Hamlet as a Revenge Tragedy

Hamlet as a Revenge Tragedy

“Revenge, at first though sweet, bitter ere long back on itself recoils.” – Milton
This timeless observation captures the essence of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where revenge is not merely a plot device but the soul of the tragedy. Shakespeare transforms the conventional Senecan revenge motif into a profound psychological and moral exploration. In Hamlet, vengeance becomes a haunting force that consumes the hero, compelling him to confront questions of duty, morality, and the frailty of human will. The play thus transcends the boundaries of a simple revenge narrative to become a mirror of the human soul torn between action and reflection.

Shakespeare and the Source of the Play:

William Shakespeare (1564–1616), the greatest dramatist of the English Renaissance, composed Hamlet around 1600. The story originates from the Danish legend of Amleth, narrated by Saxo Grammaticus and later retold in Belleforest’s Histoires Tragiques. Scholars believe there existed an earlier version of the story—often called the Ur-Hamlet, probably written by Thomas Kyd—which already contained the ghost and revenge elements. Shakespeare, however, gave the legend philosophical depth and emotional complexity unmatched in earlier treatments.

The Birth of Revenge Tragedy:

The revenge tragedy evolved from the Senecan model. Seneca, a Roman dramatist, popularized plays featuring ghosts, bloody violence, moral dilemmas, and rhetorical speeches (e.g., Thyestes, Medea). In England, Thomas Kyd’s The Spanish Tragedy (1587) established the pattern for later plays, that include the following:

1. A murder demanding vengeance

2. The appearance of a ghost urging revenge

3. Delay and mental conflict in the avenger

4. Madness (real or feigned)

5. Violent catastrophe on stage

Shakespeare inherited these conventions but transcended them by focusing on the inner struggles of the avenger.

Revenge Elements in Hamlet:

In Hamlet, all the major features of a conventional revenge play appear:

1. The Ghost: King Hamlet’s spirit charges his son, “If thou didst ever thy dear father love… Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.”

2. The Delay: Hamlet hesitates, torn between his duty and moral scruples.

3. Madness: He assumes an “antic disposition” (Act I, Scene v) to conceal his intentions.

4. Violence: Polonius’s accidental death, Ophelia’s madness, and the final duel mark the play’s bloody course.

5. Catastrophe: The stage is littered with corpses—Gertrude, Claudius, Laertes, and finally Hamlet himself.

Yet, unlike other revenge tragedies, Shakespeare’s hero is not driven by passion alone. His conscience, intellect, and sense of morality complicate his path to vengeance.

Scenes Illustrating the Theme of Revenge:

Several pivotal scenes dramatize Hamlet’s evolving quest:

1. Act I, Scene v – The Ghost’s revelation ignites Hamlet’s mission.

2. Act II, Scene ii – Hamlet decides to test Claudius’s guilt through a play:

“The play’s the thing / Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the King.”

3. Act III, Scene iii – He spares Claudius at prayer:

“Now might I do it pat, now he is praying… And so am I revenged? That would be scanned.”

4. Act V, Scene ii – The final duel enacts divine retribution:

“There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will.”

Through these moments, revenge becomes a journey of moral awakening, not mere bloodshed.

Fusion of Revenge with Other Themes:

Shakespeare enriches the revenge motif by blending it with other profound themes:

A. Moral Conscience – Hamlet questions the righteousness of revenge.

B. Mortality – The graveyard scene reminds him of life’s transience.

C. Corruption – Claudius’s guilt mirrors Denmark’s decay.

D. Fate and Providence – Hamlet resigns himself to divine will.

Thus, revenge becomes a philosophical inquiry into human duty, justice, and destiny.

Shakespeare’s Mastery:

Shakespeare shifts focus from external action to inner turmoil. Revenge is not just a deed in Hamlet. It becomes a struggle of conscience. As A. C. Bradley in Shakespearean Tragedy notes, 'The cause of Hamlet’s tragedy lies in the conflict between his duty to avenge and his nature that shrinks from the act.' Hamlet’s hesitation shows his moral and psychological depth. This makes the play more than a simple revenge tragedy.

Other Characters and the Awareness of Revenge:

Several characters recognize Hamlet’s disturbed state. Claudius fears his hidden purpose:“Madness in great ones must not unwatched go.” (Act III, Scene i) Laertes, by contrast, becomes a foil—seeking instant vengeance for his father’s death:“I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father.” Their contrasting responses emphasize Hamlet’s moral hesitation.

Summing Up: Revenge Transformed into Reflection:

In Hamlet, Shakespeare elevates revenge from a crude impulse to a profound moral dilemma. The play begins as a revenge tragedy and culminates as a tragedy of conscience. Hamlet’s struggle is not simply to kill Claudius, but to reconcile duty, morality, and divine justice.

“Thus conscience does make cowards of us all.” (Act III, Scene i)

Ultimately, Shakespeare’s art turns vengeance into spiritual inquiry. Through poetic grandeur and psychological depth, Hamlet transcends its Senecan roots and stands as the tragedy of thought—where justice, conscience, and destiny are in perpetual conflict.  It remains not merely the greatest revenge tragedy, but one of the supreme tragedies of the human soul.