The Hypocrisy of Revenge in Shakespeares Hamlet - 854 Words

In todays society, the media often portrays revenge as an acceptable option. This is not outright stated, but rather implied. Characters often seem to think that revenge is the only way to get closure from a bad experience, and when this is acted on, negative consequences are not shown. Rarely is the fact that vengeance is hypocritical and wrong brought up. People need to wake up and realize that revenge is always hypocritical and illogical. As Christ said, â€Å"Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.† (John 8:7) The play, Hamlet, illustrates the hypocrisy of revenge. In this play, the prince Hamlet has just lost his father. While everyone thinks the death was accidental, Hamlets dead father appears to him and tells him that his brother, Hamlets uncle, murdered him. He commands Hamlet to avenge his death, yet not to harm his mother, because God and her conscience will punish her. Already, there is hypocrisy shown here - the dead ki ng trusts God to take care of punishing his wife, yet commands his own son to to murder his uncle, rather than following what God says, â€Å"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God; for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. (Romans 12:19) He says, â€Å"But howsoever thou pursuest this act, [revenge on his uncle] Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge To prickShow MoreRelatedHamlet Reflections Essay1126 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeare’s revenge tragedy Hamlet has endured the tests of time and successfully lived on till our present era due to its exploration of prominent themes and core values which appeal to the human condition and resonate deeply in the contemporary world. Hamlet is open to a myriad of interpretations by a wide range of audiences which may transform throughout the examination of the play and thereby com pels the viewer to reflect on its various aspects. Hamlet’s character, the nature of his madnessRead MoreHamlet, By William Shakespeare1382 Words   |  6 PagesThroughout the play, in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, introduces the introspective soliloquies of individuals whom explores their identity and moral conscience of familial conformity and expectations. The play resonates with generations across the ages because of the dilemma of revenge present in Hamlet focuses on the internal debate of family and one’s desires which is a relatable area regardless of the time period. Though confronted by the disparities of the world in figurative decay, the character’sRead MoreOphelia and Hamlet in The Tragedy of Hamlet Essay1559 Words   |  7 PagesOphelia and Hamlet In 1600, William Shakespeare composed what is considered the greatest tragedy of all time, Hamlet, the tragedy of the Prince of Denmark. His masterpiece forever redefined what tragedy should be. Critics have analyzed it word for word for nearly four hundred years, with each generation appreciating Hamlet in its own way. While Hamlet conforms, without a doubt, to Aristotles definition of a tragedy, one question still lingers. Did Shakespeare intend for the reader or viewerRead MoreHamlets Madness Essay1147 Words   |  5 Pagesovertasked.† Shakespeare’s famous play Hamlet parallels this quote as it portrays his character caught in a mental battle as a result of his madness. When left alone to his thoughts, Hamlet contemplates decisions to the point of obsession, leading him into isolation. He can no longer distinguish fantasy from reality in turn motivating his impulsive behavior and stripping him of his integrity. Shakespeare has Hamlet feign madness however, as a resul t of his father’s murder, the obsession to plot revenge onRead MoreSoliolquy in Shakespeare ´s Hamlet and The Reverger ´s Tragedy Essay1845 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare uses soliloquy as a dramatic tool to unveil the man behind the disguise. The true nature of the protagonist, Hamlet, is riddled by false appearances and deliberate attempts to deceive characters within the play, mainly characterised by his conscious intention â€Å"To put on an antic disposition†. Whilst the audience is disorientated by Hamlet’s erratic moods and inconsistent behaviour – the alternation between passive inaction, failing to act when he has an opportunity to avenge and killRead More The Works of William Shakespeare Essay1429 Words   |  6 Pagestroublesome and tragic mischance. Shakespeare created at least 37 works. These works include vivid characters of all kinds and from walks of reality. Kings, pickpockets, thieves, shepherds and philosophers, generals and hired killers all intermix in Shakespeare’s writings. In supplement to his deep conception of human nature, Shakespeare had knowledge in a broad diversity of other subjects. These subjects contain music, the law, art, and politics, the Bible, military science, history and sports. Yet, ShakespeareRead MoreHamlets Sanity Essay1319 Words   |  6 PagesHamlet In the story of Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, Hamlet’s sanity is questioned because of the relationships he had with other characters in the story. Hamlet’s relationship with the other characters did not all start off bad. Gertrude was his mother, Ophelia is the woman that he loved, and Claudius was his stepfather. Eventually over time all of them started a conflict. Hamlet didn’t just have problems with them, he had problems with himself. The problems were internally and externally withRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Ghost 2757 Words   |  12 Pagesused as a tool to achieve revenge. She has been manoeuvred by Claudius into actions which will aid his cause. However, some may may argue that the extent of Gertrude’s innocence is questionable. Is she simply a blameless victim seeking dependence upon a authoritative leader or is she a malicious woman hungry for power and capable of murder? The answer is somewhat unequivocal because we can never find an y conclusive textual references. In the Ghost’s encounter with Hamlet, he calls his ex-wife hisRead More Shakespeares Hamlet - Regarding Gertrude Essay1965 Words   |  8 PagesRegarding Hamlet’s Gertrude  Ã‚        Ã‚  Ã‚   In William Shakespeare’s most famous tragedy Hamlet, the audience meets a queen who is a former and present queen. She was unhappy before – how does she feel now? Is she evil, guilty, motherly, lascivious? The multiple aspects of her personality deserve our attention.    Angela Pitt in â€Å"Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies† comments that Shakespeare’s Gertrude in Hamlet is, first and foremost, a mother:    Gertrude evinces no such need to justifyRead More Hamlet Essay: The Unlike Characters of Gertrude and Ophelia3420 Words   |  14 PagesHamlet -- the Unlike Characters of Gertrude and Ophelia      Ã‚  Ã‚   The Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet features two ladies who are very unlike in character. Queen Gertrude, denounced by the ghost as faithless to King Hamlet, is pictured as evil by many, while Ophelia is seen as pure and obedient and full of good virtues. Let’s explore these two unlike people.    Rebecca Smith in â€Å"Scheming Adulteress or Loving Mother† presents an unusually â€Å"clean† image of the present queen that is not consistent