Hamlet as a Victim Essay Example

Hamlet has been a very scrutinized character in the literature and theater worlds ever since the play, “Hamlet,” premiered back in 1603. Hamlet has been widely criticized for being cripplingly indecisive, extremely vengeful, and his negative impact on other characters in the play. Most would probably say that at best Hamlet is a tragic hero and at worst the underlying villain of the play, but is there a case favoring Hamlet as one of the victims? The play of “Hamlet” takes place in fourteenth century Denmark and is centered around the royal family following the death of Hamlet’s father, King Hamlet. What’s abnormal about this ordeal is that Hamlet’s uncle, Claudius, remarried Hamlet’s mother, the queen, Gertrude, just after two months of King Hamlet passing away. Hamlet’s psychological state was deeply damaged by this already, but coupled with learning that his father had died at the hands of his uncle forced Hamlet to seek vengeance for his father’s death no matter the cost. Although Hamlet has been painted by many experts as a villain or a tragic hero, Hamlet shows that he is a victim because his actions are responsive to Claudius’s malevolence, and he is always apologetic when forced to make decisions that hurt good people.

To begin, Hamlet proves himself to be a victim by only doing things in response to Claudius. For instance, in Act V, Hamlet has to change the letter to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed to save himself: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for England; of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell”(Hamlet 221). Hamlet’s alteration of the letters was completely reactionary to Claudius’s actions; if Claudius had never planned a trip to have Hamlet be executed in England, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern would have survived. Continuing, Claudius develops another plan to kill Hamlet: “Let’s further think of this, Weigh what convenience both of time and means May fit us to our shape. If this should fail, And that our drift look through our bad performance, ‘Twere better not assayed. Therefore this project Should have a back or second that might hold If this did blast in proof”(Hamlet 233). Claudius’s plan to have Laertes kill Hamlet results in many other people dying as collateral in Claudius’s plan. Cladius’s influence on Hamlet’s decisions led to many innocent characters losing their lives.

Secondly, Hamlet was always mournful for the unnecessary victims that got involved in the plot to avenge his father. For example, Shakespeare wrote, “I do repent; but heaven hath pleased it so To punish me with this and this with me, That I must be their scourge and minister. I will bestow him and will answer well The death I gave him. So, again, good night. I must be cruel only to be kind”(Hamlet 181). At this moment, Hamlet understands that killing Polonius was wrong and that it was never intentional. By saying, “I must be cruel only to be kind,” Hamlet says that he has to do bad things to good people in order to avenge his father’s death, but he hates the act of doing so. Next, Hamlet explains his love for Ophelia: “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers Could not with all their quantity of love Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?”(Hamlet 255). Hamlet’s rage towards Ophelia’s brother at this instance gives a great idea for how much Hamlet truly loved her. Hamlet understood that much of what he did to Ophelia was wrong and complete madness, and that messing with her emotions was what led her to this state, but this outburst shows that he never stopped caring for her.

In conclusion, Hamlet should be viewed as a victim because his actions were usually retaliatory towards Cladius’s schemes, and Hamlet never wanted to hurt the good people that he did. The very idea of Hamlet is one that can be transcribed into many other areas in our lives. Throughout history people have used the villain, victim, and hero archetypes to describe most people around them. Hamlet helps demonstrate that there are always two sides to every coin. Most people would look at the things Hamlet did and think that he’s irredeemable and should be condemned, but a deeper look into someone like Hamlet proves that there are reasons behind every action. Whenever faced with someone who may seem hopeless, or may have done awful things to the wrong people, remember Hamlet.