Hamlet’s and Laertes’Laertes’s high respect for their fathers is illustrated through their determination to requite the killerskilling of their fatherfathers, in spite of the potential impact it could have on their public status and their future. Hamlet seeks revenge by planning to kill Claudius. He does so because his Father’s Ghostfather’s ghost tells him that “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life, Nownow wears his crown.” (Hamlet 1.5.39-40). The Ghost symbolizes the unnatural murder of King Hamlet and the disasters that are to occur in Denmark. The first appearance of the Ghost in front of Hamlet is a crucial scene, as it sets the main plot of the play into motion. In Shakespeare’s time, it is said that Ghostsghosts wandered the Earth to seek vengeance for an event that occurred during their life on Earth. The Ghost of King Hamlet seeks revenge by influencingpassing Hamlet of its own motives on to Hamlet, so it can be removed from Purgatory and find peace. Here, Hamlet becomes subject to manipulation by King Hamlet’s spirit. Similarly, Laertes seeks revenge by planning to murder Hamlet. However, right before Laertes slashes Hamlet with his sword during their duel, he tells himself, “And yet it is almost ‘gainst my conscience.” (Hamlet 5.2.292). He has feelings of guilt as he is about to strike Hamlet with the poisoned sword. When both Hamlet and Laertes get hit by the sword, Laertes realizes that his actions to retaliate for his father resulted in more deaths, including his own. He learns his objective of killing Hamlet was vile, and that the corrupt one was Claudius, not Hamlet. This scene uncovers to the audience that no one wins when everyone is chasing revenge. Therefore, both Hamlet and Laertes demonstrate their respect to their fathers by seeking revenge, but, itthis leads to their own destruction.