Preview

The Inner Struggle With Procrastination In Shakespeare's Hamlet

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
394 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Inner Struggle With Procrastination In Shakespeare's Hamlet
In William Shakespeare's tragic play Hamlet, the main character Prince Hamlet has an inner struggle with procrastination throughout the length of the play. It is this tragic flaw of procrastination that eventually brings about Hamlet's downfall. Prince Hamlet is given a number of opportunities Hamlet to kill his uncle/step-father Claudius to avenge his father's murder. Yet, he fails to do so. Hamlet justifies this procrastination and hesitation to kill Claudius in his own mind and to the audience by assuring the reliability of his father's ghost claim that he was killed by now King Claudius in an successful attempt to take the throne and the queen. Earlier audiences and critics of this great Shakespearean play were content with this notion that Hamlet must be sure of the credibility of the ghost. …show more content…
(Bevington, 299) While arguable in the beginning of the play, this theory becomes invalid because Hamlet had more opportunities after his overhearing King Claudius direct confession. Others argue religion plays a large part in his procrastination; in particular, his hesitation after Claudius' direct confession while praying. Another argument is that Hamlet's melancholy (his father's death, his mother's remarriage, his loss of Ophelia in heart and mind, etc.) causes and "intensifies this inclination." (Bradley, 100) What seems to be the most likely reason for this procrastination is linked to his background as a student, trained in thought before action. In any case, this flaw caused the end of Hamlet and, in essence, the end to most of the other main
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Hamlet's Struggle and Disillusionment
    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet's Struggle and Disillusionment

    Shakespeare's play, Hamlet, can be seen as one about duty, in particular Hamlet's struggle with his duty to his father and the possible consequences involved. Hamlet's duty is revealed when he speaks with the ghost of his father who commands Hamlet to "revenge his foul and most unnatural murder." The appearance of the supernatural and the suggestion of a "most unnatural murder" also presents the idea of corruption as it portrays the idea of death against the natural order. Hamlet clearly struggles with this command from his father's ghost, as avenging his father's death would mean that Hamlet himself would have to murder not just another person, but his uncle CLaudius, the new king of Denmark. Therefore, Hamlet struggles to take immediate action but instead he tells the ghost, "with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love may sweep to my revenge." This simile suggests that Hamlet is eager to seek revenge quickly, however his response is paradoxical as "meditation" and "thoughts of love" suggest that he may have to think about the task ahead of him first. This highlights Hamlet's struggle with his duty as while he wants to avenge his father's death, he is also unsure and so cannot…

    • 1139 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Contrast Between Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras
    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Contrast Between Hamlet, Laertes and Fortinbras

    The appearance of his father's ghost didn't seem very reliable to him as he began to question his own sanity over what he thinks he should do about the situation. Hamlet deeply contemplates about his soul being damned on actions he was willing to pursue in avenging his father's death. He cautiously plots his act of revenge and waits for the ideal moment to avenge his father's murder. He decides to show King Claudius a play, a similar performance of Claudius' own murderous deed, hopefully seeing some kind of reaction from the king. He says "I'll have these…

    • 1027 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Rosencrantz And Gertrude's Suicide In Hamlet
    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Rosencrantz And Gertrude's Suicide In Hamlet

    In this book “Hamlet” Hamlet is obsessed with suicide even though he never does it. Hamlet falls in deep love in the book and Hamlet's mother marries Hamlet's uncle after his uncle kills the king with poison. Claudius killed Hamlet Sr with poison in his ear and then not long after marries his wife. Hamlet then is told about a ghost that is haunting the kingdom Hamlet declares to see this ghost and ask it questions because they think it is his father. Hamlet sees the ghost and ask it what its purpose is for being in the kingdom and Hamlet says “To be, or not to be”(3.1.63) speech and he felt he needed to find the truth in the ghost’s words of wisdom so he would know how to respond to the ghost and that's how Hamlet finds out that Claudius…

    • 695 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hamlet Procrastinates The Murder Analysis
    • 142 Words
    • 1 Page

    Hamlet Procrastinates The Murder Analysis

    Hamlet himself does not know why he procrastinates the murder when he has "the means motive and opportunity"(4.4.2833-2835). But I think Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius for religious reasons. The audience witnesses Hamlet admitting that he wants Claudius to go to hell, and that is the reason Hamlet hesitates to kill Claudius when he is praying (3.3.2375):…

    • 142 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet, Moral Truths, Redemption and a Just Society
    • 577 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hamlet, Moral Truths, Redemption and a Just Society

    Hamlet’s suspicions are confirmed when his father’s ghost visits him to tell him he was murdered. King Hamlet encourages young Hamlet to seek vengeance against his uncle. As Hamlet resolves to do just that, he begins to wonder about the veracity of the ghost and its visits. Hamlet’s fears overcome him and he becomes paralyzed emotionally, unable to fulfill the requests of his father’s ghost. He cares for both his parents and works himself into a stupor trying to decide how to execute his plan of action. In the meantime Hamlet sets in motion a series of catastrophic events that cause the deaths of six people besides Claudius who he originally planned to kill.…

    • 577 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Tragedy and the Common Man in Hamlet
    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Tragedy and the Common Man in Hamlet

    The apparition of the late Hamlet informs his son that Claudius, the current king of Denmark, poisoned him. Upon hearing the news, Hamlet is enraged and swears to take revenge against his usurping uncle. Almost immediately he is ready to lay down his life to correct what has been done, and he now has a “…willingness to throw all he has into the contest, the battle to secure his rightful place in his world” (3). It is at this moment in the play that Hamlet takes on the role of the familiar tragic hero and acts accordingly. He was displaced from the life that he knew and loved and was not awarded with his rightful position in society. Hamlet should be the king of Denmark if what the ghost told him is true; not only is Hamlet not the king of Denmark, but also his mental health is constantly being called into question. He is losing ranks in society awfully quickly, and part of Arthur Miller’s…

    • 784 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Bad Choices, Bad Outcome
    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Bad Choices, Bad Outcome

    Another major theme in Hamlet is procrastination. Throughout the play, Hamlet wants to avenge his father's death by killing Claudius, but every chance that arises is pushed aside by Hamlet. Claudius was praying all alone, and rather than kill him at that moment, Hamlet thought about the situation and decided that he didn't want Claudius to have a chance to go to heaven. Had Hamlet simply went ahead and done what he wanted to do, deaths that occurred later in the play could have been prevented. It's this obsessive nature that led Hamlet to his tragic ending. Hamlet never thought about whether or not killing Claudius would hurt his mother;…

    • 874 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Murder Quotes
    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hamlet Murder Quotes

    Based on these examples, Hamlet’s demeanor allowed him to easily kill multiple people without regard or remorse and thus he should not have hesitated in killing Claudius, a person who killed his Father and married his Mother. However, this is not the case, despite his promises to get his revenge “with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love” (Hamlet.1.5.29-30). This same idea was mentioned by Sigmund Freud in “The Interpretation of Dreams” when he states “The plot of the drama, however, shows us that Hamlet is by no means intended to appear as a character wholly incapable of action… What is it, then, that inhibits him in accomplishing the task which his father's ghost has laid upon him?” (Freud, page 86). Additionally, Jones noted that “there is every reason to believe that, apart from the task in question, Hamlet is a man capable of very decisive action” (Jones 77). These quotes further support my opinions that Hamlet acts decisively when it comes to taking the lives of others, as such, he hesitance to kill Claudius must related to a deeper…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Cites
    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Hamlet Cites

    I think there is a misplaced speech in Hamlet which has resulted in much unnecessary confusion. You'll remember that in Act I Hamlet meets his father's ghost, who tells his son that he was murdered by Claudius. Hamlet is full of resolve to do the right thing, but he makes no attempt to kill Claudius until Act III, Scene IV. (That attempt is frustrated when he mistakenly believes Claudius is praying.)…

    • 813 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Essay On Free Will In Hamlet
    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Essay On Free Will In Hamlet

    However, Hamlet incapable of doing it and proceed to what according to Ghost told him to (Javed 332). This is an identity crisis for Hamlet, as he does not know whether he is acting upon his free will or upon the Ghost words. Killing Claudius is what the Ghost wanted. However, Hamlet is confused whether he want to Claudius or not, hence the delay in his actions. ”Hamlet is too delicate or too subtle for the purpose. A less self-questioning hero would have been a better instrument” (Javed…

    • 1409 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Dumas Vs Shakespeare
    • 3332 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Dumas Vs Shakespeare

    The main character, Hamlet, shows his loyalty to his father, growing angry at the fact that he was murdered by his uncle. When his father asks Hamlet to take revenge on Claudius, Hamlet becomes enraged and his willingness to take revenge becomes revealed. “Ghost: Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Hamlet: Murder? Ghost: Murder most foul, as in the best it is But this most foul strange and unnatural. Hamlet: Haste me to know’t, that I, with wings as swift, As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge.” (Shakespeare pg.29 Act I, Scene 5). Hamlet stays loyal to his father’s memory through the whole novel, seeking revenge on Claudius until he is able to kill him, accomplishing this task as he dies alongside…

    • 3332 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Literature Is the Question Minus the Answer
    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Literature Is the Question Minus the Answer

    One of the major themes in Hamlet is the reason behind his delay for revenge. Throughout the play, the prince of Denmark is presented with many opportunities to kill his father's murderer Claudius but there was always something holding him back. There are different theories of why Hamlet may find it difficult to execute the ghost’s request. It could be said that Hamlet fears the consequence of killing a king, which at that time was considered a mortal sin, or he simply didn't want to hurt his mother Gertrude by killing her new lover, or as some may think, he is too sensitive a soul to be able to commit an act of violence. By carefully reviewing the play, the readers may find yet another, more believable explanation such as that Hamlet is simply over thinking the situation and his indecision is causing him to miss all these opportunities for revenge. In Act III Scene I he himself gives voice to this theory by saying: “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all.” His intelligence may truly be the cause of his inability to act and defend his family’s honor. The first clue of this is Hamlet’s doubt of the true intensions of the ghost. In order to assure himself that the ghost’s story is true, the prince plots a…

    • 609 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Does Hamlet Procrastinate?
    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Does Hamlet Procrastinate?

    In a situation where ones mother turns her back on you and your emotional state of mind after your father had just died and expects you to put up with the fact she has married your fathers brother within 3 months of his death…from a drama perspective you would be expected by a paying audience that you would go all straight away guns blazing in order to exact swift brutal revenge on the people who have, in a metaphoric sense, dropped a whole load faeces on you and your emotion.…

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    What Makes Literature "Good?"
    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages

    What Makes Literature "Good?"

    The play Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, was a poor representation of believability, likeable characters and a plot that makes readers want to continue reading. It is a story that represents honor and revenge. The emotion of the novel is over-exaggerated, therefor lowering the relatable factor. The ghost appears to Hamlet and tells Hamlet to seek revenge for his fathers’ murder. Although the ghost shows personal traits it is not believable that Hamlet would simply be convinced to commit himself to overtly violent actions from a character that he just met. With all the quick assumptions and lack of thought before killing, it makes the story unrealistic. The main characters Hamlet, Claudius and Gertrude show traits of a hero, villain and everything in between. The likability is lacking in all of these characters because it is impossible to go along and back up their outlandish decisions. They behave rashly and impulsively to a point where connecting…

    • 1113 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Response Paper
    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet Response Paper

    The main grievance Hamlet has with his uncle is the murder of his father, the king. Already grieving over death of his father, Hamlet discovers, by confession of his father, that Claudius murder him in order to become king. Called to action by his friend Horatio and the guards who have witness appearances of a ghost during their night watch, Hamlet goes to confront the ghost that looks like the late King Hamlet. A ghost doomed to walk the earth for an unspecified number of years to atone for the sins that he was not able to confess, King Hamlet Sr., tells the prince that he was murdered by Claudius through foul means. He states, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Murder most foul, as in the best it is; But this most foul, strange and unnatural” (249), demanding that Hamlet, his son, avenge his ill-conceived death. Overcome with grief and anger at the injustice done to him (as Claudius has managed to steal the crown from him) and his father, Hamlet begins to plot his vengeance. However, being the only one who has talked to ghost, Hamlet, wanting to ensure that…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics