Throughout the play of Hamlet, revenge is constantly the dominant and ever-present theme. It seems almost every major character is affected or driven into their current situation by retribution. Whether driven by ambition and their high hopes for the future, or simply a participant in the society of the times required to avenge wrongful deeds done unto them, the major players in Shakespeare's tragedy seem to all have revenge incessantly on their minds. The only noticeable difference in the characters concerning their relations towards our theme, is how they react to the circumstances they are faced with.

The logical place to start when assessing the theme of revenge in Hamlet is with the character himself. Hamlet's slow demise into the state of madness begins when he learns the true nature of his father's death...