Table of ContentsIntroductionJustification for VengeanceCounterargumentConclusionWorks Cited:IntroductionThe theme of revenge continues to recur in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Most of the revenge missions undertaken by the various characters in the play end in tragedy. Even though Hamlet, the main character, plans to avenge his father's murder, he considers the tragedy that will result from his actions and therefore attempts to reverse his decision. Shakespeare portrays Hamlet as unwilling to take revenge. The thoughts that the writer puts into the character's mind are intended to show the reader that Hamlet considers revenge to be the wrong thing. The author depicts Hamlet viewing revenge as a crime he should avoid. Shakespeare shows Hamlet thinking that revenge will make him become a beast (Kastan 113). Hamlet, however, believes that taking revenge is the same as not taking revenge since both decisions have consequences that could haunt him. His great fear is that revenge will tarnish his name and that failure of revenge will not give him the moral authority necessary to attempt to become the new king of Denmark. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Laertes, the son of Polonius also tries to avenge his father's murder. Although he encounters many obstacles, he succeeds in engaging in a fight with Hamlet, his father's murderer. Fortinbras, the prince of Norway attempts to avenge his father's death at the hands of King Hamlet. Interestingly, the prince is the only survivor who does not face tragedy. Various analysts of the play have expressed different opinions regarding the justification of the revenge engaged in by different characters as depicted in the play. Some analysts argue that revenge is justified while others believe it lacks justification. Based on these distinct viewpoints and the events preceding the revenge, it is evident that the revenge undertaken by Hamlet's characters is justified. Justification for Vengeance The mental conviction developed by Hamlet shows the justification for his mission of revenge. He first considers that revenge will cause him to leave a damaged name and legacy (Kastan 117). However, he realizes that although revenge means a crime, his father's killer committed the crime and, therefore, not taking revenge is an indication of the justification of the action of the person who committed the crime. killed King Hamlet. The contemplation Hamlet undergoes reveals that not taking revenge for his father's death means allowing others in the kingdom to kill others at will, knowing that their actions will have no consequences. He says that as his father's only son, he must "do this same wicked thing" (Shakespeare 83). This statement reveals that he must punish evil with evil. Thus, Hamlet tries to act as a court that punishes people to warn others that committing a certain crime leads to serious consequences. Hamlet convinces himself that revenge is a method of restoration (Kastan 112). For him, not taking revenge destroys his character and his authority as prince of Denmark. In his conversation with his father's ghost, Hamlet states that the inability to take revenge will make him a "rogue and peasant slave" (Shakespeare 577). This statement indicates that Hamlet cannot let go of his anger without taking revenge. He fears that the failure of his revenge will encourage his father's murderer to turn him into a slave. Fear is a justification for revenge in that failure to do so will result in tragedy in Hamlet's life. The need to adhere to the ghost of hisfather justifies the mission of revenge that Hamlet undertakes in the play. The ghost orders Hamlet to avenge the “vile and most unnatural murder” of his father (Shakespeare 37). At first, Hamlet is surprised that his father was murdered. As a result, he asks the ghost to clarify whether it is true that his father's death was unnatural. It is interesting to note that the ghost repeats that the murder was the most vile, the most unnatural and the strangest. In the Danish society that Shakespeare speaks of, obeying the ghosts of ancestors is considered a mark of respect for the souls of the deceased. Hamlet is justified in obeying the ghost and killing Claudius, who killed King Hamlet, the prince's father. Although Hamlet is initially convinced that he should take revenge, he states that his need to meditate and that such meditation could sweep away his thoughts of revenge (Kastan 121). He makes this claim after learning that Claude had killed his father. The ghost further reveals to Hamlet that Claudius conspired with his mother, Gertrude, to take over the kingdom of Denmark. As a beloved son, Hamlet sees no way to honor his father except by killing Claudius and being doubly driven by his father's orders. and by the tradition according to which a son must avenge his father at all costs. Hamlet then becomes trapped in his obligation for revenge, making him question his ability to think and concentrate, which confirms to the audience that his father has become much more influential and much more important to Hamlet after his death than he was before. But the ghost's request is not really to kill Claudius, which is precisely how Hamlet interprets the act of revenge. This whole situation has a negative effect on him because he begins to mistreat his mother, very contrary to what his father had asked him: "Do not corrupt your mind, and do not let your soul contrive/Against your mother, whatever whatever – leave her to heaven. » Furthermore, the threat Claudius poses to Hamlet's dreams of becoming king of Denmark and the lack of respect he shows the prince justifies Hamlet's decision for revenge. Claudius takes over the kingdom and marries Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. The ghost tells Hamlet that he should not let “the royal bed of Denmark become a couch of luxury and accursed incest” (Shakespeare 87). The ghost insinuates that Gertrude is engaging in incest and that Hamlet should not accept being ashamed of his mother's behavior. However, the ghost advises Hamlet to spare his mother in his mission of revenge since she will be judged by heaven. By taking back the kingdom, Claudius reduces Hamlet's chances of becoming king (Kastan 119). According to Prosser, Claudius overturns the protocol observed in ruling the kingdom and Hamlet is therefore justified in taking his position out of revenge (39). Hamlet's assertion that he is likely to become a slave in his country shows that he should take revenge and face the consequences rather than wait to be exiled and lose his chance to rule Denmark. Laertes is justified in avenging his father's murder since Polonius had not committed any crime for him to die at the hands of Hamlet. After learning that his father has been murdered, Laertes returns from France ready to ensure justice is served. He understands that the inability to avenge his father's death will encourage Hamlet to continue killing Denmark's rulers as he attempts to rule. Laertes' revenge mission is justified given that it aims to put an end to Hamlet's pretentious madness which he uses to collaterally kill people. Shakespeare constructs the relationship between Laertes and Hamlet in a way that justifies the anger the former feels after learning of his father's murder. Hamlet and Laertes are.