Indecision in Hamlet

A detailed Summary of Indecision in Hamlet


In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, indecision corrupts many characters. The most important, Hamlet, must revenge his father's death, but delays the act. Hamlet is the root of all evil in the play, though he is against evil more than most characters. Hamlet dies because he postpones the killing of the king. This act of indecision results in a brutal ending, full of death and suffering. Indecision affects not only the person who is indecisive, but all of those who surround them. Decisions not made may result, as in the case of Hamlet, as well as in today's world, in disaster and death. In times of crisis, it is crucial that decisions be made quickly, without delay.

One night, Hamlet is visited by his father's ghost. This spirit tells Hamlet that Claudius is his father's murderer. Hamlet swears to revenge his father's death upon hearing the news. After the spirit leaves, Hamlet doubts whether the ghost speaks the truth. Upon leaving Hamlet says, "The time is out of joint. Oh cursed spite/ That I was ever born to set it right" (Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 5 lines 215-216). This quote illustrates that Hamlet is upset that he must revenge his father's death, while questioning the ghost's integ


Boyce, Charles F. Shakespeare A to Z. New York: Roundtable Press, 1990.

Hamlet is plagued by indecision, resulting in the loss of many. According to Shakespeare for Students, "the frustrations reach the point of utter deadlock and standstill; and the completions, when they finally come, are sudden, violent, and unexpected" (Scott 88). Hamlet's indecision and delay causes the deaths, whether they be direct or related, of seven characters. Hamlet's failure to kill Claudius prompts the deaths of Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. Polonius' death leads to Ophelia's death. This sets up the fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet, which results in the deaths of Laertes, Hamlet, and Gertrude. In the end, indecision can only be negative. In this play, and in the government of today's society, it causes death and mourning.

Hamlet's third moment of indecision takes place when he walks in on Claudius while he is praying. Hamlet has every chance in the world to kill Claudius, but does not because he fears Claudius will be sent to heaven, as he is asking for forgiveness. Hamlet should have seized this opportunity, as Claudius was not in fact praying. Consequently, he vents his rage towards his mother and kills Polonius. While Polonius had his faults, Hamlet did not have the right to kill him. Polonius' de

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Approximate Word count = 893
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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