Laura Hydrick Hamlet Final Essay Carter 6B February 9, 2015

Vengeance is one of the most influential motivators for the human psyche. It can drive
enumerable emotions both positive and negative. Prince Hamlet in Shakespeares The Tragedy
of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark uses vengeance as a motivator for his contrivance to slaughter his
uncle, King Claudius, who murdered his brother, and Prince Hamlets father, King Hamlet.
Prince Hamlet cannot be analyzed and classified as visibly only round or dynamic, so one must
look into his character and personality to classify him instead as a revenger. It is obvious that
emotions are the driving force for his actions, and he constantly conforms to the trite saying an

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into a form that was not a fragment and revised the
wording to put it in the right tense and make the
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eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth; this vengeful mindset helps Prince Hamlet to evolve as a
character, because his views change radically and flourish throughout the soliloquies in the play.
The revenger is classified as someone who is vulnerable to their emotions and swear
vengeance, but is fallible because in seeking revenge (in Prince Hamlets case, to avenge his
father) generally condemn themselves to an unfortunate fate. Upon meeting Prince Hamlet it is

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right tense and didnt make much sense so I revised
it to fit better and make it the right tense
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and is in the right tense. Adding the word vulnerable
makes the sentence more relatable as most people
can relate to being vulnerable and wanting revenge
when they are hurt

clear he already views Claudius as reprehensible for marrying his mother so quickly after his
fathers passing as the first thing he exclaims is that Claudius is A little more than kin, and less
than kind! (H I. ii.). This erects a foundation and underlying conflict between Prince Hamlet
and Claudius before it is even publicized that Claudius killed his brother. Prince Hamlet also has

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fit better than revealed

issues with his mother for moving onto Claudius so quickly, and condemns her by saying,
She married. O, most wicked speed, to post | With such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (H I.
ii.). This groundwork in act 1 establishes Prince Hamlet as the revenger almost immediately.
Upon Hamlets fathers ghost informing him that, The serpent that did sting thy father's
life

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the bat
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| Now wears his crown (H I. v.), Prince Hamlet breaks down and spews a plethora of insults
regarding Claudius, including O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! (H I. v.). Prince
Hamlet and his fathers ghost enter into a conversation in which the ghost convinces Prince
Hamlet to avenge him and make Claudius pay for what he has done. Hamlet becomes so irate
that he vows to stop at nothing to destroy Claudius. This further supports that Hamlet is, indeed,
a revenger because he has vowed to avenge his father and is caught up in his emotions. He is so
consumed in his anger and hurt that he does not care about the possible repercussions of his
actions at this moment.
After attending a show that conjured emotions that were intense and penetrating, Prince

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explain the significance of the scene I mentioned
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accurate because I had the plot confused.

Hamlet realizes how he can exact his revenge, by scheming to expose his uncles deeds by
employing the help of players to act out his fathers death. In doing so he is trying to evoke
emotions so strong in Claudius that he confesses because The plays the thing | Wherein Ill
catch the conscience of the king (H II. ii.). Should his uncle not confess, he knows he must kill
the Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! (H II. ii.). When his plan to expose
the king does not cause him to confess, Hamlet has resolved to kill him. He is so abhorrent of his
uncle that while he sees Claudius praying, he cannot bring himself to kill him. Hamlet believes
that if he were to kill him at that moment, because Claudius had asked for forgiveness, it would
have given him an eternity in heaven, rather than eternity perpetual damnation and pain.
Prince Hamlet plays the part of the revenger by condemning himself in a blind rage in
killing Polonius. Although he repents, it illustrates the power of the grip anger has on Prince
Hamlets conscience. To compensate for killing Polonius, Hamlet agrees to a sword fight with
Laertes. After being stabbed and realizing that Laertes sword blade has been poisoned, Prince
Hamlet declares with his dying breath O, from this time forth, | My thoughts be bloody, or be

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added a sentence to exemplify and explain what I
had previously meant about the importance of this
scene.
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to make this sentence sound more professional

nothing worth! (H IV. iv.) as he stabs Claudius with one of the poisoned blades and forces him
to drink the rest of the poisoned wine, where he then dies. In the end this desire for revenge leads
to Prince Hamlets demise, but he does accomplish his goal to murder his uncle.
In this tragedy, Prince Hamlet conforms to the norms for the revenger and ultimately
condemns himself in following his need to avenge his father, making this analysis of character
appropriate and fitting for him.

Comment [O11]: I revised this entire section to

make it make more sense and to help develop my
thoughts better.