Hamlet

In Hamlet's speech in act three, scene three Hamlet discloses many

facets of his character to us, aspects that we have thus far only been able

to see as fragments in other speeches. He reveals himself to be an

over-analytical man who often procrastinates. He also shows that he does

not really want to kill Claudius but feels compelled to out of a sense of

duty to his dead father. Hamlet demonstrates his over-analytical nature in

line seventy-three of the speech when he says "That would be scann'd:",

meaning that he should examine his situation more closely. Instead of

simply killing Claudius while he had the chance he over-analyses and

eventually decides to postpone Claudius' murder, missing the best chance he

will obtain in the play. Hamlet is also a procrastinator and this is

demonstrated many times in the play. In line eighty he says "Why, this is

hire and salary, not revenge". He knows that he must kill Claudius but he

postpones it. This almost suggests that Hamlet does not really want to

kill Claudius, but feels obligated to do so. Through his over-analysis he

seems to be almost talking himself out of doing his job.

One of Hamlet's most renown traits is his over-analysis of

conversational topics and situations in which action must be taken. An

example of his over-analytical nature is apparent in his speech in act one,

scene four, line 13. He begins his speech quite normally, replying with a

simple answer to Horatio's inquiry but then his thoughts begin to wander

and