Ignorance: the Downfall and Success from Hamlet

“Ignorance: The downfall and success from Hamlet “
Asma Baig
Thursday, December 18, 2009
ENG -4U0 Per.3
Mr. Ornstein

      Revenge is an action often to seek self satisfaction through the impulsive decisions one may make when they are angry. Many believe that revenge is a form of justice for those who commit crimes or sin.   In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the characters, Young Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras all seek vengeance for the murders of their own fathers. The vulnerable and disrupt emotion of their fathers deaths that came over each of these characters caused them to act irrationally. These characters felt as though it was their duty to seek vengeance, as their fathers could not. When Hamlets father, the deceased King of Denmark reappears in the form of a Ghost, he tells Hamlet, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” (I.v.29). This quotation symbolizes the underlying message of revenge throughout this play. The three characters, Laertes, Young Hamlet and Young Fortinbras are all driven to avenge the deaths of their fathers on their behalf. The outcome of the actions of these three characters makes it difficult to judge whether they were right decisions or wrong ones. These actions are done out of ignorance of where it could lead them and their emotions drive Young Hamlet and Laertes to their downfall of but Young Fortinbras success.
      Throughout the play, Hamlet learns a lot about the people around him from the ghost of his deceased father. The ghost reveals that Claudius is the deceased King’s brother and also his murderer when he says, “The serpent that did sting thy father's life/ Now wears his crown” (I.v.45-46). Not only did Claudius murder Hamlets father, but he also seduced his wife into marrying him. Upon hearing this, Hamlet is only slightly shocked as he already is suspicion about his uncle. Hamlet is given instructions by the ghost of his father to take revenge on his behalf. The ghost explains this when he says, "So art thou...