Victim or perpetrator

Whether someone is a victim or a perpetrator is a theme in Shakespeare’s Hamlet as it can be related to several of the characters. 

Hamlet

Victim of fate, his own melancholy, and Claudius’ schemes

In some respects, Hamlet can be considered a victim. As is common in Shakespeare’s tragedies, he as the hero is the victim of a tragic fate: He has recently lost his beloved father and must now watch as his mother immediately remarries to his uncle. Hamlet feels isolated, frustrated, and considers suicide. In keeping with Shakespearian tragedies, this tragic hero comes to a tragic end as he loses his life at the end of the play.

However, Hamlet also appears to be a victim of his own emotions. When he learns from his father’s ghost that Claudius murdered the late king, his melancholy grows, and he soon feels burdened with the task of avenging his father. This makes him hesitate to act and he again plays with the idea of suicide. At this point, it is easy for audience to sympathize. 

Later, Hamle...