hamlet essay on his procrastination

Hamlet's Procrastination Essay Example

Throughout the whole play of Hamlet, the constant hesitation and procrastination is represented through Hamlet’s character; he is deeply reflective, delays his revenge numerous times, and is cursed with having to commit acts he struggles with consciously. The play Hamlet, “... is the most self- conscious literature figure ever created” (Rosenblum). He as a character struggles with the act of committing revenge. Hamlet's father was murdered by his father’s brother. A ghost visits Hamlet giving him the message to get revenge. Hamlet is portrayed to be procrastinating more often than anything else.

Hamlet isn’t only hesitant about the revenge. He also carries the dread of taking his own life. In one his most famous soliloquies, “To be or not to be”, he proclaimed:

Fear of death makes us all cowards, and our natural boldness becomes weak with too much thinking. Actions that should be carried out at once get misdirected, and stop being actions at all. (Hamlet 3, 1, 83-89).

He has so many questions without answers, “Hamlet is haunted by unanswerable questions and mortality and death” (Themes and Construction). This thought was short lived as he had realized that you don’t know what death is like and taking your own life is a sin. He was not sure if he would go to hell or heaven. Hamlet also would not have given his father his wishes of revenge. When waiting to get revenge he was challenged with an extreme amount of troubles.

Being in his own head had made him lose the sense of life and his duties. Some may believe he is crushed, “The cost of Hamlet’s infinite self -reflexivity is incapacity of action. Such is the curse of self- consciousness” (Critchley. Webster 12). Hamlet has experienced a great deal of troubles, he is very self- reflexive. It is almost like a curse. Hamlet is still a young kid, so taken on the pressure of wanting to get revenge for his father makes him over think. So much of the pressure leads to, “His tendency to overanalyze his options, thus paralyzing his own ability to act” (Themes and Construction). Being that he thought about it too much causes a major delay.

All the people that Hamlet knew to be close to him, turned out they were betraying him, at least he thought. Hamlet ran through every scenario in his head about revenge. The beliefs from philosophers, psychoanalysts, and crites have diagnosed Hamlet with procrastination. They exclaimed that because of his waiting and hesitation it drove Hamlet to go mad (Critchley. Webster 12). Having to commit such a big task is scary. In an article that refers to Hamlet as the avenger states, “Revenge delayed and an avenger who breathes himself for procrastination” This article also mentions, “Among these are a ghost calling for revenge, a secret crime that must be confirmed” (Rosenblum). No one knew of the obstacles Hamlet was facing. They assumed he was going mad for other reasons, not for his sinful thoughts.

The amount of opportunities he had to kill Claudius is countless. He was extremely strategic when it came to planning the revenge and even getting confirmation. Seeing a ghost of your dead father is not realistic. He was not sure if it was real. So he arranged to put on a play. This play was based of The Murder of Gonzago. The play was put on to resemble the murder of Hamlet’s father. The reason Hamlet did this was to watch how Claudius would react. Hamlet and his good friend Horatio worked out a plan, “Watch him closely. I’ll stare at him too, and afterward we’ll compare notes on him” (Hamlet 3, 2, 78-79). If the ghost was real and was telling the truth, Claudius would show some sort of sign. The plan of Hamlet and Horatio worked. Hamlet’s father was killed by poison so when they got to the part of the play where they talked about poison Clauidus shouted, “Turn on the lights. Get me out of here” ( Hamlet 3,2, 252). That was the sign they wanted. They got confirmation that the ghost was telling the truth. But in the mix of getting revenge, Claudius caught on to Hamlet's devilish notion. He sent Hamlet to England where he wrote a note to the king telling him to kill Hamlet. Well Hamlet saw this note, and the ones that were supposed to be the messengers did not know what it said, but Hamlet thought that they knew. They were Hamlet's good friends, but he wrote a note to kill them. Hamlet gets the perfect chance to kill Claudius but he was praying, “I could do it easily now. He’s praying now… And there he goes, off to heaven” (Hamlet 3, 3, 74-76). He didn’t want to take the chance of Claudius going to heaven. Since he was praying he is in a state of grace so he would go to heaven not hell. Hamlet wanted his revenge to make an impact and that Claudius would end up in hell. He missed the chance of killing him. Hamlet wanted it to be perfect. He never could settle for anything less.

After all the obstacles and let downs he waited too long, “Desiring revenge, Hamlet struggles with inner uncertainty and takes action too late, leading to devastating consequences, including his own downfall and death” (Themes and Construction). Hamlet fought to avenge his father but he had waited too long. He ended up dying, but so did Claudius. His prostration and hesitation affected his quality of life. He was living a normal life before the death of his father, and before taking on his revenge. Hamlet went mad, he lost his father and his sense of life. It all went away when committing the revenge. It was dragged out because he was procrastinating.

Works Cited

Critchley, Simon, and Jamieson Webster. "He Knew Too Much." New York Times, 10 July 2011, p. 12(L). Gale In Context: High School, link-gale-oh.orc.scoolaid.net/apps/doc/A261008383/SUIC?u=nysl_ce_wcs&sid=SUIC&xid=72d5a8b1. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.

Rosenblum, Joseph. “Hamlet.” The Facts On File Companion to Shakespeare, Facts On File, 2020. Bloom's Literature, online.infobase.com/Auth/Index?aid=19540&itemid=WE54&articleId=483593. Accessed 4 Mar. 2021.

Shakespeare, William, and John Crowteher. No Fear Shakespeare: Hamlet. SparkNotes,2003.

"Themes and Construction: Hamlet." Gale In Context Online Collection, Gale, 2018. Gale In Context: High School,link-gale-oh.orc.scoolaid.net/apps/doc/LSFBYN936642438/SUIC?u=nysl_ce_wcs&sid=SUIC&xid=c2c2e9c9. Accessed 8 Mar. 2021.

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A Critical Analysis of Hamlet’s Constant Procrastination in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Essay

1. introduction.

The play Hamlet, penned by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy concerning a melancholic prince, his father's death, and the corruption in Denmark. In the play, the ghost of Hamlet's father appears to him and tells him that the former king was murdered by Hamlet's uncle, who is now the current king and was holding both the queen and the crown. The ghost implores Hamlet to derive revenge for his death, and this is the foundation for the sequence of events that take place in Hamlet. However, Hamlet is often not able to act, to be regularly seen meandering about the Danish castle in his disheveled clothing. This emotional and physical torment suffered by Hamlet, combined with the repayment of his father's needing him to avenge his death, illuminates the significant nature of Hamlet's constant procrastination. It is this virtue of indecision that brands Hamlet as a typical Elizabethan avenger and serves as perhaps the main bond that unites the play under the popular revenge tragedy form. And as this introduction will show, Hamlet in particular is subject to the binds of this enduring quality in his seminal piece, such that any form of decisive revenge serves only to perpetuate the neoteric and elevate the tragedy from bloodbath to catastrophe.

1.1 Background of Shakespeare's Hamlet

The play "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare is considered one of the best plays in the English language. This play is full of intrigues, a lot of revenge, and a whole lot of procrastination. All the major and important actions happen because of the main character's procrastination. This leads us to the very first question that strikes our mind when we talk about Hamlet. Why does Hamlet delay for so long in achieving his revenge? Well, that is very much debatable, but in this essay, we will try to focus on Hamlet's procrastination and attempt to explain it, primarily through his psychological complexity. We will provide a critical analysis of Hamlet's constant procrastination in Shakespeare's play. First, we will look at the historical background and the political implications of the play. Then, the focus will shift to the significance of Hamlet's procrastination in the progress of the entire work. After, we will look at possible reasons for Hamlet's behavior, moral and pragmatic, caused by his very own life experiences. Next, we will discuss the psychological approach that explains his habit to delay actions and to analyze the situation. Penultimately, the consequences of Hamlet's procrastination will be mentioned in order to have a valid and solid groundwork for the audience to understand the thesis of the essay: that his constant. To conclude, we will rephrase our thesis and give a review of what we have discussed on.

1.2 Significance of Hamlet's Procrastination

After the introduction of the play, the significance of Hamlet's procrastination is discussed. It is seen that his "to be or not to be" (III. i. 57) soliloquy mainly reflects on the significance of his constant procrastination in the play. The soliloquy depicts Hamlet's continued instability and indecision. At this point, there is a clear shift in the approach towards life and death. Hamlet turns from fears of the afterlife to fears of what might happen to his earthly body and soul if he performs an act of self-destruction; that is, he begins to think through the consequences of his actions. This soliloquy provides significant evidence that Hamlet's procrastination is not due to laziness or fear. When the dead king's ghost appears before Hamlet and reveals the truth about his murder, it seems that Marcellus' comments help to dismiss any lingering doubt about the ghost's credibility: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" (I. iv. 90). The essay clearly shows that his contemporaries are politically motivated and ambitious for power; he is tested when the truth is known and the loyalty to his father's "state" is a lot more significant. The significance of Hamlet's procrastination is that it dominates the play and it is the primary motivation for the unfolding events. His indecisiveness contributes to the deaths of Polonius, Ophelia, Gertrude, Laertes and himself. The procrastination is seen as a plot by Shakespeare to create complexity, pit good against evil and to provide an insight into Hamlet's mind.

2. Factors Influencing Hamlet's Procrastination

Hamlet’s procrastination in avenging the murder of his father has been a subject of critical debate. Hamlet fails to act mainly due to his contemplative nature and indecisiveness. As a reflective and deeply philosophical individual, Hamlet is far removed from the Elizabethan "man of action". Moreover, Hamlet is torn because he is pitting his mind against his emotions. He feels the need to act according to his promise to his father’s ghost, but he is hesitant to do so – first he wants to double check the authenticity of the ghost’s words. This is evident in Act 3, Scene 2 where he uses the play to "catch conscience of the King" and observe the King’s reaction in order to verify the words of the ghost. His contemplative nature is reflected in his first soliloquy, "O that this too too sullied flesh would melt". It is a soliloquy filled with self-frustration and contempt for his inability to strongly feel, to strongly act. Hamlet views the world through his intellect and thought, not through the superficial eyes of others. He seems to show a far greater respect for human intellect compared to human passion. Passion is easily manipulated and vulnerable to the dark side of human nature, but it is one’s intellect, not passion, that leads to a successful life. However, Hamlet can only achieve this intellectual success if his mind is constantly engaged and focused. A life governed by intellectual thought can only be achieved through continuity of philosophical and contemplative activity – but this activity stands directly in the way of the impulsive, rash acts demanded of Hamlet. His indecision is exercised by his inability to do anything. His contemplative nature is exercised by his need to think about everything before he can act on something. Courage is about exercising the will to act meaningfully and purposefully. However for Hamlet, courage is extended by a steadfast belief in the philosophical and discrepancy of human temperament. In his second soliloquy, "O what a rogue and peasant slave am I!" Hamlet laments over himself for his inability to avenge his father’s death. The use of the word "rogue", a deceitful and uncontrollable character, and "peasant slave", a lowly and subservient creature, shows the sense of contempt and frustration which Hamlet feels towards his rational nature.

2.1 Hamlet's Indecisiveness

In this section "2.1 Hamlet's Indecisiveness," the writer seems to have found the root cause of Hamlet's procrastination, which is due to his indecision. The critic thinks that Hamlet really has no excuse for his delay. He compares Hamlet to Fortinbras, who is a soldier ready to act to regain his land from the enemy. Fortinbras is decisive in his every action. On the other hand, Hamlet does not have that kind of decisive mind. He is a philosopher. Hamlet is not only a curious thinker but also a man with a careful and slow thinking habit. He always thinks thoroughly before taking any action. Hamlet is a person who lives in his own thoughts and world. He trusts in his intellect and does not want to act like a fool by following his emotions. He tries to show off his knowledge by telling King Claudius that he is still mourning his father's death, but actually, within two months of his father's death, he already has enough time to mourn. Besides that, the writer thinks that Hamlet is an over-analytical person too. He mentions that Hamlet has to make sure the ghost is not a devil. He wants to get more evidence to prove that King Claudius is the murderer. All these show that Hamlet's over-analytical habit causes his delay. Although the writer seems very persuasive in proving his argument that Hamlet's delay is due to his indecision, over-analytical, and melancholic nature, he forgets that this play "Hamlet" is created by Shakespeare. Shakespeare could intentionally want to present Hamlet's delay in this play as complex and multi-faceted. Shakespeare himself is a genius in literature. He creates different rational and emotional issues that lead to Hamlet's indecision so that the audience could experience the mixed sense of frustrations as well as sympathy towards Hamlet. By doing this, the character Hamlet could be long remembered by the people. This writer just stands on one point of view, and he does not notice what Shakespeare intentionally wants to show through Hamlet's character. By having a different interpretation of this play, it helps me to have a clearer understanding now about human psychology and behavior, especially dealing with the issue of delay. I totally disagree with the writer's full interpretation of Hamlet's delay. I think there are many other possibilities that lead to Hamlet's delay. I enjoy and have great insights now to think critically with various angles when dealing with the issue of delay. This is what the writer succeeds in engaging me for critical thinking. Well done Shakespeare! Well done Hamlet! Well done, the writer too!

2.2 Fear of Consequences

In Hamlet's soliloquies (the independent speeches Hamlet makes when he is completely alone), he spends much time debating the consequences of his actions and often leads himself into a dark and depressing consideration of what will happen if he should 'take up arms against a sea of troubles' - in other words, start to act. For example, at the beginning of Act 3, Scene 1 in the famous 'To be or not to be' soliloquy, he begins by considering the prospect of suicide as a way out and weighing up the religious and moral implications. But then the focus shifts to a meditation on the possibility of action instead and the consequence of such an act: 'To die, to sleep, no more; and by a sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to.' If this was all, and Hamlet's thoughts were purely theoretical explorations of the dark roads his intellect opens to him, we might justly suspect that his problem was indecisiveness or some other fault. However, Shakespeare leads us to believe, as I argue in my essay, that Hamlet's fear of the consequences of action is well-founded and influenced highly in creating his procrastination. Every time Hamlet has a chance to act impulsively, he lingers and waits until he has what he believes to be sufficient evidence and the backing of public opinion. Even after the player spirit has offered a very valid account of old King Hamlet's murder in a play, 'The Mouse-trap', and emotions run high - as shown even by the King himself - rather than acting immediately and killing Claudius, who he does genuinely believe is guilty, Hamlet instead puts procrastination into practice. This suggests that it is not only he that he is considering but also the political/ethical consequences of an act in the 17th-century Danish court, in which security and order may be disrupted by the court not acknowledging his view. This indeed happens, unknowingly to Hamlet, beginning with the very next scene shift. The throne room becomes a place of dissonance, signaled by the sudden outburst of playing music and the excited noise made by the court and surrounding crowds. On stage, we see Claudius's mind adrift with thoughts of guilt and consequence, so much so that he cannot engage with the words of a prayer. He admits in an aside, 'My words fly up, may thouas laude sinks down', revealing to the audience his own conscience and knowledge of the consequences of his actions, his guilt which Hamlet wishes to make apparent to the nation later. The King is snapshotted at the ends of thoughts and prayers for the conclusion that this moment of disruption and lack of order in the court is caused by a berat king's lack of concentration. All these things, including the outcome of the prayer scene, happen as an indirect reiteration of Hamlet's own internal fears.

2.3 Moral Dilemma

In the third place, Hamlet cannot find any moral grounds while he knows he will revenge. Some critics say that Hamlet's procrastination came from the moral consideration, which conflicts with reason and passion. Hamlet stands between his reason and passion; so he has an internal moral struggle in his deep conscious. However, now I advance a different interpretation. I think Hamlet's moral dilemma is contributed by the profound moral corruption of the whole state of Denmark. In other words, Hamlet delays his revenge because the world he sees is too terribly wrong. The moral disease of the whole society has made him adhering to his moral grounds for action. Hamlet used to be a student in Wittenberg; he is an enlightened and scholar and trust in the power of human rationality. He has faith that reason can help to overcome passion and solve any moral dilemmas. However, the world he has seen now is full of corruption and decadence; unreasonable gain is the fashion, moral values is meaningless, those in authority, whose duty is to protect the people and enforce the law, has involved in dirty political practices, vanity and licentiousness. Therefore, his revulsion in his mother's marriage with his uncle can lead to a more deep moral detestation towards the whole society. In addition, Hamlet's moral dilemma is also made acute by the fact that he has to act under the divine and natural laws; this is similar with the situation when he is struggling in seeking reasons to justify either he should kill Claudius while he is praying. Divine and natural laws are Western concept that refer to the rules given by God and by nature. Hamlet is conflict with himself either he should obey the command from God by wishing damnation upon Claudius or violate natural law by committing murder. The presence of the ghost showing that there is a lack of internal harmony in the nature realm. This further confuses Hamlet and deepens his moral dilemma. This also reflects the general setting of the play; spiritual wickedness and corruption in the society lead one moral at all level to be challenged. I think that Hamlet can never be mad. Rather, he is constantly in a choice between reason and passion, for which he made a moral struggle in his deep soul. He tries to obey the command of avenge his father, yet his rational thinking always comes to suppress the passionate desire to take action. However, when we deeply look to his procrastination, we may say that his delay does not come from the worry of not knowing the right action. Instead, his hesitation is largely due to his searching for an answer to the moral question—what has caused the world to be so wrong and how can I make any difference? His depression and moral doubt reflects the disheartenment of the Renaissance humanism. The corruption in the royal court of Denmark and the rejection of the value of human rationality throws cold water to Renaissance humanism and enlightens ideals. The world shown by Shakespeare is not a pleasing place; moral dilemma of Hamlet is a good example of conveying the message of the failure of human pursuit of moral rectitude in the reality.

3. Consequences of Hamlet's Procrastination

Upon dissecting the nature of Hamlet's procrastination and determining the psychological factors that compel him to delay, the essay considers the reasons as to why Hamlet's procrastination is a tragic flaw, leading to the deaths of the principal characters of the play, and the eventual unsettling denouement. This essay maintains that Hamlet's inaction – owing to his melancholic state, the punishment of his double nature, the Oedipal complex and the need to avenge – coupled with his brash temperament and impulsive behaviour, results in the escalated tragedy in each act. It posits that Hamlet's indecisiveness and procrastination, while underpinned by mnemonic repression and the delay serving as a conflict itself for the audience's pleasure, results in the corruption of all the other characters in the play, showing a destructive domino effect. In addition, the essay investigates the consequences of Hamlet's inability to act according to the ghost's command, and the subsequent highlighting of "man's encased will" and the psychological constraints of free will, thus providing a platform for existentialism. The essay seeks to offer various explanations regarding the reasons for Hamlet's inaction, while requiring the audience or reader to genuinely consider the nature of Hamlet's procrastination: whether it is a feigned display, driven by his desire to apply the stoic visions of emotional repression, or another, external force – a tragic flaw, parallel to Aristotle's model of being a hero of higher stature. However, the mold of a revenge tragedy is reflected in Shakespeare's contemporary playwrights and predecessors, which usually follow a set course: a character sustained from a personal loss or injustice (wanted deed), the plotting of vengeance, hesitation about the necessary act, an execution, and the disorder from the aftermath. But by using Hamlet's resolutions, namely the 'rogue and peasant slave' speech in Act 2, and the unconsoled through 'thinking too precisely on th'event' in the "To be or not to be" soliloquy, Shakespeare reshapes the conventions of Aristotelian revenge tragedy to exacerbate the tragic nature of his psychologically complex, multi-layered character. This not only raises the question of "what is good in Hamlet", as Burton Hatoff perspicuously points out, but concurrently, a new theme arises: how "novel like questions are purposely raised to employ and challenge the viewer's perspectives; not just from the narrative itself, but also from the fact that Hamlet's lack of action becomes more and more frustrating.

3.1 Escalation of Tragedy

The pivotal turning point in the play is when Hamlet slays Polonius. This bridges Hamlet’s stream of consciousness and directs the audience into his thought process. Leading up to this dramatic climax, Hamlet seems to become more dejected and disturbed. For example, his snide comment to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern shows that Hamlet is becoming more and more aware of the bigger happenings around him - that they are only gulls sent by the king and they are not really there for Hamlet, but merely acting in furtherance of the king’s interests. By this point of the play, it shall be clear that Hamlet’s procrastination is only a superficial cover for a deeper, underlying anxiety and soul-sickness. However, it is also the escalation of tragedies amongst the characters. The killing is an escalation of the “revenge” as a theme in the play. Although this is the only direct killing that results in Hamlet’s action, and it can be regarded as the ultimate climax of the play, other deaths, such as the passing of King Hamlet and Ophelia’s insanity can be attributed to Hamlet’s delaying of killing Claudius. The delays of action to kill Claudius cause a snowball effect of deaths and ultimately, the tragedy is the loss among the royal family. First, King Hamlet died and King Claudius takes the throne as the new King. Then, Polonius is killed which leads to Ophelia’s insanity and eventually her tragic death. These tragedies expose the evil attributes of various characters and are only finalized with the victory of Fortinbras with the presentation of the dead bodies in the end. However, we must continue to question whether Hamlet’s procrastination potentially leads to his mother’s death as well and we cannot disregard the possibility that Gertrude might have drank it not because of intention, but out of a mother’s love to save her son. Every single character that has a royal bloodline dies in the end. It is thus safe to conclude that the procrastination of Hamlet results in the escalation of tragedy. But at the same time, it is a strong and direct plot where Shakespeare intends to lead the audience into the conclusion at the closure of the play.

3.2 Loss of Opportunities

Another significant consequence of Hamlet's procrastination is the loss of opportunities. After the play scene, where Hamlet had proven to himself that Claudius was guilty, he encountered Claudius in the chapel but couldn't kill him, providing a lot of time for his uncle to repent and be forgiven. This not only led to the delayed death of Claudius at the end of the play, but also the death of many others. For instance, Hamlet's delay in killing Claudius not only caused many other deaths including his mother's, but also denied the opportunity for Hamlet to resolve his existential crisis. Gertrude's death could have possibly been prevented and Hamlet could have had the chance to go away from the horrible place and defy his fate if he had killed Claudius earlier. Instead, Hamlet's actions always result in other people, including himself, being killed and in pain. This sense of lost chances made the play more and more a record of errors, mischances and lost opportunities. In other words, Hamlet’s missed chances are not just instances of inaction, but also signify a deeper understanding of the human condition. And this is the reason that so many of us find a fascination with this character, it is not just what he has missed, but also what he hints at in terms of a human’s soul existence. His obsession with death has led him finally to act, but the act is a suicidal one and the best to be said might be that if there was no scope for his creativity and his desire to 'find out the truth', he would live his next period of life which is not more substantially differing to what he has already experienced. His life effectively finished at the moment when his mother's complete dependence on his soon was finally seized by the new king, Claudius. He was denied of it due to the wrong conception and his both physical and mental wounds that he cannot exist in a normal human environment. The spiritual decline seems absolute from that time until the appearance of the troop led by Fortinbras, who is the Norway prince and willing to take back the land lost by his father. And the mysterious convey of young Hamlet's intention to work for the people he has met but not careful cast a somewhat dramatic hope for the regain of human spirit. So violence, served as a means underpinning the political process, also promises a future out of troubles and loss. The act is cruel but the measure is shown to be the end of uncertainties and agonies lived by the prince. However, it also marks the end of state in Denmark which should be ruled by a rightful leader. And in other people's eyes, it is too far to say that Hamlet was the perfect idealist for showing any optimism in the circumstances of such political corruption. But the essence, the core of the hope is appeared to be something substantial and being staged out in reality. And this might justify for the presentation of the play in terms of Hamlet's spiritual journey.

3.3 Impact on Relationships

The relationships in Hamlet are very interesting and diverse. Each character has a different relationship with Hamlet, who has romantic relationships with Ophelia, friendly relationships with Horatio and Marcellus, and family relationships with the late King Hamlet and his mother Gertrude. As the play continues and the plot in the play thickens, every single relationship that Hamlet has with these characters becomes more complex and more interesting. This is due to the different scenarios and it can be clearly seen in the play, as there are many different ways in which Hamlet's relationships with these characters can go about. However, because of Hamlet's persistent procrastination, his relationships with these characters become extremely strained. For example, his treatment of Ophelia in Act 3, Scene 1 and his accidental murder of Polonius affects the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia and Ophelia's perception of Hamlet. His relationship with Gertrude is also under severe strain as a result of his constant procrastination and the subsequent killing of Polonius. The way in which Hamlet continuously puts off the murder of Claudius is very indicative of the way in which people often deal with their problems in the real world. Instead of just dealing with a serious issue like murder, Hamlet finds many excuses to procrastinate and justify his inaction. This constant delay and refusal to take action has serious consequences, resulting in the relationship between Hamlet and his mother, Gertrude, to be damaged beyond repair. This goes to show that if somebody procrastinates and refuses to take action at a time of need, serious consequences and irreparable damage to relationships may occur. Another main impact on relationships due to Hamlet's procrastination is the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia. Throughout the play, Ophelia is treated poorly by Hamlet and is under a lot of emotional strain, caused by both her father's death and Hamlet's actions. This treatment is especially evident in his treatment of Ophelia in Act 3, Scene 1, where Hamlet makes scornful comments and employs vulgar puns in his conversation with Ophelia. These actions are a direct result of Hamlet's procrastination and his reluctance to take action - in this case, to directly speak about his innermost thoughts to Ophelia and explain the situation. This constant delay results in a significant shut-out in Ophelia's mind and it eventually leads to a destruction in their relationship, and severing the tie between lovers.

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1. Summary The novel begins with Janie Crawford returning to Eatonville, Florida, after a long absence. The black townspeople gossip about her and she is a bit of a curiosity. They wonder where she has gone and why she has returned. Janie is very beautiful and stands out in the town because she is not of the working class like the other black people of the town. They soon learn, however, that Janie isn't coming back alone. She is coming back with a young man named Tea Cake. The scene then flash ...

Hamlet's Procrastination Essay

In William Shakespeare's literary masterpiece, Hamlet, the protagonist Prince Hamlet is faced with the task of avenging his murdered father. The King of Denmark was assassinated by his brother Claudius to obtain the crown and Hamlet's mother, Queen Gertrude, as his wife. Hamlet is accosted by his father's ghost one night and is asked to kill Claudius to bring justice to Denmark. Hamlet swears to fulfill his father's request and murder Claudius but procrastinates to such a degree that the audience begins to wonder if Hamlet means to follow through with his plan at all. Ian Johnston, a Malaspina-University College professor in Nanimo, BC commented on the theme of revenge in his essay, Introductory Lecture on Shakespeare's Hamlet and wrote (2001), “Revenge is something we all, deep down, understand and respond to imaginatively…The issue engages some of our deepest and most powerful feelings…” (p.2). Shakespeare seemed to have known this because Hamlet is one of the most passionately debated plays of all time. The question of whether Hamlet defers his revengeful act is at the top of the list of literary controversies. Although there are many arguments and ideas of why Hamlet delays the avengement of his father which includes psychological obstacles, morals and sensitivity and his Oedipus Complex, it is certain that he does have conflicting thoughts and feelings of whether or not to perform the act which are revealed in his soliloquies and emphasized by the contrasting behaviors of Laertes and Fortinbras and the Ghost's possible intentions; therefore, Hamlet does procrastinate.

Hamlet's Soliloquies

Though some critics argue that Hamlet did attempt to murder Claudius at the most opportune moment, the theory is severely undercut by the content matter of Hamlet's soliloquies. The audience finds evidence of Hamlet himself constantly calling attention to his worry and delay. Johnston reported (2001), “…the delay is not a concept of our imagination, something we impose on the play; it is, by contrast, an issue repeatedly raised by the play itself” (p.3). Later he wrote, “Hamlet himself agonizes over his inability to carry out the deed and is constantly searching for reasons why he is behaving the way he is…he is in the grip of something that he cannot fully understand, no matter how much he rationalizes the matter” (Johnston, 2001 p.6). Clearly if Hamlet recognizes and speaks repeatedly of his procrastination, the audience is meant to take notice and can confidently conclude that he is delaying.

Contrasting Behaviors of Hamlet, Fortinbras and Laertes

The play contains two other avengers, Fortinbras and Laertes, who retaliate because of the murder of their fathers. These two characters act in an immediate, effective and resolute manner, unlike that of Hamlet's. Johnston agreed that (2001), “…it would seem that we are invited to see Hamlet's response to his father's murder something quite different from what a normal prince with a sense of honour might do. Hence the play itself puts a lot of pressure on us to recognize in Hamlet's conduct an unusual problem”(p.3). The obvious contrast in demeanor between Fortinbras and Laertes and Hamlet serves as evidence alluding to Hamlet's procrastination.

The Ghost's Revenge

There also exists a theory that exhibits Hamlet must have delayed because of the Ghost's real intention. As Anne Ridler from the Oxford Press explained it (1962),

…the Ghost of Hamlet's father knew his son's nature perfectly well, and intended Claudius to be, not directly killed but worried out of his mind by having Hamlet's gloomy and threatening figure continually about him. A reproduction of the Ghost's own purgatory around Claudius would be… a much more satisfying revenge than mere straightforward death….it is possible that we have missed the point of the whole play by our failure to attribute sufficient intelligence to that paternal intimate spectre (pp.200-201).

In other words, it could be the will of the Ghost to utilize Hamlet's guaranteed procrastination to better avenge himself. If this were to be proven, there could be no opposing argument that Hamlet did not delay.

Psychological Obstacles

Critics have contemplated many theories of why Hamlet postpones his task. One theory blames Hamlet's analytical and philosophical mind for the hindering of the mission. “…it is the reasoning that Hamlet uses to justify his delay that becomes paramount to the reader's understanding of the effect that Hamlet's mental perspective has on his situation” (Hamlet as a comment on humanity, 2001 p.1) When the ghost confronts Hamlet at the onset of the play and assigns him his task, Hamlet accepts it enthusiastically, “Haste me to know't; that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thought of love, May sweep to my revenge” (Shakespeare, 1992 pp.57-58). Hamlet does not question the validity of the Ghost until later when mulling over the task in his head. Hamlet says, “The spirit that I have seen May be a devil, and the devil hath power T'assume a pleasing shape” (Shakespeare, 1992 p.119). All conviction evaporates, and he lapses into the engagement of meaningless activities such as arguing points to ridiculous lengths and asking absurd questions (Hamlet's Procrastination and Cowardice, 2006). To prove the Ghost's validity and Claudius's guilt, Hamlet composes a play to be performed reenacting the murder of his father. After it's successful, he finds Claudius alone praying. Although the perfect opportunity to do the deed arises, he again fails to act, “Up, sword; and know though a more horrid hent: when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage” (Shakespeare, 1992 pp.167-168). With the audience exasperated at this point, Hamlet turns to his inner self and begins to analyze every detail concerning broad philosophies about life to the point of a psychotic breakdown. “Hamlet becomes a prisoner of his own mind, a man stuck in the imaginary world, an irrational thinker, in a rational society.” (Character Analysis of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Othello, 2002 p.3) By becoming entangled in the thoughts dwelling in his own mind, Hamlet inhibits himself from taking action. It isn't until the final scene of the play, when all caught in the crossfire along with himself are dying that he kills Claudius, at last understanding the consequences of his delay.

Hamlet's suicidal state of depression is another psychological factor that contributes to his procrastination. He ponders if avenging his father's death is worth the effort or if he should end his own life, avoiding moral dilemmas associated with taking action (Hamlet's Procrastination, 2005). “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pitch and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action.” (Shakespeare, 1992 p.129) There are critics who deem this condition a state of melancholy and label Hamlet as bi-polar. Author Peter Leithart described melancholy as (2006), “a temporary depression that paralyzes him in contempt for everything-the world, the flesh, and himself, not just a habitual excess of reflectiveness” (p. 3). Being melancholic for what he had been through before meeting with the Ghost, Hamlet is said to have been emotionally incapable of responding with normal vigor to the ghost requests although he spoke as though he did. Hamlet's experiences forced him to feel as Shakespeare critic AC Bradley worded it, “Disgust at life and everything in it, himself included-a disgust which varies in intensity, rising at times into a longing for death, sinking often into wearing apathy” (Leithart, 2006 p. 4). This theory accounts for many of the extreme emotions Hamlet feels and for the fact that he does not understand his own inaction and reprimands himself in dismay over his unwillingness to avenge his father.

Hamlet's Idealistic Nature

In contrast, there is another well supported theory that maintains Hamlet has trouble carrying out his act of revenge due to his idealistic nature. Johnston believed (2001), …he is too good for this world, he is too sensitive, too poetical, too finely attuned to the difficulties of life, too philosophically speculative or too finely poetical. This line of criticism has often been offered by people who feel themselves rather too finely gifted to fit the rough and tumble of the modern world. (p.5)

Hamlet communicates his dislike for the dishonesty of the world, the hypocrisy of politics and sexuality. Therefore, a legitimate reason for Hamlet's delay could be that he's too sensitive and romantic for the corruption of the court, proving his procrastination stems from his distaste at condescending to their level. Additionally, Hamlet realizes that killing a King is a great crime. “In seventeenth century, kings have divinity about them, and hurting a king from that period cannot compare to hurting a politician today (Hamlet's Delay, 1996 p.3). Hamlet does not want to be found guilty of such a crime, therefore concern for himself is a contributing factor to his procrastination.

Oedipus Complex

Another theory is born from the fact that Hamlet only postpones Claudius's murder. Hamlet readily slays Polonius and puts his two friends Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to death without a second thought. He proves that he is fully capable of making decisions and following through with them. However, with the specific task that the ghost assigns him, he undoubtedly falters. Professor Ian Johnston references Ernest Jones, the famous disciple of Freud, and wrote (2001), “It's not that he [Hamlet] is by nature irresolute, too poetical, or philosophical, or suffers from medical problems or a weakness of will. It is, by contrast, that this particular assignment is impossible for him”(p.6). Why this specific murder?

It is a widely accepted theory that Hamlet suffered from Oedipus Complex, meaning he was in love with his mother, Queen Gertrude. Some critics believe that he couldn't immediately kill Claudius because he knew if he were to actually go through with it, he would be no better a man than his murderous uncle (Hamlet's Delay in Shakespeare's Hamlet, 2005). Another theory is that by killing the man who sleeps with his mother, he would be forced to admit to himself his own feelings about her, a confession that would overwhelm and disgust him (Johnston, 2001). It is evident in the play that Hamlet is only able to murder Claudius after Gertrude is dead, and he is about to die. It is at that point that his sexual confusion is resolved, and he is finally able to act. Johnston pointed out (2001),

Hamlet does have a very particular inability to carry out this action and that this inability is not a constitutional incapacity for action but stems from some very particular feelings within Hamlet, feelings which he himself has trouble figuring out and which he often thinks about in explicitly sexual terms…terms which insist upon a pattern of disgust with female sexuality (p.7).

This revulsion to female sexuality is evident when Hamlet speaks to his mother or Ophelia. The outlook provides a further realistic and logical explanation for his procrastination. Hamlet undoubtedly delays as evident by his soliloquies which continually target his procrastination. Also the presence of Laertes and Fortinbras create a noticeable contrast between their resolute manner and Hamlet's faltering one. Although there are many possible explanations of why Hamlet delays, whether his idealism is to blame, his psychological state or his Oedipus Complex, it is apparent that they are all well supported and legitimate theories that prove more likely than not that Hamlet does postpone the avengement of his father; he is, therefore, a procrastinator.

Hamlet Research Paper & Essay Examples

When you have to write an essay on Hamlet by Shakespeare, you may need an example to follow. In this article, our team collected numerous samples for this exact purpose. Here you’ll see Hamlet essay and research paper examples that can inspire you and show how to structure your writing.

✍ Hamlet: Essay Samples

What Makes Hamlet such a Complex Character? Genre: Essay Words: 560 Focused on: Hamlet’s insanity and changes in the character Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Ophelia
Shakespeare versus Olivier: A Depiction of ‘Hamlet’ Genre: Essay Words: 2683 Focused on: Comparison of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Laurence Olivier’s adaptation Characters mentioned: Hamlet, the Ghost, Claudius, Ophelia, Gertrude
Drama Analysis of Hamlet by Shakespeare Genre: Essay Words: 1635 Focused on: Literary devices used in Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia
Hamlet’s Renaissance Culture Conflict Genre: Critical Essay Words: 1459 Focused on: Hamlet’s and Renaissance perspective on death Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Ophelia, Horatio
Father-Son Relationships in Hamlet – Hamlet’s Loyalty to His Father Genre: Explicatory Essay Words: 1137 Focused on: Obedience in the relationship between fathers and sons in Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Laertes, Ophelia, Polonius, Fortinbras, Polonius, the Ghost, Claudius
A Play “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare Genre: Essay Words: 1026 Focused on: Hamlet’s personality and themes of the play Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Ophelia, Gertrude, Polonius
Characterization of Hamlet Genre: Analytical Essay Words: 876 Focused on: Hamlet’s indecision and other faults Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Ophelia, Claudius, the Ghost, Gertrude
Hamlet’s Relationship with His Mother Gertrude Genre: Research Paper Words: 1383 Focused on: Hamlet’s relationship with Gertrude and Ophelia Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Gertrude, Ophelia, Claudius, Polonius
The Theme of Revenge in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Genre: Research Paper Words: 1081 Focused on: Revenge in Hamlet and how it affects characters Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, the Ghost
Canonical Status of Hamlet by William Shakespeare Genre: Essay Words: 1972 Focused on: Literary Canon and interpretations of Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Horatio, Claudius
A Critical Analysis of Hamlet’s Constant Procrastination in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Genre: Essay Words: 1141 Focused on: Reasons for Hamlet’s procrastination and its consequences Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Polonius
Role of Women in Twelfth Night and Hamlet by Shakespeare Genre: Research Paper Words: 2527 Focused on: Women in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Hamlet Characters mentioned: Ophelia, Gertrude, Hamlet, Claudius, Laertes, Polonius
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Genre: Essay Words: 849 Focused on: Key ideas and themes of Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Ophelia, Laertes
Shakespeare: Hamlet Genre: Essay Words: 1446 Focused on: The graveyard scene analysis Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Ophelia, Laertes, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius
Oedipus Rex and Hamlet Compare and Contrast Genre: Term Paper Words: 998 Focused on: Comparison of King Oedipus and Hamlet from Sophocles’ Oedipus the King and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet . Characters mentioned: Hamlet
The Play “Hamlet Prince of Denmark” by W.Shakespeare Genre: Essay Words: 824 Focused on: How Hamlet treats Ophelia and the consequences of his behavior Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Ophelia, Claudius, Gertrude, Polonius, Laertes
Hamlet by William Shakespeare Genre: Explicatory Essay Words: 635 Focused on: Key themes of Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Fortinbras
Hamlet’s Choice of Fortinbras as His Successor Genre: Essay Words: 948 Focused on: Why Hamlet chose Fortinbras as his successor Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Fortinbras, Claudius
Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras: Avenging the Death of their Father Compare and Contrast Genre: Compare and Contrast Essay Words: 759 Focused on: Paths and revenge of Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras, Claudius
Oedipus the King and Hamlet Genre: Essay Words: 920 Focused on: Comparison of Oedipus and King Claudius Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude
Hamlet Genre: Term Paper Words: 1905 Focused on: Character of Gertrude and her transformation Characters mentioned: Gertrude, Hamlet, Claudius, the Ghost, Polonius
Compare Laertes and Hamlet: Both React to their Fathers’ Killing/Murder Compare and Contrast Genre: Compare and Contrast Essay Words: 1188 Focused on: Tension between Hamlet and Laertes and their revenge Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Laertes, Ophelia, Polonius, Claudius, Gertrude
Recurring Theme of Revenge in Hamlet Genre: Essay Words: 1123 Focused on: The theme of revenge in Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Laertes, Ophelia
The Function of the Soliloquies in Hamlet Genre: Research Paper Words: 2055 Focused on: Why Shakespeare incorporated soliloquies in the play Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude
The Hamlet’s Emotional Feelings in the Shakespearean Tragedy Genre: Essay Words: 813 Focused on: What Hamlet feels and why Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius
Blindness in Oedipus Rex & Hamlet Genre: Research Paper Words: 2476 Focused on: How blindness reveals itself in Oedipus Rex and Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Horatio, the Ghost
“Hamlet” and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” Genre: Essay Words: 550 Focused on: Comparison of Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern
The Role of Queen Gertrude in Play “Hamlet” Genre: Essay Words: 886 Focused on: Gertrude’s role in Hamlet and her involvement in King Hamlet’s murder Characters mentioned: Gertrude, Hamlet, the Ghost, Claudius, Polonius
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Genre: Explicatory Essay Words: 276 Focused on: The role and destiny of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Hamlet Characters mentioned: Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Hamlet, Claudius
Passing through nature into eternity Genre: Term Paper Words: 2900 Focused on: Comparison of Because I Could Not Stop for Death, and I Died for Beauty, but was Scarce by Emily Dickinson with Shakespeare’s Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, the Ghost, Claudius, Gertrude
When the Truth Comes into the Open: Claudius’s Revelation Genre: Essay Words: 801 Focused on: Claudius’ confession and secret Characters mentioned: Claudius, Hamlet
Shakespeare Authorship Question: Thorough Analysis of Style, Context, and Violence in the Plays Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night Genre: Term Paper Words: 1326 Focused on: Whether Shakespeare wrote Hamlet, Julius Caesar, Twelfth Night Characters mentioned: Hamlet
Measuring the Depth of Despair: When There Is no Point in Living Genre: Essay Words: 1165 Focused on: Despair in Hamlet and Macbeth Characters mentioned: Hamlet
Violence of Shakespeare Genre: Term Paper Words: 1701 Focused on: Violence in different Shakespeare’s plays Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Horatio, Claudius, Gertrude, Palonius, Laertes,
Act II of Hamlet by William Shakespeare Genre: Report Words: 1129 Focused on: Analysis of Act 2 of Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Polonius, Ronaldo, Laertes, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, First Player, Claudius
The Value of Source Study of Hamlet by Shakespeare Genre: Explicatory Essay Words: 4187 Focused on: How Shakespeare adapted Saxo Grammaticus’s Danish legend on Amleth and altered the key characters Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Ophelia, Gertrude, Claudius, the Ghost, Fortinbras, Horatio, Laertes, Polonius
Ophelia and Hamlet’s Dialogue in Shakespeare’s Play Genre: Essay Words: 210 Focused on: What the dialogue in Act 3 Scene 1 reveals about Hamlet and Ophelia Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Ophelia
Lying, Acting, Hypocrisy in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” Genre: Essay Words: 1313 Focused on: The theme of deception in Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Gertrude, Claudius, Ophelia
Shakespeare’s Hamlet’s Behavior in Act III Genre: Report Words: 1554 Focused on: Behavior of different characters in Act 3 of Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Polonius
The Masks of William Shakespeare’s Play “Hamlet” Genre: Research Paper Words: 1827 Focused on: Hamlet’s attitude towards death and revenge Characters mentioned: Hamlet, the Ghost
Ghosts and Revenge in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Genre: Essay Words: 895 Focused on: The figure of the Ghost and his relationship with Hamlet Characters mentioned: Hamlet, the Ghost, Gertrude, Claudius
Macbeth and Hamlet Characters Comparison Genre: Essay Words: 1791 Focused on: Comparison of Gertrude in Hamlet and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth Characters mentioned: Gertrude, Claudius, Hamlet
Depression and Melancholia Expressed by Hamlet Genre: Essay Words: 3319 Focused on: Hamlet’s mental issues and his symptoms Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Ophelia, Laertes, the Ghost, Polonius
Meditative and Passionate Responses in the Play “Hamlet” Genre: Essay Words: 1377 Focused on: Character of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play and Zaffirelli’s adaptation Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia, Polonius
Portrayal of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s Play and Zaffirelli’s Film Genre: Essay Words: 554 Focused on: Character of Hamlet in Shakespeare’s play and Zaffirelli’s adaptation Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Ophelia
Hamlet in the Film and the Play: Comparing and Contrasting Genre: Essay Words: 562 Focused on: Comparison of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Zeffirelli’s version of the character Characters mentioned: Hamlet
Literary Analysis of “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare Genre: Essay Words: 837 Focused on: Symbols, images, and characters of the play Characters mentioned: Hamlet, the Ghost, Claudius, Gertrude, Ophelia
Psychiatric Analysis of Hamlet Genre: Essay Words: 1899 Focused on: Hamlet’s mental state and sanity in particular Characters mentioned: Hamlet, Claudius, Ophelia, Laertes, Polonius
Hamlet and King Oedipus Literature Comparison Genre: Essay Words: 587 Focused on: Comparison of Hamlet and Oedipus Characters mentioned: Hamlet

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Home Essay Examples Psychology Procrastination

Revealing Of Hamlet's Procrastination

Category Literature , Psychology
Subcategory Plays , Behavior
Topic Hamlet , Procrastination

Waiting around will always end up costing one more. Hamlet is a play written by William Shakespeare. The play recounts the tragic story of how protagonist Prince Hamlet is faced with the task of exacting revenge on his uncle Claudius for assassinating his father, marrying his widowed mother, and successfully obtaining the throne. Hamlet is approached by the ghost of his father one night and is asked to murder Claudius to bring justice to Denmark. Hamlet agrees to fulfil his father’s request and kill Claudius, but procrastinates to such a degree that the audience is left wondering whether or not he plans to avenge his father’s death at all. Hamlet’s inability to act propels the plot and leads to the deaths of most of the characters in the play.

Had Hamlet avenged his father’s death at the beginning of the play instead of procrastinating, the story would have ended much sooner and the plot would have lacked substance. For the entirety of the play Hamlet is reluctant to act and he puts off his revenge by pretending to have gone mad. He spends a great deal of time making observations and contemplating the meaning of action rather than actually taking action himself. After watching a travelling player perform a moving speech, Hamlet criticizes himself for his reluctance to act, saying,

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“O, what a rogue and peasant slave am i !/

Is it not monstrous that this player here,

But in a fiction,/ in a dream of passion,

Could force his soul so to his own concert/

That from her working all his visage wanned,/

Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,/

A broken voice,/ and his whole function suiting with forms to his conceit-and all for nothing!”

(2.2 545-52).

After listening to this speech Hamlet begins to wonder, if an actor is able to weep over a fictitious character then why is he incapable of avenging his own father’s death, something he was initially eager to do; when the ghost confronted Hamlet at the beginning of the play and assigned him his task, Hamlet accepted it enthusiastically, “Haste me to know’t; that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thought of love, May sweep to my revenge” (1.5.29-31). In this quote he explains how he imagines the death of Claudius, he goes on to say that he seeks his death like an avenging angel, hence the metaphor “wings as swift” and “sweep to my revenge”. Hamlet does not question the legitimacy of the ghost or task until later when going over the task in his head. Hamlet says, “The spirit that I have seen May be a devil, the devil hath power T’assume a pleasing shape” (2.2.596-98). The fear of deception prompts his inaction and he becomes scatterbrained, lapsing into meaningless activities such as arguing points to unreasonable lengths and asking irrational questions. In attempt to prove the validity of the ghost and “catch the conscience of the King” (2.2.603), Hamlet devises a play to be performed portraying the murder of his father. After it is successful and he is sure of Claudius’ guilt, Hamlet enters Claudius’ private altar and finds him alone, praying. Hamlet recognizes a perfect opportunity to murder Claudius but fails to act yet again, “Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent: When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage” (3.3.89-90). Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he is praying because he believes that he will be sending him straight to heaven, he claims he will execute his revenge when Claudius is committing some immoral act. Hamlet then begins to analyze every detail regarding philosophies about life to the extent of a psychotic breakdown. By becoming intertwined in his own thoughts, Hamlet hinders himself from taking action, once again furthering and adding importance to the plot. Throughout the play, Hamlet had several opportunities to avenge his father’s death by killing Claudius, however there always seemed to be something delaying him. There are countless reasons as to why Hamlet consistently failed to act, whether it be fear of consequences, doubts over the validity of the ghost, fear of hurting his mother, etc. All of these reasons contribute to the substance and length of the play because had Hamlet successfully avenged his father’s death from the very start, the entire plot would be missing.

Hamlet’s procrastination caused the deaths of Gertrude, Laertes, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, and most importantly, himself.

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Procrastination and Tragedy in Hamlet

Image Credit: Ferwa Razzaq

Read the Faculty Introduction

Procrastination – the bane of college students across the globe. The tantalizing pleasures of Youtube and the immediate social gratifications of Facebook are all too alluring for the average student, especially when the alternative is a five to seven page essay about that old drab Shakespeare. And yet the title character of what most people believe to be Shakespeare’s crowning achievement, Hamlet , is probably the best-known procrastinator of all. In her paper, “Tragic Flaw in Shakespeare’s Hamlet ,” scholar P. Indira Devi argues that “Shakespeare’s tragic hero Hamlet’s fatal flaw is his failure to act immediately to kill Claudius, his uncle and murderer of his father” (2). Although the ghost of Hamlet’s father orders Hamlet to kill his uncle Claudius in Act I, our hero waits until the king is undeniably guilty before he ends his uncle’s life. Despite Hamlet’s eventual success in killing Claudius, Devi argues that his “procrastination, his tragic flaw, leads him to his doom along with that of the other characters” (2).

This judgement upon Hamlet is easily made from the perspective of an omniscient reader who knows of Claudius’s guilt, but falls short when viewed from Hamlet’s perspective. According to Aristotle in his Poetics , a tragic hero is someone who falls not because of vice or depravity, but falls “because of some mistake” (57). While Devi is quick to pinpoint Hamlet’s mistake in his delay to kill Claudius, I would like to pause, as Hamlet does, on the reasons for why he does not immediately kill Claudius. Departing from the popular view of faulting Hamlet’s procrastination, I wish to argue that Hamlet should not receive full blame for the misfortunate events that befall Denmark. Instead, I argue that much of the fault lies outside our hero and that a consideration of these external forces is important to any understanding of Hamlet’s tragic situation. In this paper, I want to focus on how the dubious reality of the ghost of Hamlet’s father, as well as the political situation of Denmark, complicates the significance of Hamlet’s measured acts of procrastination.

Hamlet breaks the classical model of an Aristotelian tragic hero in both his characterization and his revelation. While most authors give their protagonists an overbearing tragic flaw to balance their talents, Hamlet lacks a unique and strong tragic flaw because he has no amazing talents to balance out. Aristotle notes four important aspects of a successful tragic character, one of which “is to make the character lifelike, which is something different from making them good and appropriate” (60). Unlike the abilities of well-known tragic heroes such as Odysseus and Oedipus, Hamlet’s amazing intellectual ability provides little to no assistance and at times prevents him from being decisive. One might expect in another story that if Hamlet were told of the injustice against his father, he would boldly and heroically battle his way through the kingdom’s forces to claim his rightful place on the throne. This is the exact opposite of what our protagonist chooses to do. Instead of heroically battling his fate, he laments “that the Everlasting had not fixed his canon ‘gainst self-slaughter” (1.2.131). Referencing the belief that suicide would lead the religious to hell, Hamlet rather unheroically wishes to kill himself before even learning of his fate. There is no need to give Hamlet a tragic flaw to humanize and help the reader to empathize with him because Hamlet’s abilities and actions are well within the scope of human capability.

Shakespeare’s twist on the reversal and recognition of the elements of Aristotle’s model explain the complex thoughts which, I argue, absolve Hamlet of any guilt. These moments of reversal and recognition happen for Hamlet when he meets his father’s ghost. After Hamlet talks with the ghost, his life undergoes Aristotle’s reversal, defined as “a change from one state of affairs to its exact opposite,” since now he cannot run away from home lest guilt slowly eats away at him (56). He also reaches Aristotle’s recognition stage, described as “a change from ignorance to knowledge,” when he learns of the potential truth behind his father’s death (56). Although Shakespeare’s recognition of Hamlet already deserves praise from Aristotle as Aristotle remarks “the best form of recognition is that which is accompanied by a reversal,” Hamlet’s recognition is also an incomplete one as he is unsure of the ghost’s credibility (56).

Although the play does later prove the ghost’s accusations to be true, the characters in the play rightfully doubt the ghost as spirits hold the possibility of evil intentions. Horatio immediately reveals to the readers that “it must be either an evil spirit or a good one” (Joseph 495) and warns Hamlet of the ghost potentially leading Hamlet to death or to madness (1.5.69-74). Ironically, the ghost’s credibility does lead to both Hamlet’s death and madness as his inner conflict troubles him for the rest of his life. Other tragic heroes like Oedipus receive rather direct confirmation of their relevant fact, but Hamlet changes from ignorance to uncertainty rather than to knowledge. This uncertainty causes Hamlet’s delay, and it is therefore the dubious reality of the ghost that causes his delay. The shift of blame from Hamlet to the dubious reality of the ghost causes a stronger sense of pity for Hamlet’s tragedy as he suffers not because of some personal mistake, but because of his uncertainty over which he has no control.

Aristotle’s tragic hero is typically characterized as one who falls after the consequences of some action, but Hamlet does not appear to act much at all. After receiving his father’s command to kill Claudius, Hamlet promises to him “thy commandment all alone shall live / Within the book and volume of my brain” but does not do much until Act II when the opportunity presents itself (1.5.102-3). It is natural then to view Hamlet’s decision to do nothing as the action leading to his demise. From there, jumping to the conclusion that his inaction – his delay – must be his tragic flaw also comes naturally. In the book Stay, Illusion! , Simon Critchley and Jamieson Webster reference Hegel’s claim that Hamlet “eventually perishes owing to his own hesitation and a complication of external circumstances” (qtd. in Critchley and Jamieson 92). Although Critchley and Jamieson reference Hamlet’s delay as another factor of his demise, I wish to focus on the external circumstances of the prince. While much time does pass between Hamlet receiving his duty and enacting it, he does not waste it pondering. As he does not possess any exceptional gifts to help him combat the world, Hamlet makes a traditionally unheroic decision: he looks for help.

The first person who seems capable of trusting and helping Hamlet is Ophelia. Lamenting his fate and delaying his duty, Hamlet does at one point turn to Ophelia for assistance. Ophelia reports to her father, Polonius, that Hamlet went to her with “a little shaking of [her] arm …[and] He raised a sigh so piteous and profound that it did seem to shatter all his bulk / And end his being” (2.1.93-97). This sign of weakness shows that Hamlet trusts Ophelia, perhaps because he loves her and knows that she has feelings for him as well. He tries to rely on somebody else because his fate is too much for him to bear alone, but Hamlet’s repeated distress calls for Ophelia fail because “as [Polonius] did command / [She] did repel his letters, and denied / His access to [her]” (2.1.109-11). Due to Polonius’s erroneous foresight and advice, Hamlet is unable to request assistance, or even talk to, the only person in the play in whom he could confide. He completely loses faith in Ophelia during their next encounter in the castle as he questions her: “are you honest? … Are you fair?” (3.1.104-06). In the 2009 film adaptation of Hamlet , directed by Gregory Doran, this scene repeatedly shows Hamlet staring into the camera revealing his knowledge that both Claudius and Polonius are listening in from afar. Assuming her to be a supporter of Claudius, Hamlet concludes that he cannot trust Ophelia with his burden and quickly severs their ties. As he parts from his only sure confidant, Hamlet asks Horatio – his one friend – for minimal assistance.

Horatio is introduced as the best friend of Hamlet, easily seen from Hamlet’s animated lines when they first reunite. However, while Hamlet addresses Horatio as “Sir, my good friend”, he does not actually confide in him as a good friend would (1.2.162). Critchley and Webster also reveal in their analysis the possibility that Horatio is spying on someone else’s behalf is not improbable, given how little we know of the character (47-49). When we look at the situation in Denmark, it becomes clear why Hamlet cannot shake the feeling that Horatio might be just like Ophelia, a pawn in someone else’s game. Hamlet realizes early on that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, also friends of his, were charged by Claudius to spy on him as in their first conversation he questions “Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining [to visit me]? Is it a free visitation” (2.2.238-9). For our wary protagonist, it is not difficult to also take Horatio’s loyalty with a grain of salt.

Once we remove the last trustworthy person from the list of potential confidants, it becomes clear that Denmark’s current situation of turmoil and espionage causes Hamlet’s downfall. Every character in the play is watched by someone else. Comparing Hamlet to his foil Laertes, we see that Laertes’ father, Polonius, orders a servant to “make inquire of his behavior” and to look for actions like “drinking, fencing, swearing, [and] quarreling” (2.1.4-26). Although Polonius’s watch over his own son may be filled with good intentions, it clearly shows that he does not trust his son. This lack of trust amongst the main characters of the play permeates their relations, creating an atmosphere of doubt and wariness between all residents of the castle. An excellent illustration of this comes from Doran’s Hamlet where certain scenes are viewed through a security camera. Although the primary use of this camera is to show that the ghost of King Hamlet does not appear on recordings, the cameras also reflect the spying and lack of trust throughout the castle of Elsinore, explaining Hamlet’s beliefs that the current “Denmark’s a prison” (2.2.242).

Hamlet tries and fails to recruit assistance from others, leaving him with no choice but to tackle his fate alone. As fortune would have it, a group of performers stroll into Denmark giving Hamlet the idea to probe Claudius’s guilt. He instructs the performers to act out the circumstances of his father’s death and judges Claudius based on the usurper’s reactions, believing “For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak / With most miraculous organ” (2.2.514-515). After the Mousetrap succeeds, Hamlet is presented with a golden opportunity to kill a vulnerable, praying Claudius. Although the reader knows earlier that Claudius confesses, “My offense is rank…It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t, a brother’s murder” (3.3.36-8), Hamlet enters only after Claudius finishes his own soliloquy, leaving him still in the dark about Claudius’s culpability (3.4.36). While many rush to fault Hamlet for not stabbing Claudius in the back here, Hamlet assesses the situation as one where “A villain kills my father and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven” (3.4.76-8). In this moment, he is still unsure of Claudius’s sin, so from Hamlet’s perspective it is rational to wait until a time when Claudius is proven guilty. Devi argues that all deaths after this point were due to Hamlet’s delay in killing Claudius; however, murdering Claudius here would not have been very honorable or heroic. Although certain lives may have been saved, those lives have already been ruined by the events of the play: Ophelia and Laertes are left fatherless while Gertrude, Hamlet’s mother, must reckon with her own sin after the confrontation with her son. Perhaps death is the best ending for them as they could also escape with Hamlet from the tragedy that is Denmark – especially as Fortinbras’s army marches outside the castle doors.

Procrastinators all over the world only boldly admit their fault in delay because, for the most part, they do ultimately complete their assignment. Although the quality of work may not be ideal, the goal is attained. While Hamlet may not be remembered as the conquering hero of his time like his father, he still receives credit for killing Claudius. However, this credit pales in comparison to the effort and suffering Hamlet needed to endure before reaching his journey’s end. He was not gifted with abilities like superhuman strength to quickly avenge his father, but in the absence of an act of heroism, we gain a sense of his humanity, a quality of which is captured so well in his thoughts. He asks his friends for help like any normal human would when faced with insurmountable odds, but finds no solace as no one deserves trust. His downfall comes not from a personal tragic flaw, but from what Aristotle defines as hamartia, a class of mistaken acts “due not to vice or depravity, but to ignorance of some relevant fact or circumstance” (95). In following this fate, Hamlet finds himself fulfilling Aristotle’s construction of “the finest kind of tragedy from an artistic point of view” (58). As each character in the play slowly drifts further away from Hamlet, Shakespeare’s greatest character finds himself to be great only in solitude.

Works Cited

Aristotle. Aristotle’s Poetics . Translated by James Hutton. W.W.

Critchley, Simon, and Jamieson Webster. Stay, Illusion!: The Hamlet Doctrine . Pantheon Books, 2013.

Devi, P. Indira. “Tragic Flaw in Shakespeare’s Hamlet .” IUP Journal of English Studies , Vol. 9, No. 4, Dec. 2014, 93-97.

Hamlet . Directed by Gregory Doran. BBC Two, 2009. TV Movie.

Joseph, Miriam. “Discerning the Ghost in Hamlet .” PMLA . Vol. 76, No. 5, 1961, 493–502.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet . Edited by Robert S. Miola. W. W. Norton & Co., 2011.

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Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw Procrastination Essay

Hamlet is one of Shakespeare’s most renowned plays, and its title character has been the subject of much analysis over the years. Hamlet is widely recognized as a tragic hero – but why? Many would say that Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his indecisiveness.

Hamlet spends most of the play agonizing over his next move, and this causes him to make some bad decisions that lead to his downfall. Hamlet also has a tendency to over-think things, which often leads to him making the wrong call. These flaws ultimately cause Hamlet’s death, and make him one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters.

It is better not to put off till tomorrow what you can do today. When individuals delay, various negative effects may occur. The example of this may be found in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, in which the protagonist is depicted. Despite being courageous, brave, loyal, and intelligent, Hamlet is overwhelmed by his own sense of guilt. A tragic flaw is one that causes a hero’s downfall. Hamlet’s failure to act on his father’s murder, his mother’s marriage to Claudius, and his uncle Bernardo taking the throne are all examples of his fatal flaw: delay.

Hamlet continuously puts off taking action until it is too late, which leads to his ultimate downfall. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is what makes the play interesting and complex. It causes him to hesitate and doubt himself, which ultimately leads to his death. Hamlet could have prevented his own downfall if he had acted on his feelings and impulses sooner. Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw is a perfect example of how procrastination can lead to disastrous consequences.

Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his lack of action. Hamlet’s inability to commit suicide, his inability to come to terms with murdering his mother, his failure to put on a play as a delaying tactic, and his incapability to kill Claudius while he’s praying all reveal that he does nothing.

Hamlet often talks about how he wants to take action, but when it comes time to do so, he backs down. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his unwillingness to act, which leads to his downfall.

Hamlet’s uncle poisoned his father and then murdered him, bringing the ghost’s words back to life: “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.” (Act I, Scene 5, line 23) Hamlet is enraged and perplexed by the fact that his own uncle could kill his father. Despite Hamlet’s knowledge of Denmark’s issues, he begins to question everything the ghost has told him. In situations where quick decisive action is required, Hamlet is too involved in thinking. For example, during Act III when Hamlet has a knife over Claudius’ head about to behead him but stops himself just before it happens because

Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his inability to take action when it is needed most. Hamlet can be seen as a man who is unable to act, even when faced with what he believes to be an injustice. Hamlet’s ineffectiveness in dealing with his problems leads to his downfall. Hamlet’s Delay also causes him to suffer from another Tragic Flaw, which is Hamlet’s overthinking.

Hamlet’s soliloquies such as “To Be or Not To Be” show Hamlet deeply thinking about life and death. Hamlet also overthink things like whether the Ghost was really his father or if he should take action against Claudius. If Hamlet did not overthink things, he would have been able to take action and save himself from his downfall.

Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw is also his Hamartia which is his fatal flaw. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is what leads to his death in the end. Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw could be seen as a lack of decisiveness, which causes him to suffer from many problems. Hamlet also has issues with trust, as seen when he does not believe that Gertrude was faithful to his father. Hamlet’s Tragic Flaw can be seen as a problem that ultimately leads to his downfall.

Another perplexity in Hamlet’s status as a tragic hero emerges from his tragedy flaw. Given that Hamlet himself fault himself for being tardy in taking justice, readers frequently cite this as his indecision, which is understandable.

Hamlet’s fatal flaw, then, is twofold: he is too reflective and he fails to act when action is called for. Hamlet’s Hamartia of overthinking leads him down a dark path of inaction and despair.

Hamlet instead creates a play in which the actors reenact the same tale that the ghost tells him. His strategy is to observe Claudius’ reaction to the play in order to determine his guilt. Even after Hamlet decides his uncle is guilty, he fails to act immediately. This was an excellent moment to confront Claudius, but Hamlet appears more focused on himself than taking vengeance. Throughout the play, Hamlet suffers from his mother’s choice to marry his uncle again.

Hamlet’s relationship with his mother is one of the main sources of Hamlet’s delay. Hamlet is so distraught by her disloyalty that he can’t bring himself to kill Claudius when he has the chance. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his inability to take action, which leads to further pain and suffering. Hamlet’s inaction stems from his indecisiveness, cowardice, and preoccupation with revenge. Hamlet’s tragic flaw ultimately destroys him and those around him.

The phrase “Frailty is woman’s name” emphasizes the inherent weakness of women and Hamlet’s conclusion that “women are frail.” The reader understands her actions cause Hamlet to despise women altogether (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 146). Claudius and Gertrude question Hamlet’s sadness in the first Act. They push him to accept his father’s passing and move on with his life.

While Hamlet should acknowledge his hatred of their marriage, he hides it. As Hamlet grows more enraged at their attempts to calm him, Gertrude takes notice of his feelings for Ophelia. She utilizes this as an excuse for Hamlet’s conduct.

Hamlet is aware of the trap his mother set for him and says “the lady doth protest too much, methinks” (Act 3, Scene 2, Line 290). Hamlet knows that Gertrude loves him and wants what is best for him. Hamlet does not trust himself to kill Claudius because he does not want to become like him. Hamlet’s tragic flaw is his inability to act on his thoughts and feelings. Hamlet waits too long to take action which leads to his downfall.

Hamlet could have easily killed Claudius while he was praying but instead he waited until later that night when Claudius was asleep. Hamlet also allowed Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to live which gave Hamlet’s enemies more time to plan his capture. Hamlet’s tragic flaw was his inability to take immediate action and this cost him his life.

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Positive Personal Identity: Integrating theories on 'Hamlet's procrastination' in Shakespeare's 'The Tragedy of Hamlet'

Science can be understood. Literature can only be felt. Science is an activity of intellect. Literature that of emotions. Art affects us for a lifetime. All great art has something personal and unique about it and it never is merely document on its time. The psychic material tends to create its own form.” (T.S. Eliot, On Poetry and poets) once the dramatist gives birth to a character, it is beyond his control. A statement like ‘Hamlet’s procrastination’ in Shakespeare’s revenge-play The Tragedy of Hamlet (1600) is neither true nor false. This paper showcases the same through the selected most recent psychological and managerial observations and concludes through the critical lens of T.S. Eliot.

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Jenny Rathod

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN RESEARCH

Haleshappa V V

I will highlight the guiding ideas of "Shakespeare: Hamlet's depression", connecting them with the rest of his production, especially around melancholy. But Tellenbach did not like that his ideas were simply accepted. He lived on questioning dialogue. Hence, I will oppose some doubts and comments to his effort from our study on the enigmatic prince of Denmark. It is not an easy task for him and for us, because, as Goethe used to say, "nothing definitive can be said about Shakespeare, everything is insufficient"

Richard Waugaman

Žan Koprivnik

Dr. GEORGE KOLANCHERY

Procrastination is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time, sometimes to the "last minute" before the deadline. The greatest problem in ‘Hamlet’ is the problem of Hamlet’s delay in avenging the murder of his father. What makes Hamlet delay the execution of the orders of the ghost, has always baffled the critics. It is the reason that even today there is no unanimity about the cause of the delay. We have only to content ourselves with various speculations about it.

Lesleigh Ochavillo

Eva Cybulska

This essay examines the thoughts and actions of the eponymous hero Hamlet of Shakespeare's tragedy from the perspective of existential philosophy. The death of his father, the prompt remarriage of his mother and Ophelia's rejection of his love are interpreted as Jaspersian boundary situations. Burdened with the responsibility to avenge his father's murder, Hamlet faces an existential dilemma of either being a dutiful son or being true to himself. As he loses faith in the goodness of the world and confronts death, Hamlet enters a protracted phase of foundering, suffused with despair and self-loathing. The customary rational way of thinking fails him and his soul becomes shipwrecked. But this is also the beginning of Hamlet's journey toward authentic selfhood and becoming the Existenz that he potentially is. Affirming life with all of its absurdity in a moment of transcendence, he attains a kind of happiness that Camus addresses in The Myth of Sisyphus.

Andrew Barnaby

Aiming to put Freud’s writings in dialogue with Shakespeare’s Hamlet, this essay considers the burden of speaking for oneself as the burden of what it means to call oneself into being against the precedence—the authority and priority—of another.

Hamlet's Intelligence is The Factor of His Procrastination Nature

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Procrastination of Revenge in Shakespeare’s Hamlet

In the play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, the protagonist Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark, is deceived by many of his former allies, including his mother, Gertrude, and his lover, Ophelia. Perhaps the most deceptive of these former allies is Hamlets uncle, Claudius. Not only does Claudius kill Hamlets father, the King, but he also proceeds to marry Hamlets mother, Gertrude, and to steal the crown from Hamlet, the rightful heir to his father. In Act III, scene III of Hamlet, Hamlet accidentally comes upon Claudius while he is alone and in prayer. Hamlet draws his sword and contemplates murdering Claudius.

However, Hamlet neglects to perform this action. The decision not to kill Claudius in these circumstances shows that Hamlet possesses an intellectual mind,which, in this circumstance, prevents him from taking decisive action. At first, Hamlet sees the circumstance as a perfect opportunity for revenge against Claudius. Hamlet knows that Claudius truly committed murder after seeing his reaction to the play within a play. Also, Hamlet must leave soon for England. Hamlet realized that if he does not act now, he may never have such a ripe opportunity for revenge again.

And now Ill dot. (III, iii, 73-74) However, Hamlets intellect provides him with a ready excuse to delay his revenge against Claudius. Hamlet does not believe that killing a man in prayer constitutes an unfair deed. Rather, Hamlet reasons that, since Claudius has purged his soul through prayer, he would go to heaven. And so am I revenged. (III, iii, 75) Hamlets father, contrastingly, had not prepared his soul for death. He suffered purgatory as a ghost. Hamlet, unsatisfied with performing an act of corporeal justice, would prefer for his revenge to have eternal consequences.

He wants to seek his revenge when Claudius sole lies in a state of unpreparedness. Hamlet puts away his sword while contemplating this future occasion. Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent: when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, Or in th incestuous pleasure of his bed; At game, a-swearing, or about some act That has no relish of salvation int; (III, iii, 88-92) This procrastination shows Hamlets capabilities for intellectual reason, even in a situation involving extreme emotions. However, this decision presents Hamlets final opportunity to seek substantial revenge against Claudius.

In this scene, Hamlet shows reasoning worthy of admiration. Although Claudius prayer may evoke sympathy from an emphatic onlooker, Hamlets decision lies in reasoning. He does not feel sorry for Claudius, although his actions could lend evidence to that interpretation. His soliloquy reveals that he does not choose his inaction out of sympathy or forgiveness, but out of theological reasoning. This reasoning would not be facilitated by a person of lesser intellect than Hamlet. Claudius remains undeserving of sympathy, despite his prayer.

Although he seeks forgiveness, he continues with his immoral plots throughout the course of the play. The film version of Hamlet, starring Kenneth Branaugh, portrays this scene almost precisely in accordance with Shakespeares text. The thoughts of Hamlet become clear through not only the dialogue, but through Hamlets tone of voice and facial expression. The film shows Hamlets deep contemplation of how to go about avenging Claudius. Claudius remains unaware of Hamlets watchful eye throughout the scene. The film accurately depicts Hamlets process of contemplation and reasoning.

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