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Brittany Amerson AP Literature Period 4 June 8, 2012 Synthesis Essay The Cost of Justice Justice and revenge. Some actions walk that fine line that distinguishes the two, while others clearly are one or the other. The line can be difficult to differentiate at times, but generally classifying an act on whether it was an act of justice or revenge depends on who the action was for. If the action was for the potential benefit of someone else rather than the person performing it, it is usually considered justice. While if the act being preformed is for the satisfaction of the one doing it, revenge is usually the answer. In Shakespeares Hamlet and Sophocles Antigone both Hamlet and Antigone make some risky decisions that both ultimately lead to their demises, but were carried out with a loved one in mind. With the murder of Hamlets father and the death of Antigones brother both protagonists were distraught with grief. However when finding that their relatives were struck with some wrong doing, some of the grief transformed into a need to make things right with Hamlet trying to avenge his fathers murder and Antigone trying to give her brother the proper burial he deserves. While some may believe that Hamlet was seeking revenge on Claudius both protagonists took action to bring justice to the deaths of their loved ones despite what their kings wanted. The actions of these characters show the power of family love and

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devotion, as by bringing justice to their loved ones, their own lives are taken away from them. After reading Hamlet it is easy for one to infer that Hamlet and his father King Hamlet had a pretty close relationship, He was a man, take him for all in all; I shall not look upon his like again (Act I, scene II). It is also extremely evident that Hamlet is disgusted by the relationship between his uncle Claudius and his mother Queen Gertrude. a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mournd longermarried with my uncle, my fathers brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules (Act I, scene II). So it makes sense that some may argue that Hamlets attempt to murder Claudius was out of revenge rather than justice, because of the admiration and love Hamlet had for his father. However, Hamlet is not that sort of character. Revenge is something Hamlet is not capable of; a dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, like a John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause and to be or not to be, that is the question: show that

Hamlet is at times a very weak man who is unable to show and express his grief over the loss of his father, and that Hamlet was even contemplating suicide over bringing his fathers slayer to justice. Hamlet does not have the capabilities to harm Claudius in a revengeful manner; considering he has to convince himself numerous times throughout the play that by carrying out his plan he is doing the right thing. Someone who is acting solely out of revenge would not have to think twice about their actions, as they know that what they are doing could have some serious consequences; but those

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consequences do not hold much weight to them. Hamlet recognizes that by acting against Claudius he could potentially suffer some serious consequences, perhaps even death, but in the end, Hamlet decides to carry out his plan because he knows bringing his fathers murder to justice is way more important than living his life if that is what it comes down to. Obviously King Claudius (though he did not know of Hamlets plot for a majority of the play) did not want Hamlet to carry out his plan because then he would be killed and be stripped of the throne. So once it was brought to Claudius attention that Hamlet knew what Claudius had done to his father, Claudius had to think of a plan quickly before everything he had so sneakily worked hard to come by was taken away from him. Hamlet writes a play in which plays out the scenario of Gertrude and Claudius relationship, and the scene of King Hamlets death to the audience. At that moment Hamlet plans to Observe my uncle. If his occulted guilt do not itself unkennel in one speech, it is a damned ghost we have seen, and my imaginations are as foul as Vulcans stithy for if he reacts in a scared, upset, or uncomfortable manner, it would become clear that Claudius truly was the murderer of King Hamlet (Act III, Scene II). After Claudius makes a rather large scene and calls the play to a stop he you can infer that he is quite aware that Hamlet knows the truth behind his King Hamlets death and is trying to come up with a reason to ship Hamlet away to be killed without upsetting the common folk that love Hamlet immensely. Claudius never has to invent a reason to send Hamlet

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away, as when Hamlet accidently stabs and kills Polonius Claudius points out that he must be punished, but by punishing him in Denmark the people will become upset so the only logical thing it do is to ship Hamlet off to England where he will then be killed. Claudius believes that his problem has be solved and no further action will have to ensue, as the only person that knows how he is such a terrible person has been sent across the ocean never to return. However when Hamlet makes his way back to Denmark a duel is the answer to handling Hamlet. With a poisoned blade Claudius plotted to have Hamlet murdered and have it appear as an accident (like all of his murders go). When the plan eventually backfires and Claudius ends up being stabbed by the poisoned blade, even Laertes who was plotting against Hamlet with Claudius recognizes that what Hamlet did was the right thing to do. He is justly served. It is a poisoned temperd by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet. Mine and my fathers death come not upon thee, nor thine on thee (Act V, Scene II). Laertes who wanted Hamlet dead when he thinks about it realizes that Claudius death was deserved, as he did try to murder Hamlet. The fact that Claudius murdered his own brother for power adds to this notion of justice, and when no further action to punish Hamlet for now two murders ensues, the audience feels this sigh of relief but still sadness as Hamlet dies of the poison as well. The plot of Antigone revolves around Antigone attempting to give her brother a fallen war hero a proper burial after the king Creon refuses to do so. The element that complicates the plot is that Creon is also her uncle,

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similar to how Claudius is Hamlets uncle, and that Polyneices Antigones brother led an attack on the city that Creon presides over. Antigone insisted that her brother be buried properly regardless of him being the enemy, because he is family but Creon argues that as long as I am King, no traitor is going to be honored with the loyal man (Scene I). Creon, too concerned with his pride doesnt want to bury Polyneices the traditional way, because he is worried that he will not stand as a strong ruler of his nation. Bending the rules for just one man could make Creon seem inconsistent and could waiver the faith of his people, as Antistrophe 2 points out that When the laws are kept, how proudly his city stands! When the laws are broken, what of his city then? (Ode I). So instead of granting Antigones wishes Creon says to the Choragos you will give no support to whoever breaks this law condemning those who attempt to bury Polyneices to severe punishment (Scene I). Antigone goes and attempts to bury Polyneices multiple times before she is caught and is taken to Creon as being the criminal defying his word. And though she knows that she will be punished, Antigone is more concerned with the fact that she has done the right thing to honor and respect her brother as she says This death of mine is of no importance; but if I had left my brother lying in death unburied, I should have suffered. Now I do not (Scene II). Antigone has so much love and respect for her brother she is willing to give her life in order to give him the burial he deserves. Even after his body was removed from his makeshift grave, she returns to the site and attempts to bury him again. Antigone knew from the start that she was

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risking her life over burying her brother and she still did it, because she wanted to bring justice to her brothers death. When her sister Ismene tried to take the blame for it as well with hopes that Creon would be more lenient on punishing two girls rather than just one Antigone denies her involvement, as she didnt want her sister to assume responsibility for a noble deed that she did not partake in. Hamlet and Antigone are two plays that show the true love family members share with one another. With the untimely and unfortunate deaths of both King Hamlet and Polyneices, Hamlet and Antigone both went against what the kings of their lands had decreed in order to bring the justice that their deceased loved ones deserved. Through their daring actions, both protagonists brought justice in the forms of death and attempted burial to their family, unfortunately leading to their own demises as well.

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Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. New York: Dover Publications, 1992. Print.

Sophocles. Antigone. 1977. Trans. Dudley Fitts. The Oedipus Cycle. Trans. Robert Fitzgerald. N.p.: Harcourt Brace and, n.d. 189-245. Print.