Revenge and Justice in Hamlet: A Complex Relationship

Shakespeare’s play Hamlet revolves around the theme of revenge, but it also explores how revenge can sometimes undermine true justice.

Hamlet’s Immediate Reaction to Crime

At the start of the play, Hamlet is devastated by the death of his father, King Hamlet. When the ghost of his father appears and reveals that he was murdered by Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, Hamlet is consumed by a powerful

urge for revenge. The ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his death. Hamlet’s reaction is immediate and intense; he wants to act as swiftly as possible, even faster than thought itself. The ghost says, “with wings as swift / As meditation,” showing how quickly Hamlet wants to move.

This reaction shows that revenge is Hamlet’s first instinct. It is a primal, emotional response to the crime of his father’s murder. By focusing on revenge right away, Hamlet’s thoughts and actions are driven by immediate feelings rather than careful consideration of justice.

Revenge vs. Justice

While revenge seems like a straightforward response, it complicates the idea of justice. Justice means making sure that wrongdoing is righted in a fair and moral way. However, Hamlet’s drive for revenge often leads him to act impulsively, which causes more harm than good.

One clear example is the killing of Polonius. Hamlet mistakenly believes that Claudius is hiding behind a curtain and stabs Polonius, killing him. This

act of revenge, driven by Hamlet’s frustration and anger, is not only an accident but also unjust. It shows how revenge can lead to unintended consequences and suffering.

Furthermore, Hamlet’s actions indirectly lead to the suffering of others. Ophelia, Polonius’s daughter, becomes distraught over her father’s death

and Hamlet’s strange behavior. Her madness and eventual death are consequences of Hamlet’s quest for revenge. The ripple effect of Hamlet’s actions shows how personal revenge can cause widespread harm.

The Role of Divine Justice

Despite Hamlet’s focus on revenge, the play also highlights the importance of divine justice. In Act 3, Scene 3, Hamlet finds Claudius alone, kneeling

and praying. Claudius is confessing his sins, hoping to be forgiven by God. For people in Elizabethan times, confession was a sacred act, and it was believed to allow a person to be forgiven and achieve redemption.

In this scene, Hamlet considers killing Claudius while he is praying but decides against it. He believes that if he kills Claudius while he is

confessing, Claudius might go to heaven instead of being punished for his sins. Hamlet wants to ensure that Claudius suffers for his crimes, so he decides to wait for a better moment to strike.

This decision shows that, despite his intense desire for revenge, Hamlet is still concerned with moral and divine justice. He wants to make sure that justice is truly served, not just through personal retribution but also by ensuring that Claudius is held accountable in a more meaningful way.

The Tragic Outcome

As the play progresses, the focus on revenge leads to a series of tragic events. The final act of the play shows how revenge and justice become entangled in a deadly confrontation.

Hamlet and Laertes, who also seeks revenge for his father’s death, engage in a duel. The duel is set up with poisoned weapons and drinks, leading to multiple deaths, including Hamlet’s, Laertes’s, Queen Gertrude’s, and Claudius’s.

These deaths reveal how the pursuit of revenge can escalate into a cycle of violence and destruction. The initial quest for revenge ends in a tragic conclusion, where the notion of justice is overshadowed by the consequences of vengeful actions.

In Hamlet, revenge is portrayed as an instinctive response to crime, often taking precedence over the pursuit of true justice. Hamlet’s initial reaction to his father’s murder is driven by a powerful urge for vengeance.

However, as the play unfolds, it becomes clear that this focus on revenge complicates the idea of justice and leads to unintended suffering and tragedy.

Despite Hamlet’s personal drive for revenge, the play also emphasizes the importance of moral and divine justice. Hamlet’s hesitation to kill Claudius while he is praying reflects a concern for ensuring that justice is served in a fair and meaningful way. Ultimately, the play illustrates the complex relationship between revenge and justice, showing that while revenge can be a powerful and immediate response, it does not always achieve true justice and can often lead to tragic outcomes.