Polonius jumps from behind a curtain and Hamlet kills him. This adds fuel to the fire, as it gives reason for revenge on Hamlet by Polonius" children, Laertes and Ophelia. .
Yet another death, that of Hamlet's mother, Gertrude, is another example of death caused by deceit and revenge. Drinking out of a poisoned cup, which was intended to be drunk by Hamlet causes her death. Her husband, Claudius, with the help of Laertes, put out the poison. "They had intended to poison Hamlet, but as it turned out, Claudius poisons his wife"(Dean 220). The distrust and deceit in this play result in so many unintended deaths. The play gives no indication that the characters are learning from this, that killing caused by revenge leads into more revenge and death. It is an unending cycle.
Before the end of the play, Hamlet does get his revenge, but not without his own unfortunate death. As he had discovered earlier, Claudius, his uncle and new stepfather, had poisoned his father. .
"The character of Hamlet begins the play in prosperity but ends up full of misery and guilt"(Dean 218). The endless secretive plots and deaths have caused him to become a murderer. Even though his only intentions were to get revenge for the murder of his father, a trail of death and destruction followed him. It was almost too much for him to handle, because Hamlet is not that type of person. "At one point, Hamlet considers suicide in order to correct what he sees as a flaw in his personality"(Campbell). The death and deceit surrounding him had given him a sense of hopelessness.
The death of Hamlet is indeed a result of revenge killing. Laertes is angered by the fact that Hamlet murdered his father and Ophelia died. "His graveside duel is partly a result of the hate and passion he feels toward Hamlet"(Campbell 145). Both families have lost out by the end of the play. .
In the play MacBeth, the first example would be the details of the death surrounding King Duncan.
