Is 'Hamlet' Primarily a Tragedy of Revenge: Essay

Tragedies are unfortunate events that occur on a daily basis, no matter if they were done on purpose or intentionally. Some things occur for a reason while others cause extreme chaos and distraught. The play Hamlet is based on many tragedies that occur due to one person’s selfish actions. The Elizabethan chain of being is corrupted and horrible things are happening in Denmark to sinful acts and relationships. The person that can be seen as responsible for the horrible things happening is the new king, Claudius. He is the uncle of Hamlet, who murdered his own brother, to marry his wife and steal the throne. Of course, this was seen as incest in Shakespearean times and was frowned upon, especially by the church. One after another, tragedies begin to occur due to Hamlet’s madness after the death of his father. His madness and revengeful state only happen because of the murder of his father by Claudius. The new king has many ideas to get rid of Hamlet, to ensure nothing will happen to his title as king, and gets the help of some people, such as Polonius and Ophelia. He even brings over to his side, Laertes, to help him conduct his final and most unfortunate plan. Hamlet is not the one to blame for the tragedies in Denmark, as Claudius is responsible for these horrible events which are caused by the murder of King Hamlet, his frantic dispositions, and his ability to manipulate Laertes.

The murder of King Hamlet corrupted the Elizabethan chain of being and was the start of all the catastrophes in Denmark. The murder of a King especially by his own brother, by poisoning him, was an ultimate sin and corrupted the peaceful country. This murder also started Hamlet’s descent into madness, which worsened things, all due to Claudius’s selfish actions. The murder of Hamlet’s father began his mission of revenge; to avenge his father’s death and to kill Claudius for stealing the crown and the king’s widow. He began his vengeful mission when he saw the ghost of his father, that asked him to avenge his death. At times, Hamlet did lose confidence and motivation, but regained it from sources, including the players in the Murder of Gonzago and Fortinbras in his march to battle. Upon watching the soldiers walk off into their death for a worthless piece of land, Hamlet can only think about himself,

But greatly to find quarrel in a straw when honor’s at the stake. How stand I then, that

have a father killed, a mother stained, excitements of my reason and my blood, and let all sleep, while to my shame I see the imminent death of twenty thousand men that, for a fantasy and trick of fame, go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, which is not tomb enough and continent to hide the slain? O, from this time forth my thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth. (4.5.55-66)

Hamlet does not understand how twenty thousand men will go off to their death knowingly for something so worthless, while he cannot even avenge his father’s death, something so important and deep to his heart. Claudius has caused this anguish, confusion, and anger within Hamlet that possibly created legitimate madness. Claudius is the one who practically ruined Hamlet’s life, by taking away his father, which led to Hamlet’s severe depression. The murder causes Hamlet to act out and do things he normally would not do. The death of Hamlet’s father really started his madness and led to many more tragedies throughout the play, all due to Claudius’s initial, selfish actions. Claudius is the reason that all these tragedies are occurring in Denmark.

Hamlet’s madness and depression lead to much more than just revenge on Claudius, unfortunately. The pain Claudius brought upon him, made him uneasy and crazy, which led up to the death of Claudius’s good friend, Polonius. The scene of Polonius’s death occurs in Gertrude’s room when she is speaking to Hamlet and Polonius is behind the curtains, spying, which is all a plan, created by Claudius, that, of course, does not end well, as Hamlet caught Polonius spying and stabbed him with his sword through the curtains. Hamlet would have never knowingly killed Polonius, the incident only occurs because Hamlet thought it was Claudius behind the curtains and he had a moment of courage and thought it was his opportunity to avenge his father’s death. Hamlet was in utter disbelief when he discovers it is Polonius who is dead and not Claudius and he exclaims to the queen, “Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune: thou findest to be too busy is some danger” (3.4.31-33). Polonius was the fool, who would always follow Claudius’s orders like he was his slave or puppet, with no reward in the end. This task that Claudius gave to him to spy ended in his death, taking away an innocent man who was dealing with an evil one, who has now caused the second tragedy of the play. If it was not for Claudius telling Polonius to go and spy on Hamlet, Polonius could still be alive with his daughter and son, but he is now possible in heaven or wandering in purgatory. It seems it is Hamlet’s fault because he is the one who stabbed Polonius, but he truly just believed it was Claudius and he wanted to take action. Polonius’s death could have been avoided if Claudius had not killed his own brother. Polonius’s death is significant because it takes a turn in the plot, as Claudius is now extremely scared of what Hamlet is capable of and must find a way to get rid of him, to ensure his own safety, and of course, his crown. The killing of Polonius gives Claudius the perfect opportunity to banish his crazy nephew from Denmark and send him away, so he would not jeopardize his kingdom. This death was just another tragedy that occurred in Denmark, which can be blamed on Claudius’s plans that went wrong again.

Polonius’s death led to another tragedy, of his own daughter, which led to further madness and misery. Ophelia could not bear the news when she heard her father had been murdered, by her own lover, Hamlet. She was heartbroken and devastated, that the murder led her to her own madness and sorrow. Ophelia could not control her emotions, which led to her own death. She was found in the water, drowned, and surrounded by flowers. It is questioned whether or not she committed suicide or it was by accident, but by the way, she had been acting, her madness must have led to her drowning. Ophelia was in complete shock when her father died and she missed him a lot. Her craziness and sadness are genuine, as she begins singing to the queen about the loss of her father and says to her, “Well, good did you. They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God is at your table” (4.5.42-44). Ophelia spoke to Claudius in such a frantic tone, stating to him that she hopes he gets what he deserves as if she knows that he is up to no good, and hopes that God will help him. It is a cycle of tragedies that all began with the death of King Hamlet; Polonius died because Hamlet thought it was Claudius, so he was ready to seek revenge for his father’s death and now Ophelia died because she could not take the pain of knowing her father was dead. On Ophelia’s frantic disposition, she began handing out flowers, and to Claudius, she gave him fennel and columbines. Fennel represents flattery and columbines represents deceit/lying. These two flowers were specifically given to Claudius because he is a man who loved attention but is also two-faced and a terrible person. Claudius’s action continues to harm everybody and continue to ruin the state of Denmark. This death of Polonius did good to nobody, as Laertes was furious at the murder of his father and Ophelia could not come to terms with it as she says,

I hope all will be well. We must be patient. But I cannot choose but weep to think they would lay him on the cold ground. My brother shall know of it. And so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach. Good night, ladies, good night. Sweet ladies, good night, good night. (4.5.68-72)

Her tears are uncontrollable as her heart is broken to pieces, visioning the image of her father left there to die on the cold ground. She needed her brother's help to recover and to reassure her things would be ok, but not enough comfort or support could be given to her as her mind was at a loss and she no longer saw a reason to live, almost like Hamlet who questioned whether to live or die. The death of Ophelia is a continuation of the cycle of tragedies in Denmark that all started because of King Claudius.

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A person must be extremely vicious and cold-hearted to murder their own brother and then marry his wife, almost immediately after his death. Hamlet hated this relationship between his mother and uncle, as it was purely incestuous and was a major sin to be committed, especially by the royal family. Hamlet grew a hatred towards his mother when she married his uncle, his father’s brother, as it was so close to the death of his father. Claudius did this to gain everything that was his brother’s; the throne and his wife's. Hamlet never came to terms with this horrible marriage as he proclaimed his feelings,

O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer - married with my uncle, my father’s brother - but no more like my father than I to Hercules. Within a month, ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears had left the flushing her galled eyes, she married - o most wicked speed! To post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! (1.2.150-157)

Hamlet is furious with how quick the wedding was, with not even enough time for his own mother’s tears to dry off from his father’s funeral. She was quick to jump into an incestuous relationship, giving herself no time to grieve or to even inform her son of the new marriage. Hamlet’s heart is broken and he is left to his own silence, which drives his depression and madness even further. This was all a part of Claudius’s several plans because marrying the queen was an automatic entrance to the throne, and he would replace his brother immediately. After the death of Polonius, Hamlet makes a comparison of his father and uncle; his father was a good man, with such grace and loved by everyone, and then his uncle is like a moldy ear of corn, unworthy of his mother’s love. He clearly hates Claudius because he has so much anger and sadness within him, knowing that his mother is sleeping with the man who killed his father and she was so clueless. Hamlet continues throwing to his mother’s face her incestuous relationship and that he would never accept it as he states, “In the rank of the sweat of an enseamed bed, stewed in corruption, honeying and making love over the nasty sty (3.4.92-94). Their marriage is fueled by lies and corrupted love. Claudius is in this relationship for his own selfish purposes, as all he wanted was to get rid of his brother. Hamlet is disgusted by the image of his mother in bed with his uncle, making love, in such terrible circumstances. Claudius loses no time to flaunt his relationship with Gertrude in front of Hamlet at any moment he possibly has to hurt him even more.

Claudius seemed desperate to get rid of Hamlet and to make sure nobody would find out that he is a murderer. He frantically attempted many desperate actions to find a way to find out if Hamlet was truly mad or if he was actually on to him and knew the truth. He would pressure people such as Polonius and Ophelia to help him out and watch for Hamlet. Polonius spied on Hamlet a few times, under Claudius’s orders, and Ophelia was asked to speak to Hamlet to find out if he really was crazy or faking it. Even Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were given tasks by the king to eliminate Hamlet. One of Claudius’s plans was to get Ophelia to speak with Hamlet as he spied with Polonius, to understand whether it is his love that makes him suffer, as Claudius explains this to Gertrude,

Sweet Gertrude, leave us too, for we have closely sent for Hamlet hither that hem as ‘there by accident, may here affront Ophelia. Her father and myself, lawful espials, we’ll so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen, we may of their encounter frankly judge, and gather by him, as he has behaved, it be the affliction of his love or no That thus he suffers for. (3.1.29-37)

The plan did not result as planned, as Hamlet’s madness does not come from his love, in fact, Hamlet is very rude to Ophelia and declares that he never loved her and it was all a mistake. This was all a part of Hamlet’s own act to trick everybody and confuse Claudius even more, which angered him further. Polonius always wants to please the king and do things that will earn him appraisal, that is why he tells the king, “My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet. Behind the arras, I’ll convey myself to hear the process” (3.3.27-29). Polonius would spy on Hamlet once again to help out Claudius, which unfortunately resulted in his own death. Both Ophelia and Polonius were a part of Claudius’s schemes that created tragedies within the play, only proving that Claudius’s action created all this chaos in Denmark.

The fear of being caught was taunting Claudius, especially after the play Hamlet put on, so he had to find a way to get rid of him, immediately. After witnessing the play Hamlet put on, which replicated the murder of his father, Claudius became extremely worried that Hamlet did this on purpose to frame him or get a confession out of him. He knew he had to do something about Hamlet and that is when he got the idea of sending him away and said,

I like him not, nor stands it safe with us to let his madness range. Therefore prepare you, I your commission will forthwith dispatch, and he to England shall along with you. The terms of our estate may not endure hazard so near us as doth hourly grow out of his brows. (3.3.1-7)

Claudius wants to send Hamlet away by boat to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, so he would not be a danger or a worry to him any longer. He told the others it was the best way to keep Denmark safe, but truly he was trying to avoid getting caught by the kingdom for the murder of his brother. Claudius continues to find ways to cover up his horrible crime, which continues to tarnish the chain of being in Denmark. Hamlet’s departure to England was meant to be his last voyage, as Claudius had sent a letter on board to the king of England, for the moment Hamlet arrived, to kill him. Claudius is causing tragedy after tragedy, just to assure his own safety. This letter then leads to the death of both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, as they were slain instead of Hamlet, as he switched the letters and was freed, back to Denmark. Claudius’s plan was not achieved and Hamlet returned, adding two more tragedies that were led by Claudius’s frantic dispositions.