Introduction
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the prince, Hamlet, is in a difficult situation. In the start of the act, a ghost arrives and tells him to seek vengeance for the death of his father, the former king of Denmark. According to the information provided by the spirit, King Claudipa, his uncle and current king, is the true offender. Ideally, King Claudipa's marriage to his brother's wife demonstrates that he was an adulterer. Here's an example of a discussion between the two in the act:
GHOST:
I think thee appropriate; and duller should thou be than the thick weed that roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, Wouldst thou not stir in this? Now, Hamlet, listen. ’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me. So the whole ear of Denmark is by a forged process of my death rankly abused. But know, thou noble youth, the serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown.
HAMLET:
O, my prophetic soul! My uncle!" (Shakespeare).
Hamlet's Analysis
Hamlet deeply gets to the truth of this matter, and, based on his personal analysis, King Claudius is guilty. Science typically cannot prove that an individual is guilty or not guilty; this is because there is not a tool to quantify guilt. However, psychology can be beneficial area to study perceptions and relate events to personal reactions. Prince Hamlet had no evidence to prove that his uncle was guilty, but, using staged events, he was able to have a clue that King Claudius had a hand in the death of Prince Hamlet’s father. Nonetheless, he had to complete his mission, however hard it was, as he wanted total justice for his father (Shakespeare).
Revenge and Justice in Hamlet
Considering Hamlet’s case, the whole thing from a personal perspective brings in the issue of revenge and justice. The following questions come up from Hamlet’s reading; for example, while Hamlet seeks to find out the truth about his father’s death and inflict pain on the praetor – does he gets the justice he desires? Based on the act, Hamlet does not get the peace and justice he wants. Even though he manages to kill his uncle, several events transpire that one way or another it fuels a whole lot of regrets. Events unfold differently and unexpected, as Hamlet kills Polonius, thinking he was King Claudius. More so, his mother now married to King Claudius, drinks poison prepared for a Hamlet by mistake and dies. On the other hand, Hamlet reacts by killing his uncle King Claudius, and, later on, Hamlet dies too (Shakespeare).
The Effects of Revenge
Based on Hamlet’s situation, it all seems that revenge does not provide closure to a problem, but does the extreme opposite – keeping wounds open and conditions more dangerous. Hamlet’s willingness to sacrifice his well-being and punish his adulterous uncle is based on allegations that are baseless, and it would be beneficial to relent. Scientifically, revenge is quite rewarding, but psychologically, how long does revenge keep rewarding? For example, will the short term excitement that one feels after killing a perpetrator last forever or does it diminish with time? Does one find justice by revenging and killing a wrongdoer? These are questions that science is forever closed to answer, but psychology can.
The Long-Term Consequences of Revenge
In the human knowledge, one often holds the belief that revenge is a form of emotional relief, but what is failed to be considered deeply is that revenge has adverse effects in the long run. Psychologically, revenge does not quench hostility, but prolongs the pain of the experienced situation instead. In real life, revenge does not deliver justice, but creates a series of retaliations that can eventually destroy the victim’s life. Hamlet’s pursuit for justice through revenge was met with lots of problems that might have never occurred had he accepted the situation and moved on. In essence, it is worth understanding that revenge and vengeance increase emotional pain, and, at times, trigger catastrophic physical consequences. The readiness to pursue revenge punishes an individual harshly. The only satisfying form of revenge is the one that brings long-term emotional goodness; it does have to be physical but has to be more embedded towards growth.
References
Shakespeare, W. (n.d.). Hamlet. Retrieved on April 9, 2017 from http://www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/?chapter=5&play=Ham
