry the weight of not killing Claudius sooner. Laertes’ last words, spoken to Hamlet, were “Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee, Nor thine on me.” (5.2.324) Laertes forgives Hamlet for all the death that came in his wake, and by doing so, Laertes did not have to hold the blame for Hamlet’s death, which ensued. Hamlet’s last words were ultimately self-centered, forcing his best friend, Horatio, to live on …show more content…
In the Tempest, Prospero has all the power in the world to kill all his enemies, but leaves every single one alive. Hamlet nas nearly no power over Claudius as Claudius takes the throne for himself. Hamlet must seek revenge as he cannot control others, much less his own emotions. Claudius uses his power to pit Hamlet’s mother, friends, love, and everyone against him. Prospero wields his power to manipulate all characters to be horrible to each other, but ends up letting them forgive each other. If Prospero didn’t have powers, the Tempest never would have brought everyone to the island in the first place, and he never would have been able to guide the others to peace. Prospero gives up his power in the end. Claudius did everything in pursuit of protecting his power, killing Hamlet Sr., attempting to kill Hamlet, marrying Gertrude, and putting on his whole persona. Claudius controlled people to gain power, but Prospero controlled people so he wouldn 't need power over them. Claudius and everyone else died in the end of Hamlet, while Prospero and everyone else lived in the end of The