Hamlet 5
The reluctant character Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, has become one of the most cited characters in history. Throughout Shakespeare's play Hamlet knows what he must do, but avoids it in his mind. The problem is: why does hamlet delay in avenging his father's death? Hamlet is afraid. He is afraid of failure. Hamlet tries to play off his fear by blaming outside circumstances, like doubting the existence of the ghost when he knows in his heart it is true, and not having the right opportunity to exact revenge. What it all boils down to is a belief in himself, or lack of, that is a lack of self confidence. Hamlet's excuse of doubting the ghost is displayed in his actions when they meet. "Be thou a spirit of health or a goblin damned,/ bring with the airs from heaven of blasts from hell,/ be thy intents wicked or charitable,/ thou com'st in such a questionable shape/ that I will speak to thee. I'll call thee 'Hamlet',/ 'King', 'Father', 'Royal Dane'" (Act 1, Sc. 4, ln. 44-50)(51) Hamlet's words here clearly illustrate how Hamlet acts confused but honestly knows the ghost is true. Hamlet wants to doubt the existence of the ghost when he tells Horatio and the others, "Never make known what you have seen tonight."(Act 1, Sc.
Hamlet is a cowardly individual, of that there is no doubt. He blames outside circumstances, such as his fear that Claudius would go to heaven unless killed sinning. He makes excuses, like disbelieving the existence of the ghost even though his heart believes. He hesitates because he is afraid of failure: failure to his father, mother, and to himself. And furthermore, the tragedy of Hamlet would not have been much of a tragedy had Hamlet not procrastinated. If he had killed Claudiuds the night of the play, Polonius, Ophelia, Gertrude and Laertes would not have died. Some critics may say Hamlet did not delay. Some critics may ask the question, What is delay? Delay is to put off to a future time. Hamlet definitely puts off the killing of Claudius until the end of the play. Even if he has valid reasons to delay, he delays non the less. So critics who ask the question of whether he delays or not are completely wrong because there is no doubt in whether he delays or not, because he does. Another way Hamlet covers up his fear is by blaming the wait to kill Claudius on his lack of perfect opportunity. Once Hamlet believes that Claudius is truly the murderer he says, "And now I'll do't./ And so he goes to heaven,/ and so I am revenged./ That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that./ I, his sole sun, do this same villain send,/ to heaven." (Act 3, Sc. 3, ln 78-83)(167) Hamlet can kill Claudius as soon as he chooses, but decides to wait to kill him and blames this on ensuring that Claudius's murder is valid and that he will not be elevated as a martyr or a victim. This is not necessary, Claudius' death must come and waiting is cowardly. Hamlet was ready to kill Claudius at one time, but Claudius was busy praying, and Hamlet says, "when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,/ Or i
Some common words found in the essay are:
Claudius Claudius, Dane' Act, Throughout Shakespeare's, Gertrude Laertes, Prince Denmark, act 3 sc, kill claudius, 3 sc, act 3, existence ghost, , father's death, hamlet kill claudius, sc 5 ln, 2 ln, tragedy hamlet, lack self confidence, sc 3, 3 ln, sc 2 ln, lack self,
Approximate Word count = 1227
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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