¶ … revenged activates the actual action of revenge, as demonstrated in "Hamlet" and "The Revenger's Tragedy," however, we may be in doubt when cataloguing their actions as logical and premeditated (Vindice) or full of incertitude and hesitance.
Indeed, in my opinion, it is an important note to be made, as the originality of each main character is not determined as much by their underlying motivation, common in both cases, but by the road that takes them to their revenge action. In this sense, it seems useful to emphasize that, despite the obvious similarities between the two plays and the two main characters, driven by the fact that they both belong to the revenge genre, there are differences worth noting in each approach towards revenge for each play in part.
Both plays share the same underlying motivation for Hamlet and Vindici: someone close has been treacherously murdered. In Vindici's case, it was his beloved, nine years before the play's action, poisoned by the Duke because she refused to submit to him. Additionally, Vindici's father also died because of the Duke. Opportunistic and realistic, perhaps reminding us of a modern paid assassin, with one goal in his mind, getting the job done. In the first scene, we are introduced to the reason behind his plotting and his revenge, "the old duke poison'd, / Because thy purer part would not consent / Unto his palsy-lust, for old men lustful" (Middleton, I.i.). Vindici simply awaits for the right moment to strike and achieve his vengeance: "the small'st advantage fattens wronged men, / It may point out. Occasion, if I meet her, / I'll hold her by the foretop fast enough" (Middleton, I.i.).
On the other hand, Hamlet never lets us believe that he may not have the opportunity of committing the act of revenge. As several critics point out, "there is no suggestion from Hamlet himself that there are any such external difficulties"
Revenge Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado," Andre Dubus's "Killings," and Louise Eldrich's "Fleur" are all short stories about revenge. Although they treat the theme of revenge differently, the authors show that the exacting of revenge can indeed be a satisfying finale to a life consumed by tragedy. In each of these three short stories, revenge is depicted as an act that fulfills the protagonists' deepest need. Therefore, guilt does
The inclusion of an immortal spirit as a key catalytic character in the play underscores Shakespeare's intention. Hamlet states, "For this same lord, / I do repent…I must be their scourge and minister," (Act III, Scene 4). Here, Hamlet clearly sees himself placed in the unfortunate roll of champion of spiritual justice. Antigone is perhaps even more directly concerned with spiritual matters than with mundane law. The realm of human
Revenge is contagious. Titus begins the wave of revenge when he sacrifices Tamora's son. Her reaction demonstrates her humanity in a sense. She is outraged, vows revenge and schemes with Aaron to frame Titus' sons for murder. Revenge is more than simply "getting even" in some cases. For Tamora, revenge involves getting even but doing so in the most painful of ways. Her request for her boys to do away
. that the manslayer who killed any person by accident may flee into.' Willful murderers were not entitled to such refuge from the 'blood avenger,' but accidental killers were entitled to protection until passions cooled. The Bible recognized that the passion for revenge may be just as great against the accidental killer as against the premeditated murderer (124)." Dershowitz is succinct and exact in his analysis, and even the most
(Terry 1070) The play Hamlet therefore reflects this complex change in the honor code and the way that personal elements were being integrated into the traditional view of honor. The characters of Hamlet and Laertes also show this complexity in their motives and actions. Terry points out that there was no clear distinction between the different honor codes at the time but that there was rather an overlapping of elements
In Defense of the WoodcutterThe woodcutter\\\'s account stands out because he is the one who discovers the body. His description is simple and does not seem to have any of the emotional bias seen in the other testimonies. He describes the state of the body, the position, and the items found around it (for example, a rope and a comb), but he makes no claim to have witnessed the actual
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now