The Power Of Revenge In Hamlet
Hassan Fofana
Mrs. Bartlett
English IV
June 3, 2018
The Power of Revenge
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, revenge is used as a major igniter in conflict between the people in the play. Revenge singlehandedly developed the character of Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet. Those three individuals were all seeking vengeance for the murder of their father. The problem with revenge is that people who are filled with vengeance will go to any means to fulfill their need, like Hamlet and Laertes. As the play continues on, each of these three go down a course that could end with them fulfilling their thirst for revenge, or choosing a different path based on the guidance around them. Although all three of these characters felt strong feelings of revenge towards …show more content…
Before the start of the play, it is told that King Hamlet, the former King of Denmark was responsible for the death of King Fortinbras. Prince Fortinbras does not care for this, and instead decides to hold the entire country of Denmark responsible for his death. Horatio, a friend of Hamlet said, “As it doth well appear unto our state, but to recover of us by strong hand and terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands so by his father lost??” (101-104). Horatio is hinting at the fact that Fortinbras will attempt to forcefully seize Denmark from Hamlet’s family. If it were not for King Claudius sending two courtiers to Norway, Fortinbras would have definitely assaulted Denmark a lot sooner then later. After the courtiers visited, Fortinbras uncle would not allow Fortinbras to deploy an army for Denmark and asked Fortinbras to settle for a smaller group of people to attack instead of Hamlet (74-75). After attacking the smaller people, Fortinbras vows to never fight out of anger, and to stay honorable in battle (70-71). This intervention is what could have saved Fortinbras from a fate that is like that of Hamlet, or
Mrs. Bartlett
English IV
June 3, 2018
The Power of Revenge
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, revenge is used as a major igniter in conflict between the people in the play. Revenge singlehandedly developed the character of Fortinbras, Laertes, and Hamlet. Those three individuals were all seeking vengeance for the murder of their father. The problem with revenge is that people who are filled with vengeance will go to any means to fulfill their need, like Hamlet and Laertes. As the play continues on, each of these three go down a course that could end with them fulfilling their thirst for revenge, or choosing a different path based on the guidance around them. Although all three of these characters felt strong feelings of revenge towards …show more content…
Before the start of the play, it is told that King Hamlet, the former King of Denmark was responsible for the death of King Fortinbras. Prince Fortinbras does not care for this, and instead decides to hold the entire country of Denmark responsible for his death. Horatio, a friend of Hamlet said, “As it doth well appear unto our state, but to recover of us by strong hand and terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands so by his father lost??” (101-104). Horatio is hinting at the fact that Fortinbras will attempt to forcefully seize Denmark from Hamlet’s family. If it were not for King Claudius sending two courtiers to Norway, Fortinbras would have definitely assaulted Denmark a lot sooner then later. After the courtiers visited, Fortinbras uncle would not allow Fortinbras to deploy an army for Denmark and asked Fortinbras to settle for a smaller group of people to attack instead of Hamlet (74-75). After attacking the smaller people, Fortinbras vows to never fight out of anger, and to stay honorable in battle (70-71). This intervention is what could have saved Fortinbras from a fate that is like that of Hamlet, or