“Hamlet” as a revenge play

Answer

Point out and elucidate the unconventional aspects that characterize “Hamlet” as a revenge play. [2021]

William Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) “Hamlet,” written between 1599-1601, is one of the greatest tragedies ever written. On the surface, it seems like a revenge play because Hamlet tries to take revenge for his father’s murder. But Shakespeare made it very different from other revenge plays of his time. He added deep thoughts, emotions, and moral questions that made “Hamlet” an unconventional revenge tragedy. The play is not only about killing the guilty; it is about Hamlet’s inner conflict.

Hamlet’s Doubt about the Ghost: In most revenge plays, the hero quickly tries to take his revenge. But in “Hamlet,” the ghost of King Hamlet only begins a long journey of doubt in Hamlet’s mind. The ghost of King Hamlet tells Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, who has taken the throne. The ghost tells Hamlet to avenge his murder. Normally, a typical hero would plan immediate action. But Hamlet does not. He is confused about whether the ghost is truly his father or an evil spirit trying to mislead him. He thinks:

“The spirit that I have seen may be a devil.”

This hesitation makes “Hamlet” different from traditional revenge plays, which focus more on action than on thought.

Hamlet’s Overthinking and Delay: Unlike the heroes of traditional revenge plays, Hamlet spends a lot of time thinking. He is not a man of action. He thinks and overthinks, but is unable to decide whether to kill his uncle or not. He suffers from mental pain. In his famous speech, he says,

“To be or not to be, that is the question.”

Here, Hamlet wonders whether it is better to live and suffer or to die and end all pain. His mind is full of questions and thoughts, so he cannot act immediately. This long inner debate adds a psychological depth