The Desire For Revenge In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Father knows best. But what if his advice and wisdom is ill-advised? What if dad only has his best interest at heart? In Shakespeare 's tragedy, Hamlet, the ghost of the dead king appears before his son, Hamlet, and says, “Revenge this foul and most unnatural murder...Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven, and to those thorns that in her bosom lodge to prick and sting her,” (I.v.25, 86-88). The ghost gives Hamlet the leverage to act impulsively and avenge his death by killing his uncle, King Claudius, but under one condition; Hamlet cannot hurt his mother, Gertrude. In contrast, to the ghost 's plans for retribution, King Claudius tells Laertes,“Revenge should have no bounds” (IV.vii.126). Claudius ' statement only fuels Laertes ' thirst for revenge, whereas …show more content…
Without thinking, Hamlet 's one bout of impulse leads to a fatal error in judgement, the murder of Polonius. When Hamlet finally has the chance to speak to his mother, conflict ensues as Hamlet stabs the king 's counselor and Gertrude cries, “O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!”(III.iv.28). The one moment when Hamlet acts without thought, he creates a domino effect of emotional tailspins triggering Laertes ' quest for revenge and a massive body count. Although, the death of Polonious may seem like a tragic mistake; Hamlet had reason to think that the man behind the curtain was King Claudius. Realizing his error, Hamlet exclaims, “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune,” (III.iv.32-33). The scene reveals that Hamlet has reached his emotional climax and abandons the thoughts that plagued him throughout the play. This moment of apathy shows the emotional detachment Hamlet truly needed to seek retribution against Claudius had the ghost not mentioned