Why Is Revenge Important In Hamlet

In the famous play, The Tragedy of Hamlet Prince of Denmark, William Shakespeare alludes to the action of revenge, and whether or not it is justifiable. There are many characters throughout the play who have reasons to seek revenge, two of those being Hamlet and Laertes. Both men seek justice for their father’s murders, which seems a noble thing, but ultimately causes more death. Shakespeare uses these two characters to illustrate the idea that revenge only leads to more tragedy. Justice is a term used to describe just treatment, but there is a fine line between justice and revenge. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is overwhelmed with emotions when his father is found dead. He is stricken with grief, until his father appears to him as a ghost, and informs him that his
Laertes is a brother and a son. He loves his family above all else. When his father is murdered and his sister kills herself, he seeks revenge. Laertes family dies at the hands of Hamlet. Laertes sister, Ophelia, was Hamlet's lover. She commits suicide when Hamlet becomes consumed by his madness for revenge. Laertes father, Polonius, was also killed by Hamlet's quest for revenge. While everyone believed Hamlet to have gone mad, Polonius was spying on Hamlet. He was eventually caught and stabbed. Although Hamlet believed he was killing his uncle, Polonius was dead all the same. Laertes, stricken with sadness and anger, conspires with King Claudius to end Hamlet’s life, for revenge and for justice. His desire for revenge succeeds. He poisons Hamlet, but this also leads to his own death, and the death of the King and Queen. On his deathbed he feels no joy, but regrets the decisions he made, “I am justly killed with mine own treachery” (5.2.337). These words prove that Laertes felt his actions were wrong and that he deserved to die. Laertes, yearning for revenge, caused more tragedy, and justice did not