In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet only trying to seek revenge for his father, becomes as bad as those he is out to get. He turns mad and expresses the qualities of his enemies. Revenge is a very harmful thing in terms of it being destructive towards the revenger and the person whom the revenger seeks. It cannot only cause death but also mental harm such as becoming crazy and expressing apprehension. Hamlet becomes as corrupt as those whom he seeks revenge on, and those whom seeks revenge against him. .
Hamlet loses his moral integrity by killing other people when Claudius is the only person he is supposed to seek revenge on. After killing Polonius, Gertrude makes a comment of what a bad deed this was but Hamlet simply says in reply, "A bloody deed - almost as bad, good mother, as kill a king and marry with his brother?" (3.4.171.34). He instantly changes the subject almost blaming it on his mother. He barely recognizes the fact that he had just killed Polonius. He shows that he has a one-track mind, which is for getting revenge for his father. His mission that his father gave has blinded him. .
Hamlet's mental illness causes others around him to lose it as well. For example, Ophelia drowns herself and it is his entire fault. It is understandable that he is a little inconsiderate to her because he knows she is told not to be involved with him anymore, but his rudeness is far too cruel. When Ophelia tries to return some of the tokens of his affection he previously gave her, Hamlet verbally attacks her. He says, "Get thee to a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?" (3.1.131.131). Hamlet then says that all women are liars and should not be allowed to marry, unless the men they marry are fools. He is probably just trying to make her feel bad because Ophelia rejected him after he told her that he loved her. It would seem that he is trying to express love for his father by seizing revenge for him, but he is actually just causing chaos and corruption.
