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Hamlet - A Tragic Comedy

            
             Is Hamlet primarily a tragedy of revenge? State the reasons for your answer.
            
             There are multiple ways to interpreter Hamlet. An interpretation is based on experiences and morals by the individual, and Hamlet is a character in which the meaning of his action depends on the individual's interpretation. As Oscar Wilde wrote: "There are as many Hamlets as there are melancholies"1. This means that it is internal how to interpreter him and his actions. Nevertheless, the majority would say that Hamlet is a remarkably conflicted character, and the story revolves around his questions toward mortality and the humanity in general. Revenge might be a theme on the surface of the play. However, it might be that the acts are a way to illustrate the seemingly meaninglessness of mankind and the actions of the individual. The hunger for revenge results in a tragic death for each of the main characters. This weakens the validity of revenge, as it afflict each of them as well as their enemies. The uselessness of revenge is also emphasizing the question of the existence of the human beings. The story might be a way to indicate a deeper meaning, which lies in the way to interpreter. The manner of the individual's reactions to the story is important to discover the deeper meaning of the play. This way it is extremely individual whether revenge might be a theme or a device to emphasize a deeper meaning of the play.
             As revenge might be the engine of the play, the play is primarily describing Hamlet's inner struggle to take action. Betrayal might also be relevant, as Hamlet experiences a series of treacheries from the ones he trusted. Betrayal and revenge is pulled well together, as revenge is the natural reaction to a betrayal. This brings about an endless cycle, which in Hamlet's case results in tragic death. This reference to the basic instincts might work as a destruction of the logic reasoning. The interpretation and comprehension of the play is probably quite different today, and the original essence of the play might have changed throughout the 400 years.


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