Beyond Revenge: Subjectivity, Power, and Existential Crisis in Shakespeare's Hamlet

• Author(s): Kanchan Sharma
• Paper ID: 1719644
• Page: 1208-1213
• Published Date: 14-07-2026
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 10 Issue 1 July-2026
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719644

Abstract

William Shakespeare's Hamlet is widely regarded as one of the greatest works in world literature. The play moves beyond the structure of a conventional revenge tragedy and develops a complex study of morality, politics, psychology, performance, gender, and death. Hamlet's struggle is not merely a struggle against Claudius; it is also a struggle to discover truth in a world dominated by deception and uncertainty. Shakespeare creates a protagonist who constantly reflects upon his own thoughts and actions, making Hamlet one of the earliest examples of modern psychological characterization. The tragedy continues to attract scholars because it raises questions that remain relevant in contemporary society: How can individuals act ethically in corrupt systems? What is the relationship between appearance and reality? Can revenge ever restore justice? What role does death play in giving meaning to life? These questions form the foundation of this research paper.

Citations

IRE Journals:
Kanchan Sharma "Beyond Revenge: Subjectivity, Power, and Existential Crisis in Shakespeare's Hamlet" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 10 Issue 1 2026 Page 1208-1213 https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719644

IEEE:
Kanchan Sharma "Beyond Revenge: Subjectivity, Power, and Existential Crisis in Shakespeare's Hamlet" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 10, no. 1, Jul. 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719644

APA:
Kanchan Sharma (2026). Beyond Revenge: Subjectivity, Power, and Existential Crisis in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719644

MLA:
Kanchan Sharma "Beyond Revenge: Subjectivity, Power, and Existential Crisis in Shakespeare's Hamlet" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, vol. 10, no. 1, Jul. 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV10I1-1719644

BibTeX

@article{1719644,
author = {Kanchan Sharma},
title = {Beyond Revenge: Subjectivity, Power, and Existential Crisis in Shakespeare's Hamlet},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {10},
number = {1},
pages = {1208-1213},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1719644.pdf},
abstract = {William Shakespeare's Hamlet is widely regarded as one of the greatest works in world literature. The play moves beyond the structure of a conventional revenge tragedy and develops a complex study of morality, politics, psychology, performance, gender, and death. Hamlet's struggle is not merely a struggle against Claudius; it is also a struggle to discover truth in a world dominated by deception and uncertainty. Shakespeare creates a protagonist who constantly reflects upon his own thoughts and actions, making Hamlet one of the earliest examples of modern psychological characterization. The tragedy continues to attract scholars because it raises questions that remain relevant in contemporary society: How can individuals act ethically in corrupt systems? What is the relationship between appearance and reality? Can revenge ever restore justice? What role does death play in giving meaning to life? These questions form the foundation of this research paper.},
month = {July}
}