Revenge as a theme is cleverly constructed throughout Hamlet; being the driving force behind three of the play's key characters. Revenge is a frighteningly violent emotion, causing people to act blindly and without reason. In Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado", Montresor enacts revenge for unknown reasons. Hamlet, on the contrary, has all the motivation in the world to complete his task; yet he constantly hesitates. The text reveals that the need for revenge creates a stranglehold on the authentic emotions, thoughts and actions of three characters: Hamlet, prince of Denmark, Laertes; son of Polonius and Fortinbras; Prince of Norway. This hold causes characters to act beyond their standard ethical positions and renders them defenseless in their revenge plots. The sadness of losing a loved one causes characters to participate in acts they wouldn't normally perform. The language presented by Shakespeare suggests that the characters will do whatever it takes to take revenge, immorally, without rational sense; thus affecting their true morality. The real question is: why? As we see in both stories, revenge is not an easy task to accomplish. Hamlet encountered many obstacles in carrying out his revenge. Hamlet reveals that promising the act of revenge to oneself, or to the victim themselves, creates an amplified need to carry out one's plans. Hamlet, who swore to his father's ghost that he would kill Claudius in revenge, states: "Driven by the vengeance of heaven and hell, like a whore must empty my heart of words, and fall cursing like a sleazebag, a scullery boy" . . Shame, foh! By the way, my brain! (2, ii, 525-9). This proclamation of the mad Prince Hamlet suggests that the promise made to his father is eating...... middle of paper ...... of revenge is that revenge is immoral, no matter the case; and that just because something is immoral, doesn't mean we have to take back the same immoral act. Works Cited Baraban, Elena V. "The Motive of Murder in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." Rocky Mountain Language and Literature Review. vol. 58. No. 2. 2004. pp. 47-62. Network. October 24. 2011.Poe, Edgar Allen. "The Cask of Amontillado." Portable literature. 7th ed. Boston: Wadsworth Cenage Learning. 2011. 219-224. Print.Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Portable literature. 7th ed. Boston: WadsworthCenage Learning. 2011. 947-1056. Print.Skulsky, Harold. "Vengeance, Honor and Conscience in Hamlet." PMLA. vol. 85.No. January 1, 1970, pp. 78-87. Network. October 24. 2011. "The Barrel of Amontillado": Montresor's Revenge - InfoRefuge.com." InfoRefuge. Web. October 24. 2011.