Question

Determining theme: which theme is best supported by the passage?

1. horatio: they bleed on both sides. how is it, my lord?
osric: how is it, laertes?
laertes: why, as a woodcock to mine own
springe, osric;
i am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.
- hamlet,
william shakespeare
2. the strongest will always prevail.
o perfect justice can never be achieved.
revenge is ultimately self-defeating.
there is dignity even in defeat.

Answer 1

Answer: Option ( C)

(C) Revenge is ultimately self-defeating.

Step-by-step explanation:

Horatio: They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?

Osric: How is it, Laertes? Laertes: Why, as a woodcock to mine own

springe, Osric; I am justly kill’d with mine own treachery.

Which theme is best supported by the passage?

(A) The strongest will always prevail.

(B) Perfect justice can never be achieved.

(C) Revenge is ultimately self-defeating. <======+

(D) There is dignity even in defeat.

Answer 2

The correct answer would be Revenge is ultimately self-defeating.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hamlet explores the theme "The desire for revenge is destructive and ultimately pointless." Though Laertes is perfectly able to forgive Hamlet, Laertes dies in his mission for revenge. This shows both the destructiveness and the futility of trying to get revenge.