[extended]Chapter 6: a way with words

[this text should be read in a anti-Hamlet tone]

EXTENT REVENGE IS CENTRAL THEME IN HAMLET

The entire of Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy, Hamlet revolves around the task bestowed upon Hamlet by his ghost father, of revenge. This theme uses the central character as a stepping stone to become the central theme, and embodies the very seed which cultivates a life dedicated to revenge, withering when the avenger succeeds. The weed-like theme branches throughout the play, festering the world of Denmark and its inhabitants. Shakespeare uses Hamlet as a host of the parasite, revenge, with the development of this character caused by the degree of infestation increasing. The play, outlines Hamlet’s struggles to accomodate the effects of revenge until he is forced to yield.

We, along with Hamlet, are introduced to the concept of revenge in the last scene of Act One, after the presentation of the characters to be scathed by Hamlet’s revenge later on. These characters and their peaceful, albeit uneasy, atmosphere contrasts with the chaos and havoc wrought by this single task set upon the “heart of Denmark”, the prince Hamlet. In this scene, the angry Ghost of Hamlet’s father, who has been doomed to walk the earthly realms for the rest of eternity, fuels his celestially enlarged thirst for vengeance to “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” into the susceptible weak shell of his mourning son. Hamlet is obligated to satisfy this plea for his love, loyalty and honour towards his father, idolizing him in earlier scenes as a greek god “Hyperion”, thus deciding to let “the thoughts of love... sweep to my revenge.” He decides then to dedicate his life to revenge and “wipe away all trivial fond records” in order for “thy commandment all alone shall live”. However he is still reluctant to avenge so at the end of the scene he concludes that “the time is out of joint” due to the disruption of the natural order caused by Claudius’ regicide thus by punishing Claudius, he is cleansing the kingdom of Denmark. He amends the task set by the ghost to this noble "purging of evil" quest by commiting regicid, appointing himself with the role of Providence to justify his actions. This is a common step for avengers to take, as they feel as though they have been wronged and take it upon themselves to punish justly. He feels alone being the only one that knows Claudius, instead of being punished for his murder, gets a new wife, and becomes king; what he doesn’t realise is that he has unknowingly he has “tainted” his mind and let his “soul contrive” by analyzing the situation so much, entangling himself in a cesspool of pent-up anger that converts his “secondary” revenge into “primary” or personal vengeance. From this point on, the theme of revenge consumes the central character and hijacks the play in human form.

The common process through which popular characters who choose to take the path of revenge undergo, involves the exposing of the truth to invite the audience’s sympathy, but in this case Horatio too, is asked to inform the rest of the fictional world. From the end of Act One onwards, all of Hamlet’s actions reflect on the single thought in his mind, revenge. He isolates himself with the “antic disposition”, seemingly possessed with unaccountable mood swings where he “fell into a sadness, then into a fast, thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, thence to a lightness” as observed by characters around him. Claudius too, senses a peculiarity, calling on Hamlet’s friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to spy on him. Upon their reunion, we discover Hamlet’s new characteristics, in particular, vigilance and aggression. He continuously asks “Were you not sent for?” to give the pair a chance to confess and join him; he emphasizes that “If you love me, hold not off,” and they do confess, “My lord, we were sent for”. He feels as if he has been betrayed, even though he is forcing his friends to pick sides between the king’s orders and himself. This causes him to feel very alone in the world feeling as though he has “lost all” his “mirth”, replaced by the view, “man delights not me - no, nor woman neither,” a harbour of hate for the human race. The parasitic theme revenge has kicked in as he isolates himself, and elevates himself above others; a classic step for an avenger. It has extensively seeped into every part of Hamlet’s life and completely desecrated his mind, as he places the blame on and separates himself from his fellow humans, and whatsmore convinced himself that he is a higher being, Providence, possessing the right to be a mortal punisher, “prompted... by heaven and hell”. As this new “righteous” character emerges, he finally takes action against Claudius by manipulating the play to “catch the conscience of the King” and justify his revenge to come.

The true extent to which revenge is a central theme may not be evident at first, but with comparison to avengers such as the Count of Monte Cristo in the respective novel and Frank Castle in The Punisher who also take these very steps, its immense influence becomes obvious. In Hamlet itself, Shakespeare creates minor characters, Laertes and Fortinbras, that both seek revenge in unapproved methods. Laertes’ revenge differed as it was fuelled by passion with lack of thought, rushing in to kill the wrongly accused Claudius when it was Hamlet’s crime. Claudius integrates this passion with his own schemes booking in Hamlet’s death. I admired Laertes the most, because he was the only one in the end to resist the “contagion to this world” revenge, halting its extension when he forgives his antagonist calling him “noble Hamlet” and asking him to “exchange forgiveness with me”. Vengeance appears to have originated from Old Hamlet, as we observe the common link between Denmark’s atmosphere of revenge and Fortinbras; somehow revenge had spread all the way to Norway. To affect the main character so deeply with the domino effects of Laertes and Fortinbras which cause in-depth side stories, the central theme has definitely spread to the point that all the plots and characters are affected; ultimately causing so many deaths.

Revenge, however, is not the only main theme of the play; it merely influences the other themes to become the central theme. One main theme is corruption, or something “rotten in the state of Denmark”. Superficially, the corruption points to the regicide being crowned and his incest marriage with his brother’s widow. Although Claudius appears very corrupt, there is not enough information of Old Hamlet to condemn him. With so much revenge in the play, it is hard to believe Claudius’ act of regicide is not also an act of revenge. The “something” rotten, can be seen as the supernaturally amplified desires of vengeance waiting to spring upon many characters. Once entrusted to the central and publicly respected character, revenge was free to conquer any part of Denmark. Claudius remarks, “Revenge should have no bounds”, which was true. Because of Hamlet’s procrastination of “to be, or not to be” the symbiote grew to be a part of Hamlet; even he realised “Yet I have in me something dangerous”. Vengeance had rooted so deep into the play that restraint became hardly possible caused by true madness or loss of conscience, such as Hamlet’s rash, needless murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Even upon reflection he doesn’t regret this, coldly saying “their defeat does by their own insinuation grow”, thus the success in purging Denmark of corruption meant the deaths of most of the characters. Similarly to a leg needing amputation, the theme revenge corrupted such a large portion of the play.

Hamlet uses the main character to portray the characteristics of revenge, essentially isolation, uncontrollability, recklessness and singlemindedness. Embodying the central character enabled it to wreak unlimited havoc and dominate the play. In Shakespearean times taking personal revenge against criminals, such as murderers, was much more respected than nowadays. This allowed Shakespeare to create a main character who is completely consumed and dedicated to his vengeance, willing to sacrifice all relations with friends and family. Even his seemingly close “friendship” with Horatio served purely to justify his revenge. Hamlet illustrates how tragic a life can become when the element revenge is present.