No one quite understands whether revenge is a noble pursuit or not. Because if someone is wronged, it makes reasonable sense to take revenge. It provides a sense of fulfillment and closure that would be difficult to achieve otherwise. However, the extremes to which those seeking revenge may go may not seem ethical. William Shakespeare's Hamlet discusses the issue of revenge and its effects through soliloquies. Shakespeare uses a critical tone and comparisons to portray Hamlet's reasoning behind seeking revenge and the negative effects of revenge as it can ultimately destroy oneself and one's values as it takes hold of someone as it does with Hamlet. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Hamlet is tasked with seeking revenge on King Claudius after encountering the ghost and being informed of his father's murder. Despite this, he aborts his punishment plan due to internal scruples until one of the players delivers an impassioned speech with a story that mirrors his revenge. This leads to Hamlet's soliloquy in which he gives himself a critical pause as a "thief and peasant slave" and asks "Am I a coward?" for his failure to seek revenge on Claudius. This tone reveals that Hamlet has initial doubts about revenge, but these are soon dispelled when he compares his personal situation to the player's feelings about the story as he has a "dream of passion" when "What is Hecuba to him, or he for Hecuba?” This shows that Hamlet has realized that he needs to gain the belief to seek revenge for his father as he has the motivation and reason to do so This leads to his plan to “play something like the murder of my father” to “capture the king's conscience" and get more reasons for his revenge so as not to feel guilty since it will be for an honorable cause. One of the crucial moments of Hamlet's revenge comes when he has the chance to secretly kill Claudius while he is praying. Although Hamlet has the chance to complete his revenge, he continues to hold it back and says, "this is paycheck and paycheck, not revenge" as Claudius was in an epitome of innocence as he prayed for forgiveness for King Hamlet's murder This comparison to a murderer illustrates Hamlet's view of revenge as something above a thoughtless act of murder. In this soliloquy Hamlet describes the moment he would like to carry out his revenge so that Claudius "has no taste of salvation in it" in a way. that he does not venture to heaven for his actions and that Hamlet's murder of Claudius has merit. This shows how Hamlet maintains his morals despite seeking revenge through a sinful act. In this, he compares Fortinbras' decision to seek revenge to his own lack of resolve. Hamlet once again reflects on how he must "stimulate my tedious revenge" and act against Claudius. Hamlet also changes his initial view of revenge as something to be wary of and now establishes that it is necessary for humans to behave at any cost and proclaims, "let my thoughts be bloody, or worth nothing!" . The mischievous tone of this soliloquy shows how Hamlet has gone from desiring honorable revenge to being consumed by it and putting aside previous values to fully take revenge on his father on Claudius. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Hamlet's thoughts on revenge are revealed in Hamlet through the use of critical tone..
tags