Revenge & Power
What’s on this page? 
- Hear from the Artists: Discussing Revenge
- Justice vs Revenge
- Power
- Think About It
"Revenge my most foul and unnatural murder..."
The whole play of Hamlet revolves around the ideas of revenge and power. Explore the activities and information below to learn more about these two themes.
Here are some helpful terms to know as you explore this page:
JUSTICE: Maintenance of what is just or right by the exercise of authority or power; assignment of deserved reward or punishment; giving of due deserts.
On this page question whether Hamlet is seeking justice or is it revenge that he truly wants?
REVENGE: The action of hurting, harming, or otherwise obtaining satisfaction from someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at his or her hands; satisfaction obtained by repaying an injury or wrong.
The conflict of this show centers on the fact that Hamlet is torn and unsure about his course upon being charged to seek revenge.
POWER: The possession of control, authority, or influence over others. Physical might.
The characters with the most power in this play are often seen as those who have committed the most "wrong". On this page explore the question: How can Hamlet rebel against the current king who also happens to be a new father figure?
Hear From The Artists: Discussing Revenge
Director and adaptor Michale Donald Edwards and actor Frankie J. Alvarez reminisce on their collaboration and dive into what makes Hamlet's quest for vengeance unique for them in this production. After listening, check out the Think About it Questions below.
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THINK ABOUT IT: Discussing Revenge
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- Do you think you can pursue revenge without "tainting your soul"?
- What other modern examples of a revenge plot can you come up with?
- Do you think Hamlet succeeded in getting revenge without "tainting his soul"?
- If not, what other ways could he have pursued revenge to achieve this goal?
Justice vs Revenge
Is Hamlet on a quest to get justice for his murdered father or is he seeking revenge?
Teaching Artist Alex Benito Rodriguez works through how we might answer this question when watching Hamlet, Prince of Cuba. Alex also guides you through embodying these terms in order to debate the issue of justice vs revenge.
Vocabulary to listen for: Justice, revenge, and tableaux
Take it further: Snap a picture of your justice and revenge poses and send them to us at education@asolo.org.
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THINK ABOUT IT: Justice vs Revenge
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- At what point (if any) in the play do you think Hamlet switches between these two quests?
- Find some quotes from the production that demonstrate your argument for Hamlet seeking justice or reveng.
- Give some examples in real life or pop culture of a situation where it is not quite clear if someone is seeking justice or revenge.
Which character in Hamlet has the most power?
Teaching artist Juan Sebastian Cruz leads us through an activity where we use tableaux as a method for exploring who has power and why. Then he introduces the cultural context for parents with power in Hamlet, Prince of Cuba.
Vocabulary to listen for: Power and tableaux
Power
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THINK ABOUT IT: Power
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- Who in your life has the most power?
- Who had the most power in Hamlet?
- What postures or physicalization show someone has power?
- How might someone's culture impact how they view power?
