"Some critics have concentrated on Hamlet's revenge for his father's death—which directly and indirectly leads to the demise of nearly all of the major characters in the drama, including Hamlet himself—asserting that it raises the moral question of whether or not the prince is basically good or evil in his intentions."
You can read more and the full critical response at http://www.enotes.com/shakespearean-criticism/hamlet-vol-35
Please respond to this statement, whether you believe that Hamlet had good or evil intentions? Provide textual evidence and DO NOT SIT ON THE FENCE
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Hamlet’s true intentions are good; however they lead to the downfall of the main characters. Hamlet’s antic disposition causes many problems in the play. Hamlet decides to perform an antic disposition to figure out the problem and let things unravel; however, this is also how Hamlet transcends the pages again because even though he thought much about what he was doing, and tried to calculate everything, he still made mistakes and people ended up dying.
Hamlet never meant to have his girlfriend, Ophelia, die or kill Polonius. Hamlet loves Ophelia and would not want anything to happen to her, “I lov’d Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers / Could not with all their quantity of love / Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?” (5.1.264-266) Hamlet does not know who is behind the arras; he believes it is Claudius spying on him and Gertrude. Hamlet thrusts his rapier into the arras only to find it is Polonius. “Nay, I know not. / Is it the King?” (3.4.26-27) Hamlet’s actions towards Ophelia can be taken in many ways, however the most believable reason as to why Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to a nunnery, “Get thee to a nunnery. Why, wouldst thou be a / breeder of sinners?” (3.1.121-122)is that Hamlet is telling her that there is nothing here for her and she should go to a nunnery. Hamlet, in a way, could be trying to get her to leave the castle before all the inevitable killing occurs to keep her safe and unharmed from the violence. Hamlet never meant to kill anyone other than Claudius due to his obligation to his father; Hamlet just let things unravel and tried to keep everything in control. Claudius got in the way of Hamlet, “Popp’d in between th’election and my hopes,” (5.2.65)
All Hamlet could do was sit back and wait because if he acted too early then his actions would be seen as treason and Hamlet would be killed. Hamlet never had evil intentions from the beginning; he did what he could and his good intentions remained good throughout the play.
Shakespeare gives Hamlet a role in life to set everything right, to balance the unbalanced state of Denmark. Hamlet’s intentions throughout the play are for the greater good. Hamlet shows this by completing the request of the ghost, and giving Fortinbras the crown to set all things right.
After Hamlet finds out that the ghost is telling the truth he knows that he has to complete the deed for the greater good. Hamlet must kill Claudius to set things right in the state of Denmark. “Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, / Drink off this potion. Is thy union here? / Follow my mother.”(5.2.330-332) Hamlet kills Claudius which is an evil act but is for the greater good of the state, not having a murderous imposture as the king of Denmark is half of Hamlet’s goal.
Hamlet’s final decision before his death is to pass his crown on to Fortinbras, shown all of Hamlet’s intentions were for good not evil. Hamlet sees qualities of leadership and action in Fortinbras, he knows his father murdered King Fortinbras so to set everything right the crown is passed on to him. “But I do prophesy the election lights / On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice; / So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less, / Which have solicited. The rest is silence.”(5.2.360-363) Passing on the crown to Fortinbras completes the revenge triangle and sets everything right, this shows Hamlet’s intentions are for the good of everyone.
Hamlet shows at the end of the play that his actions were all for the greater good of the state. Killing Claudius and passing the crown on to Fortinbras were the actions Hamlet took to achieve balance in Denmark. Hamlet achieves his goal in life to set everything right showing his intentions are for the well being of everyone not because of his own greed.
Hamlet's true intentions are continuously called to question throughout the course of the play. Throughout the play, Hamlet consistently has good intentions. Hamlet portrays these good intentions through his obligation and justice.
Hamlet's actions are based in his obligation to avenge his father. All of Hamlet's actions are rooted in a goal to do good, bringing justice to his father's death. Hamlet is bound “to revenge when thou shalt hear” (1.5.7). This refers to the obligation that Hamlet must fulfill in order to avenge his father. By killing Claudius, Hamlet is doing what is right for their kingdom. It is not in Hamlet's interest to have many innocent lives lost, but Hamlet “must be cruel only to be kind” (3.4.180). This deals with many instances throughout the play, such as Hamlet ordering Ophelia to “get thee to a nunnery” (3.1.121). Hamlet is looking out for Ophelia's best interest by trying to spare her life, but he must word it in such a way that offends her. This cruelty is an attempt to be kind, but Hamlet cannot make his communication blatant because of the fear of spies. Also, Hamlet's cruelty is an attempt to get the opportunity to avenge his father. Hamlet must be cruel to prove his antic disposition. The antic disposition gives him the time to murder Claudius, thereby avenging King Hamlet.
Hamlet's intentions are good because of his search for justice. The only people that Hamlet kills are those who oppose him; either trying to kill Hamlet or committing crimes. Hamlet kills Polonius because Polonius was spying on Hamlet. Polonius was in the process of committing treason when he was killed, justifying Hamlet's action because an act against the royal family bears the punishment of death. Hamlet also kills Claudius and Laertes. Claudius was killed because of Hamlet's obligation to seek revenge. Hamlet kills Claudius because Hamlet must “revenge his most unnatural murder” (1.5.25). Laertes is one of Hamlet's enemies. Laertes wants revenge on Hamlet because he has “A noble father lost, / A sister driven into desp'rate terms” (4.7.25-6). Laertes blames Hamlet for these, thus he seeks revenge. Laertes teams up with Claudius and tries to kill Hamlet. This is the reason Hamlet must kill Laertes as well, if Hamlet does not kill Laertes, he will die. The final characters that Hamlet has killed are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern were old friends of Hamlet, but they betrayed him. Claudius has them spy on Hamlet. Hamlet has Rosencrantz and Guildenstern killed in England because of their betrayal. Their death is punishment for the crime they committed, treason. Thus Hamlet only kills out of justice. Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern are killed because they committed treason against Hamlet, which is punishable by law at the penalty of death. Laertes and Claudius are killed by Hamlet because they are also trying to kill him. Hamlet must defend himself against them. Furthermore, Hamlet must kill Claudius out of obligation.
It is Hamlet's obligation and search for justice that exemplify his good intentions. Hamlet must avenge his father, and must “be cruel only to be kind” (3.4.121). Hamlet's justice is exemplifies through the people he kills. The only characters that Hamlet directly has killed are those who either oppose him through violence or commit crimes, such as treason.
Despite Hamlet’s actions leading to the death of the main characters, Hamlet’s intent was to set everything right in Denmark, which is good. The death of his father created mass turmoil throughout the country and it was all at the hands of Hamlet’s uncle Claudius. In order for him to revive the status quo, Hamlet had to kill Claudius and take the crown.
In Act 1, Hamlet finds out that his uncle was responsible for the death of his father when the ghost tells him “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life now wears his crown” (I. v. 39-40). Here Hamlet feels betrayed and angry that the one responsible for his father’s death is his flesh and blood. As a result, Hamlet is now bound by revenge and feels obligated to kill Claudius in order for him to avenge his father’s death. In the end of Act 1, Hamlet then says “O cursed Spite/ that ever I was born to set t right” (I. v. 196-198). Even before he begins to act, Hamlet knows what he must do in order to set everything right again. Here the audience realizes that despite the obstacles that are to come, Hamlet’s intentions are and will always be good.
In the end of the play, Hamlet in his last dying breath tells Horatio that “the election lights on Fortinbras” (V. ii. 360-361). Here he has just relinquished the crown to Fortinbras, which has in turn set everything right in Denmark. He has followed up with what he said in Act 1 and has killed Claudius. Despite the other characters demise, Hamlet’s end has justified the means in order for him to set things right in Denmark.
True intentions?
Through out the play one begins to ask them if Hamlets intentions are evil or good. Throughout the play Hamlet becomes responsible for many deaths Polonius, Laertes, Claudius and arguably Ophelia’s death. At the end of the play it becomes evident that Hamlet has evil and selfish intentions behind his actions.
Hamlet becomes selfish and jealous of Claudius, as he only wanted to be king “This is I Hamlet the Dane!” (5, 1, 250-251). Hamlet only wants revenge against Claudius for what he has done to his family. Claudius is the reason for all of Hamlets problems. The destruction of his Family, lose of the crown and indirectly the death and insanity of Ophelia. Hamlet only wants to get the thrown from Claudius and this is why he waits for public declaration of Claudius actions, so that everyone would be able to truly see the evilness of Claudius and they would hand the thrown over to Hamlet. Also Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius when he is praying, “And I am revenge’s / To take him in the purging of his soul when he I fit and seasoned for his passage?” (3, 3, 83-86). The ghost only wanted hamlet to avenge him, by killing Claudius. Hamlet does not kill Claudius because he wants Claudius to suffer and burn in purgatory because of what he has done to hamlet. Hamlet is able to kill Claudius after the queen is dead because he knows that the king must suffer for the sins that of killing Gertrude as well.
In conclusion Hamlets intentions are evil and he is use the death of hamlet as revenge against what Claudius has done to his father. He does not kill him while he is praying so that he may also have the satisfaction of Claudius burning in purgatory. Hamlet only wants to be king and does this to gain revenge against Claudius for destroying his life. Unfortunately he gains his revenge but does not have the chance to be king.
Hamlet willingly sacrifices his own innocent hands to be stained with blood, for it is the only way to deliver salvation to Denmark and bring justice to King Hamlet’s murder. Throughout the play, although Hamlet’s good intentions were perceived as an act of iniquity, his most genuine deeds manifest in his actions and endeavors to save and rectify Denmark and its fate.
Hamlet’s main objective is to bring justice to his father’s murder and the only way to obtain this sense of righteousness is through revenge. In order to avenge his father’s death, Hamlet must slay the man that killed his Father—his uncle Claudius. “I must be cruel only to be kind” (3.4.180). Hamlet demonstrates to himself, convincing himself that death itself is an act of justice. As the righteous prince of Denmark and the only son of the honorable king, Hamlet must also resolve Elsinore’s rotten condition, in any probable manner. “O cursed spite, That I was ever born to set it right” (1.5.196-197). Hamlet recognizes his fate, and realizes that no matter how unjust it is for him or to other people, he must fulfill his obligation to put things in order.
Hamlet’s prolific plans also results to deconstructive outcomes due to his sudden restive manner that is portrayed in some scenes of the play. When called by his mother, Hamlet only intends to persuade his mother to despise his uncle Claudius. It was not a part of his plan to kill Claudius or to upset his mother. “You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife, And, would it were not so, you are my mother. “ (3.4.14-15). Hamlet only aims to discuss his feelings of his mother and her actions, hoping that conscience will take part in his plan to convince his mother. “Yes, by heaven! O most pernicious woman!” (1.5.104-105). He vows to his father to speak of daggers but not use one when it comes to dealing with Gertrude’s sins, for heaven will punish her for what she has done. Hamlet does not intend any blood to be shed or madness to take part in his plot to deliver justice.
Throughout the play, Hamlet continues to appear as a rightful prince who does not want anything else but to bring overall deliverance to free Ellsinore and his father from the nature of injustice. The outcomes of his plans might be perceived as treacherous but the basis of all his actions is for the good of all Denmark.
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