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Mitchell Wilkins
Mrs. Carter
AP Lit and Comp
6 February 2014
The Failed Avenger
Hamlet is revolved around the idea of Prince Hamlet seeking revenge for the unrighteous
death of his father. The play includes symbolism and motifs of many kinds, but the role Hamlet
plays in striving to achieve that revenge is the keystone of the entire play. Throughout the
writing, Hamlet interacts with many different characters and is witness to much drama, and these
instances and interactions is what influences Hamlets way of thinking. His ultimate goal, that of
revenge and satisfaction through the death of King Claudius, is ultimately futile in that he is
unable to fulfill his wishes due to the decisions he makes.
With Act I Scene V being the introductory scene in which Hamlet learns of his fathers
ultimate misfortune, Hamlet is under the impression that he unquestionably knows what he will
do. His mindset is composed of finding out the truth for himself, and if it be so, he will go
through with what his deceased Father has asked of him. Prince Hamlet is furiated with the idea
that it may be true, and exclaims towards King Claudius O Villain, villain, smiling, damned
villain! (H.I.v.43). This scene begins Hamlets plight to avenge his father, yet the acts to follow
prove that his seemingly unchanging mindset is more wavering than he had yet understood. The
Act ends with Hamlet talking to Horatio and Marcellus. After summarizing his recent events, he
makes them swear to keep their knowledge private. The tone of the end of the act is concrete and
determined, yet that ideology quickly changes with the scenes to follow.
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With the events contained in Act 2, Hamlet begins to understand that his previously
strong-minded attitude towards what he needs to accomplish have changed. Scene ii portrays
players who reenact the fall of Troy and the death of the Trojan King and Queen. After
witnessing their performance, Hamlet beings to question himself. He wonders how the player
could possible have had Tears in his eyes, distraction ins aspect/ A broken voice, and his whole
function suiting/ With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing! (H.II.ii.75). The realization
that an actor who has no care for an insignificant past event can build up so much emotion, yet
he can come no where close to the same level of remorse, leaves Hamlet in a state of confusion
and panic. Thinking on his feet, he proposes to himself that he will ask the players to reenact the
death of his own father and watch the expression of Claudius with the intention of finding out the
truth. Despite the fact that facial expressions cannot prove someones guilt, Hamlet regains some
of his past determination. His goals have been challenged, and this scene represents how Hamlet
responds to situations he had not previously expected hed have to deal with.
A few acts later, taking place in Act 4 Scene 4, Hamlet is introduced with the knowledge
that Fortinbras is passing through Denmark on their ultimate goal of a small patch of land in
Poland. This situation is influential to the plays outcome in two ways. The first being that it
shows the deceit Fortinbras has over the kingdom of Denmark. The King and Queen believe that
the soldiers of Norway simply want a safe passage through their country, yet Fortinbras is using
the distraction to head easily towards the kingdom. The second revolves around the ironic
realization of Hamlet, that these soldiers are so dedicated to achieve an area of land that means
nothing to them but the name. Hamlet has so much to be distraught over, yet isnt at the same
emotional level as these soldiers are over a fake capture of a small piece of land. In response to
this, Hamlet asks himself How stand I then,/ That have a father killd, a mother staind,/
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Excitements of my reason and my blood,/ And let all sleep, while to muy shame I see/ The
imminent death of twenty thousand men (H.IV.iv, 129). This realization was simply
foreshadowed by Hamlets previous soliloquy of his concern over the players emotion. This
scene is the accumulation of all of Hamlets emotions and triumph that lead him to the
acknowledgement that he is weak. He is unable to complete his fathers wishes because he is not
strong enough to act upon them.
The three soliloquies mentioned previously all act together in that they show Hamlet to
be an unsuccessful revenger. He has the desire to do what is asked of him and understand why it
is important, but lacks what is needed to follow through with it.
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