Revenge vs justice(macbath)
Revenge vs justice(macbath)Revenge causes one to act blinding through anger, rather than through reason. It is a part of human nature that forces us to seek revenge against the person who has granted us with pain. But following the principle of an “eye for eye, tooth for tooth”, is not intelligent way to pursue justice. This is the same case in the play Hamlet written by Shakespeare, in the 16--------th century. In the play the two of the character’s fathers are brutishly murdered. The first murder character is the king Hamlet who is supposed to be revenged by his son prince Hamlet to king Claudius. The second murder of Lord Polonius supposes to be revenge by his son Laertes. Both Prince Hamlet and Laertes go to seek revenge for the death of their fathers. The revenges lead to the death of the entire Royal family. Also Fortinbras, King of Norway, was killed by King Hamlet; slain by sword during the duel. So Prince of Norway, son of King Fortinbras seeks for revenge on Denmark of his father’s death. Also revenge is improper and wrong way to punish someone for his fault. Their acts of emotion lead to the downfall of two, and the rise to power of one.
After the death of King Hamlet, King Claudius married late Hamlet’s wife, Queen Gertrude. Prince Hamlet, son of King Hamlet has a meeting with the ghost of his death father king Hamlet. Ghost conveys to his son that his own brother Claudius has murdered him. “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life / Now wears his crown.” (I, v, 39-40). His father’s ghost informs Hamlet that he needs him to take revenge through the death of his brother Claudius.
The ghost also asks Hamlet to:
Let not the royal bed of the Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damned incest
But, howsoever thou pursuest this actd
Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive
Against thy mother ought; leave her to heaven,
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge
To pick and sting her. (I, v, 84-89).
The ghost asks to take revenge without hurting his mother because she does not know any thing and she is a “seeming-virtuous queen;” ”(I, v, 47).
Hamlet already hates Claudius even before he met the ghost. His views about Claudius can be seen in the soliloquy, when Hamlet compares his father to King Claudius. “ So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr / My father’s brother, but no more like my father”(I, ii, 139-140). He also incenses his mother for marring Claudius almost immediately after the death of his father. The rejection of Ophelia and the marriage of his mother and the shocking news from the ghost make Prince Hamlet panics and make him upset. Hamlet first decides to act insane. Ophelia’s father thinks that the ignorance of Ophelia causes Hamlet madness. Hamlet’s mood changes...
To view the complete essay, you be registered.