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Examples Of Justice In Hamlet

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William Shakespeare’s most recognized work, Hamlet, tells the story of a young man (Hamlet) who seeks to avenge his father’s death, by killing the man who murdered him (Claudius). Hamlet’s sense of justice is defined as noble retribution tasked to him by the ghost of his father. This justice is driven by loyalty to his father and the pursuit to prove Claudius’ guilt of the crime in order to kill him justly. However, his plan is flawed as he fails to take action due to his weak disposition and recklessness, delaying his revenge, causing the main tragedy at the end of the play in which other acts of justice are also avenged, costing the lives of the main group of characters, including himself. Hamlet’s sense of justice can be seen developed in the first Act where he is driven to get revenge against Claudius. In Act 1 scene 2, Hamlet states in a soliloquy how he laments his father's death and makes known his distaste for Claudius as the new ruler of Denmark. in his words he says, “Possess it merely / That it should come to this! / But two months dead – nay, not so / much, not two –/ So excellent a king, that was to this / Hyperion to a satyr” (1.2.11)- Here Hamlet makes a contrast between his father and Claudius by comparing one as an “excellent king” and the other as a “Hyperion to a satyr”, stating that his father made a better king than he did showing the deep …show more content…

But that I am forbid… Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” (1.5.23) This dialogue between the two presents the concept of justice as a means for vengeance, in which Hamlet’s father asks him to seek revenge against his murderer who is revealed to be Claudius. Having already seen his father’s legacy being destroyed by Claudius and given this new found knowledge by his father, Hamlet is determined to kill Claudius as an act of redemption. Despite Hamlet pursuing justice through revenge, his plans gets delayed due to his

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