During the play Hamlet constantly reasons rationally about the pros and cons of killing King Claudius and the consequences he will face. He carefully looks at both extremes - taking action or dealing with and accepting reality- and is in constant flux between both as evident in his soliloquy.

To be or not to be- that is the question:

Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles...

In his soliloquy it is apparent that he is weighing both options, but is unsure of which one he should act on. He is trying to decipher between dealing with his harsh reality and changing it dramatically through killing Claudius. Due to the fact that he is debating between both ends of the spectrum i

Hamlet: A little more than kin and less than kind.

In addition to the theory that Hamlet is caught between two extremes, it is also possible to believe that he is too depressed to commit such a crime. It is apparent when Hamlet speaks and when others speak about him that he is upset and extremely angry about the outcome of his life due to his father's murder. Whether he is putting on an antic disposition or if he truly is bi-polar he is still associating himself with signs of depression. Therefore one can conclude that he is too preoccupied with his own feelings to be able to rationally commit the crime.

Nor the dejected havior of the visage,

If the theory of depression does not satisfy one's urge as to why Hamlet prolongs the killing of his uncle, one can blame it on the power and gratification Hamlet gains by tormenting Claudius. When Hamlet speaks with Claudius he speaks in a clever way filled with puns to purposefully bother the king. This is portrayed in a specific conversation he has with the king concerning the new basis of their relationship.

Not only is Hamlet obsessed with the idea that the King belongs in hell, he also enjoys telling Claudius to his face that he foresees his future in hell. Hamlet attempts to kill Claudius, but in fact kills Polonius. When the King hears the news he demands to know where Hamlet has buried the body. Hamlet refuses to give him a response and tells him to go to hell and look for the body himself.

He chooses not to commit the crime because he fears that if he kills the King while he is praying to God then the King might go to heaven. Although this might be used as an easy rationale for not killing the King, Hamlet does in fact convince himself and the audience that it is a justifiable reason. Because Hamlet only wants the King to suffer, he withholds from killing him due to fear that he might be rewarded and end up in heaven.

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Approximate Word count = 1626
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)