Hamlet, Why Did He Delay

William Shakespeare, perhaps the greatest playwright of all time, authored a number of works consisting of sonnets, comedies, and tragedies. In his brilliant career, Shakespeare created literary works of art.

What makes Shakespeare unlike any other writer of his time, is his ability to organize a realistic plot, manage themes, and develop characters within his works (Nordling). As well, Shakespeare's ability to provoke feeling and reaction to his writing is also what sets him apart from other common writers. Of his works, Hamlet is perhaps the most studied and most interesting of the collected tragedies. In this play, many question the actions of the characters and particularly the actions of Hamlet. The answer to: 'Why does Hamlet delay in avenging the death of his father?' is one that is not easy to identify. Possible conclusions include the role of others in Hamlet, Hamlet's religious nature, or even Hamlet's tragic flaw as a hero in Hamlet.

It is often argued that Hamlet was written as a tragedy of the human spirit (Nighan). Others argue that it is a tragedy of destiny, or the hero. In every hero's quest for the truth, none is more apparent than that of Hamlet. This search for truth is born of

the passing of young Hamlet's father. It is at the critical moment of revelation by the Ghost of Hamlet that young Hamlet is destined for revenge.

Although the concept of revenge may be considered an evil justice, it is evident that the importance lay within the context of carrying out the fate. The question arises of 'Why did Hamlet not take revenge sooner upon Claudius?' The how and when of this vengeance becomes critical in the development of Hamlet the character. To fully comprehend the true essence of Hamlet as a son, a discoverer, and a destroyer, one must analyze each individual characteristic as revealed by Shakespeare (Nordling). It was not enough that Shakespeare just wrote the play, he also emphasized the character's thoughts and emotions through the soliloquies. In fact, the whole idea of drama is to feel, to an extent, what the character feels. However, in Hamlet, the use of the soliloquy offers the audience a gateway into the minds of the characters, and in this case it provides various reasons why Hamlet delays in exacting revenge.

The depth of thought possessed by characters is easily measured by how effortlessly a reader can relate to what is being said or done. While the script is fictional, the story within the play itself becomes believable. Undoubtedly, Hamlet is a man of action. (Eliot)

Why then, does Hamlet require five Acts to finally prove this concept? A number of different possibilities exist. The single, most important of these possibilities are Hamlet's internal conflicts within his own mind, body, and soul. From the first Act,

Hamlet displays a substantial amount of concern for his mother."...Why, she would hang on him / As if increase of appetite had grown / By what it fed on; and yet, within a month / Let me not think; Frailty, thy name is woman!" Clearly, Hamlet's concern for the Queen, his mother, is genuine. Within this thought, Hamlet realized the severity of his mother's actions while also attempting to rationalize her mentality so that he may understand, and perhaps, cope with the untimely nature of the Queen's marriage to Claudius. Understandably, Hamlet is disturbed. (Nighan)

Gertrude causes such confusion in Hamlet that throughout the play, he constantly wondered how it could be possible that events would turn out the way that they had. This unfortunate turn of events is often questioned since Gertrude, the same woman who had instilled a great sense of religion in Hamlet, contradicts such a value that proves "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." (Nordling) While regarding this as the principal means for Hamlet's frustration, it is not until seeing a spirit form that Hamlet decided to seek the truth, and ultimately, exact revenge. After envisioning the apparition, Hamlet sets out to avenge the death of his father, yet he is unclear as to the actual fulfillment of the revenge. Thus, Hamlet acknowledges that as a man of duty, justice, and honor, he must act upon the request of his late father. The concept of "antic disposition" is the feigned madness that Hamlet uses as his first step toward the revenge (Nighan). Carl O. Nordling states clearly,

Here, we have a clear indication that Hamlet is a thinker, and bares a calculating intellect. It is this intellect that critics question in Hamlet's status as a hero, simply because it reinforced the theory that Hamlet embodied a critical and tragic flaw within his nature.

At no time was any doubt of Claudius' guilt ever discussed between Hamlet and the Ghost with relation to King Hamlet's