William Shakespeare – Hamlet

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE – HAMLET

Hamlet is a play about a tragic hero, Hamlet. The play was written by William Shakespeare, in the early sixteenth century, during the Elizabethan era. The story investigates the death of King Hamlet, murdered by his own brother, Prince Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, who marries Queen Gertrude shortly after King’s Hamlet funeral to take the throne. These acts of betrayal from Claudius (the King’s brother), as revealed by the ghost of Hamlet’s father, is the reason behind why Prince Hamlet seeks revenge. That is why revenge plays an important role throughout the play and motivates Hamlet to assume madness so as to succeed. The issue of revenge is repeatedly examined through various characters in the play. Hamlet questions his duty to follow the ghost's instructions, and this causes ethical, spiritual and social consequences of revenge. The issue of revenge by murder will be critically discussed by examining how the title character, Laertes, and Claudius portray different concerns and anxieties towards the ethical, spiritual, and social consequences that murder and revenge will ultimately have on their destiny as characters in Hamlet.

Hamlet has been assigned by the ghost to take revenge on his father's murderer. However, he is confronted with the issue of whether he should trust the ghost or whether the ghost might be an evil spirit. That is why he does not quickly believe the ghost. He is more ethical than Laertes. Hamlet is a thinker and truth-seeker. First of all, he starts to evaluate the truth of the ghost's direction. Hamlet thinks before he takes action rather than rushing to murder Claudius. Although Hamlet does not yet know that his father has been murdered by his uncle, there are already warning signs that all is not well; Claudius has hurriedly remarried the Queen and a ghost walks the night. However, Hamlet seeks more proof about ghost's instructions. That is why when a party of actors arrive in Elsinore, Hamlet states that “I’ll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle, I’ll observe his looks, I’ll tent to him to the quick. If he do blench I know my course. . . “(Hamlet, 2.2 537-541). This statement shows that Hamlet uses actors to see Claudius’ reaction to the scene in the play - this scene being  similar to how Claudius murdered King Hamlet- to determine whether Claudius is guilty or not. At this point, Hamlet uses the guilt to come up with a plan and see whether the ghost is true or not by using Claudius’ guilt as proof. As anticipated, Claudius pulls back with anxiety at seeing his own horrible offence, and it gives Hamlet the proof he seeks. Moreover, this shows that Hamlet is a very moral individual owing to make sure that Claudius is actually guilty before he takes action. Hamlet is aware of the gravity of murder.  This kind of thought separates him on an ethical level from Laertes; who is very angry and is quick to take revenge.

On a spiritual level, the Christian system of belief and its effects were accepted in the society of the play and that of the Elizabethan era. These influences are seen in Hamlet. The Bible states that “Thou shalt not kill” (Exodus, 20:13). According to Christianity, murder is against the teachings of the Church and should be punished by God. In addition, murderers cannot go to Heaven because Christianity sees this act as sinful. In the play, when the Ghost calls upon Hamlet to “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (Hamlet, 1. 5. 25), the issue of revenge is brought up at that moment. The ghost’s instruction causes Hamlet to think that “This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell” (Hamlet, 2.2. 525-527). This statement shows that, even though Hamlet is a Christian, he seems to regard his revenge as the duty of a son to his father. Moreover, Hamlet is manipulated by his father’s ghost to kill Claudius, his uncle. This manipulation causes him to accidentally kill Polonius instead of Claudius. His duty as a son causes him to become a murderer. There is a contradiction of values. Hamlet’s duty and his responsibility as a member of the Christian community contradict one another.

On the other hand, Laertes is different from Hamlet, whose aim is mainly to take revenge of his father's death and kill Hamlet. Laertes thinks that it is his right to kill Hamlet because he knows Hamlet has killed his father, Polonius. Laertes states that his reason for enacting revenge on Hamlet by saying that “  [he a]  noble father lost, A sister driven into desperate terms, Whose worth, if praises may go back again, Stood challenger on mount of all the age For her perfections. But my revenge will come” (Hamlet, 4.7. 25-29); thus showing, according to him, that he has ample reasons for seeking revenge. This quotation shows that compared to Hamlet, Laertes is not a truth-seeker, he does not evaluate the truth of his father's murder as well as that his moral duty is based on his social beliefs and not spiritual ones. Even though murdering somebody is a sinful act (according to their beliefs) Laertes does not think before taking action and rushes to murder Hamlet. This thought represents that Laertes is not as ethical as Hamlet is. Furthermore, Laertes does not only want to take revenge of his father's death, but also wants Hamlet to suffer and punish him by sending him to Hell. He considers and plans the murder when he addresses Claudius and demonstrates no regret. Laertes says to Claudius that he would "cut [Hamlet’s] throat i'th' church" (Hamlet, 4.7.124). This statement is evident of Laertes’ thoughtless anger. The significance of murdering Hamlet in a place as holy as a church shows that it is not only an act against Hamlet, it is an insult to God. Laertes’ aim to commit murder in the church is evidence that he is prepared to throw away his soul and to go to Hell. This is a very profound spiritual consequence. This point essentially separates Laertes from Hamlet, who is aware of the enormity of murder, on an ethical level and also shows that Hamlet worries about opposing the Church’s teachings whereas Laertes does not.

By close examination of the text, Hamlet does not carry out his revenge while Claudius is praying because of the spiritual consequence. After making sure that Claudius murdered his father, Hamlet seeks the perfect opportunity to avenge his father. When Claudius prays in the lobby, Hamlet enters and states that “Now might I do it pat, now he is a-praying- And now I’ll do’t” (Hamlet, 3.3.73-775). This is proof that Hamlet tries to take revenge and kill Claudius even though he is aware of the gravity of murder. However, Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he is in the state of purity. He does the right thing but for the wrong reason.  Hamlet wants his revenge not only to be an act of punishment for Claudius’ life on earth but also his eternal life. Furthermore, if he kills Claudius for his dreadful offence while he is in his state of grace, "A villain kills my father, and for that I his sole son do this same villain send to heaven. Why, this is bait and salary, not revenge. "(Hamlet, 3.3.77-80), then the purpose of his revenge will not be attained. He does not accept the idea that by killing Claudius, who is praying in a confessional approach, he would help Claudius' soul on its voyage to Heaven. Hamlet wants Claudius to suffer forever. It shows at that moment how Hamlet changes in his thoughts about revenge; thus, it appears that revenge has empoisoned Hamlet. This shows a contrast in the original Hamlet and a Hamlet who is no longer the ethical, thoughtful and moral. At this point, Hamlet strays from good and adopts sinful behaviour similar to that of Claudius.