justify hamlet delay in his revenge
Although Hamlet initially swears he will never forget the ghost while seeking retribution (Hamlet. Depressive illness delayed Hamlet's revenge However, even once Hamlet has established Claudius guilt he still delays. Hamlets inability to act creates a discourse between hamlet and his consciousness, generating an abundance of stress, which causes him to become increasingly frustrated as the play progresses. It is the consequences of these inappropriate actions that resurfaces at the plays end, to haunt the character, as Hamlets inability to act while using his renowned logic and intelligence ultimately leads to his eventual demise at the plays conclusion, due to his inability to act both effectively and appropriately in critical situations. It is therefore important that we understand the reasons why Hamlet did delay his revenge. The so-called Hamlet problem is presented in lines 29-31 of Act I, Scene 5: Hamlet: "Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift. Claudius has changed from a man of malevolence and confidence to one of fear for his life and Laertes has also switched to a man of revenge. Coleridge). The Characterization of Hamlet's Delay This makes him doubtful as to how to act and what is the finest approach to wreak revenge. In the events of the play, Hamlet swears revenge against his uncle for the foul murder of his father, the king. Although. But by him being nave he was tricked into believing that his love, Desdemona, betrayed him. May sweep to my revenge in Act I scene vi. He is seen again delaying his revenge due to over thinking when refusing to kill Claudius in a moment of weakness. Hamlet and His Delay in Seeking Revenge Against Claudius Had he set aside his personal conundrums of how he could be affected and focused on the well being of Denmark, the revenge would have been executed at a much faster pace. Hamlet also delays killing the King because he is unsure of the morality of carrying out such a task. The Queen has wed Hamlet's Uncle Claudius, the dead king's brother. Hamlet is a humanitarian; he considers the value of life, the consequences of his actions and the reliability, and origins of the information he receives. To follow the basic need for revenge and the desire to follow the Churchs teachings. With his father, however, the prince can only speak of abstract attributes and qualities. Of these three characters, it is Ophelia whose madness is genuine. Hamlets character in the movie Hamlet is very distinct from the other, more masculine characters. Seneca's Tragedies and the Elizabethan Drama. Edubirdie. Justification of Revenge: Are Hamlet's Actions Justified However I also think that we must constantly remind ourselves that Hamlet is after all fictional and has specific roles to fulfill. Revenge and Delay in Hamlet What does Hamlet's delay to exact revenge reveal about his personality? Why Did Hamlet Delay His Revenge? Perhaps one of the most debated questions in modern-day literature is why Hamlet took so much time to avenge his father. In act 2 Hamlet is angry because he feels that he cannot show his affections in his mourning for his fathers death, What would he do, had he the motive and the cue for passion that I have? Hamlet is wondering why he cannot sweep to his revenge and why his emotions stay bottled. At this point, he is no longer trying to find the right time to get revenge on Claudius; instead, he concludes with let be, emphasizing his affirmation and trust in Gods complete control. If Hamlet's distracted mind begins to wander, he is unable to think. It is Hamlets dread of something after death, the undiscovered that perpetuates his delay. Hamlet's Procrastination him to try to dissuade his mother to live any longer with Claudius. In Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, William Shakespeare introduces us to Hamlet who is the son of the late king of Denmark. If Hamlet had killed Claudius when he had the chance, an example being in Act III scene III, the play would have been two acts shorter; thereby not satisfying its Elizabethan audience as a tragedy. Hamlet delays because, from the outset of the play, his is palpably a nature that cannot enact the 4690.z 7 R.E.S. Well, we do. This inner turmoil reflects the larger theme of Hamlets uncertainty about whether or not to believe in ghosts and whether or not to take action against his uncle. The play is about Prince Hamlet who seeks to exact revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering his King Hamlet, Claudius's brother. Where is thy blush? These successive shocksdeepen Hamlets depression. While some may see this as a weakness, it can also be seen as a reflection of Hamlets concern with doing what is right. Is he brilliant, calculative, or just plain cowardly? (II.ii.594-598). You cannot call it love. Composed in Greece around the 8th century BCE, it recounts the events of the [], Poes How to Write a Blackwood Article portrayed a symbiotic relationship between the soul, the body and money that drove the Victorian audience to search for an unattainable form of [], A discussion of Shakespeares Macbeth, focussing on Macbeth as a tragic hero. 24).Hamlet must struggle with the dilemma of whether or not to kill Claudius, his uncle, and if so when to actually do it. There are however more contrasts with Hamlet to the original source material. Or was it a ploy to realize his revenge? In Hamlet, prince of Denmark, William Shakspere introduces us to Hamlet who is the son of the late king of Denmark. Furthermore, Hamlet is a thinker. He does not act upon his feelings immediately but decides to investigate further on the suspicions he has about Claudius and his fathers death. Hamlet Revenge: Delays In Commitment However Hamlet could be using that as an excuse not to kill because subconsciously he feels that Claudius is the man that he would like to be. The play Hamletcentres around the delay made by the central character in taking his revenge. But if one only reads what goes on in the play, Hamlet could by no means be called too sensitive or passive. Hamlet is unsure whether or not Claudius murdered his father, and since he is the king and cannot be judged, Claudius appears untouchable. Similarly, when Hamlet stumbles upon Claudius praying, he does not take theopportunity to kill the King, rather he makes excuses, saying he does not want Claudius to go to heaven. Since God is so concerned with everything, this allusion affirms the wise and moral way in which the supreme being governs and protects the universe. The readers once again observe Hamlets failure to execute his responsibility due to his overwhelming desire to perform the perfect revenge. Many of these reasons focus on the religious and is therefore representative of the period and the way in which the audience would be wrestling with two desires. Hamlet is a sensitive, introverted young man, who is naturally prone to melancholia. So, Hamlet seeks revenge and he completes the task, the burden placed upon his shoulders, but at what price? However, despite the fatality that results from Hamlet's delay in his revenge that stems from, in part, his own conscience, Hamlet's conscience cannot really be regarded as a flaw. He was sad to realize his father was murdered by his uncle Claudius the new king. In the article Revenge and Vengeance in Shakespeares Hamlet: A Study of Hamlets Pursuit and Procrastination Regarding Revenge, the author, Haque, states that Hamlet was actually considered to be an indecisive person who always used to think much but act too little, meaning that the conversation with the ghost telling him to get revenge would not be the only time Hamlet was indecisive, which delayed his revenge process. Its a great question. He himself sees that one of his problems is to think too precisely on the event. He is intellectual and reflective, preferring to ponder rather than take action. This caused Othello to try to. Hamlet does not appear to have such a flaw. However by Act II scene ii he doubts the Ghost and thinks that the spirit I may have seen may be a devil. As Hamlet himself comments in one of his soliloquies, Thus conscience does make cowards of us all. In the third scene of the play the ghost of his father tells Hamlet to avenge his murder. Hamlet solely focuses on getting revenge even if it is the last thing he does. Compared to these characters, Hamlet's revenge is ineffectual. He also has a conflict within himself, as he is torn between his religious beliefs (which tell him that revenge is wrong) and his desire for justice. First, he must be sure that the ghost is actually his fathers spirit, and not a malevolent spirit attempting to deceive him. As Hamlet himself comments in one of his soliloquies, "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all". Hamlets relationship with women seems to deteriate throughout the play as he is irritated with his mother and his relationship with Ophelia comes to an end as well, frailty, thy name is woman Hamlets sees women as a curse and that women are too weak, Hamlet has no trust left in women and this is also an example of how the world around Hamlet collapses. To heaven. However Hamlet could be using that as an excuse not to kill because subconsciously he feels that Claudius is the man that he would like to be. In contrast to these sources Hamlet is presented as a much more complex character, he is more rounded and has a moral side. Hamlet has been given the task of carrying out revenge for his father's death by the ghost of his late father. Those guilty of sin mustnt go free. I believe that it is Shakespeares intentions for us to see Hamlets role change before acting and to understand the play more which led to the deliberate delay. This essay will discuss how Hamlets nature and morals (which are intensified by [], April 26, 2022 by Essay Writer, The Metaphorical Trifecta in How to Write a Blackwood Article, The Depiction of Trojan War in Homers Iliad, A Deviation of Expectations in Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, The Great MIgration and the American Dream, The Symbolic Importance of the Killing of the Sow, The Understanding and Portrayal of the Concept of Identity in The Handmaids Tale, Utilitarian, Libertarian, Deontological, and Virtue Ethics Perspectives Case Study, Analysis Of Death Of A Salesman And Great Gatsby, April 26, 2022 by Essay Writer, 2023 BrainUp Limited, Registration number: 120371, having its registered office at 5-9 Main Street, Gibraltar. No matter the reason, Hamlets delay in revenging his fathers death is a key plot point in Shakespeares play. This essay will discuss how Hamlet's nature and morals (which are intensified by difficult events) prevent him from carrying out the task. It is not only Hamlet who is trying to reconcile their wish for revenge with their Christian values. Instead, these hindrances affected the nation as a whole, delaying the restoration of order in his country and resulted in numerous innocent casualties. Having been summoned home to Denmark from school in Germany to attend his father's funeral, he is shocked to find his mother Gertrude already remarried. The significance of this statement is important, by saying this Hamlet is declaring that he has a new found confidence, he is saying that he is the state and therefore Claudius is no longer in control, Hamlet is. At least so was Professor Dowden, to name one critic, who holds that Hamlet loses a sense of fact because he puts every event through his mind, filtering it until every deed seems to have an alternative in not doing the deed, but evaluating it even more (Bloom, pg. Second, Hamlet is a thinker; he pauses to reflect on the potential consequences of taking revenge. This factor is important, as Hamlet is a very idealistic and moralistic person. He proclaims himself to be Hamlet the Dane. My way may be wrong, but at least it will be mine. Hamlets request emphasizes his concern with how others will perceive his actions. That Hamlet has had a long repressed desire to replace his father in his mother's life. This is shown by his less ambiguous speech and the use of prose. Hamlet ends up not killing him because he thinks he would go to heaven since he is praying and if he gets revenge he wants him to go to hell. There are however more contrasts with Hamlet to the original source material. This internal conflict further delays his actions. This is because the marriage was soon after his fathers death; King Hamlet was But three months dead.. His character, as the renaissance man, a thinker, means that he is aware that by killing Claudius at prayer he runs the risk of sending Claudius, not to hell, but to heaven. TurnItIn the anti-plagiarism experts are also used by: King's College London, Newcastle University, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, WJEC, AQA, OCR and Edexcel. He presents himself as someone of wisdom and good judgment: a fitting replacement for his "dear brother." Throughout the play, the readers see how Hamlets personality and mental state evolves while revenge is still on his mind. There are many reasons why Hamlet might delay his revenge. The Heart of Hamlet, The Play Shakespeare Wrote. However, my own personal view is that Hamlet delays his revenge because he is too philosophical and thinks things through, as he mentions this in a soliloquay in both Act 3 and Act 4. Towards the end of the play, Hamlet is confronted with another struggle in contemplating the role of providence, which again, delays his quest for revenge. Maybe he is unsure whether or not Claudius is actually responsible for his father's death. Finally, Hamlet needs evidence to prove that Claudius was the one who murdered his father by poisoning him. While answering the question about postponement we have to take under consideration few aspects. would not exist. He has the opportunity to kill Claudius while at prayer, but holds back. These reasons do vary greatly but many centre around Hamlets character as that of a thinker. Why does he wait so long before taking revenge on Claudius for killing his father? Hereupon the ghost of his deceased father appears and tells Hamlet about the circumstances of his death. There are many reasons why Hamlet might delay his revenge. After all, to kill an anointed King, even in an act of revenge, was considered a serious offence. This emphasis the tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare is exploring the flaws in Hamlets character and how he fails to sweep to his revenge. 2. Until Hamlet is certain of Claudius murder, he will not act. revenge: Young Prince Hamlet comes home from his studies abroad and finds his father dead, his mother remarried to his uncle and his uncle on the throne of Denmark. Shakespeare could have delayed Hamlets revenge on purpose because by delaying the revenge, he is satisfying his Elizabethan audience and categorizing Hamlet as a tragedy. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the main character continually delays acting out his duty of avenging his father's murder. Essay about The Delay in Hamlet's Revenge `Hamlet' is no doubt one of the greatest literary works ever written. Hamlet's ambivalence is a result of how the ghost realm is depicted in literature. Throughout Hamlets hesitancy to avenge his father Hamlets Christian values and concerns are manifest, he speaks of the ghosts commandment and asks his mother to confess yourself to heaven, repent. One of the reasons for Hamlet's delay stems from the atypical manner in which Hamlet takes the mantle of tragic hero contrasts with the source material for the play Hamlet. Claudius is introduced before Hamlet, but the audience is already aware that the ghost of the old king has appeared with a message for his son. Claudius gives us the picture of a very crafty person who is very quick to spot areas which can help him and to exploit them. Macbeth One might choose to assent to the statement, Macbeth is a tragic hero. This conclusion may be [], In Shakespeares Hamlet, the main character continually delays acting out his duty of avenging his fathers murder. This statement prompts one to believe Hamlet has been convinced by his father?s words to act, but does not want to do so hastily. Worse still, Claudius has had himself crowned King despite the fact that Hamlet was his father's heir to the throne. He organized a play in the castle to ensure that Claudius murdered his father by watching how his uncle reacted, which he stood up shakily before him showing Hamlet that he was the murderer of his father. Hamlets hatred for his uncle is shown through harsh comparisons between Claudius and his late father. He designed linesshow more content. Hamlet questions the validity of his revenge by devising a plan to provide evidence of King Claudius? Therefore, the reason for Hamlets delay centres around a number of factors, mainly linking to the fact that Hamlet is a thinker, a Renaissance man. I. v. 112-113), his focus slowly shifts from his father to his own self-interest. He is melancholic and yearns for revenge but is too passive. His soliloquies show us his morally weak, dejected character for in Act III scene i Hamlet talks about suicide as an alternative to avenging his father. It is this uncertainty that ultimately leads to Hamlets downfall. Was Hamlet truly mad? Hamlet has the opportunity to act but chooses not to. He is melancholic and yearns for revenge but is too passive. He faces the very real problem that if the ghost is from hell it may not be telling him the truth. Hamlet was seen as a modern man and my theory is that although Shakespeare was exploring the flaws in Hamlets character and how he fails to react, but I also believe that Shakespeare is exploring the nature of how a corrupt society can spread and destroy an honest man such as Hamlet. Hamlet began to grow mad when he found the ghost of his father, the late king of Denmark who involved him the cause of his father's death. For this reason, Hamlet doubts the validity of what the ghost has said. As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge." But throughout the five acts of the play Hamlet completely fails to "sweep" to his revenge. Without each character carrying out their function and acting or reacting a certain way , perhaps Hamlet would not have taken so long to kill Claudius and maybe the play would have been only three acts instead of five. Hamlet is a humanitarian; he considers the value of life, the consequences of his actions and the reliability, and origins of the information he receives. He is an educated man, as shown when he asks to be allowed to return to university at Wittenberg. There have been many reasons put forth for Hamlets apparent delay in seeking revenge. The Oedipus complex suggests that Hamlet, or every man, would like to kill their father and sleep with their mother. Hamlets depressed state may be a contributory reason as stays true to the original and adds a new moral aspect to the central character. When we first see Hamlet he is angered by the attitudes of his family, especially his mother who married very shortly after her husbands death, when Claudius calls to him he says aside, A little more than kin, and less than kind this tells the audience that Hamlet is annoyed with his family and although they are related they are not alike. Reasons for Hamlets Delay to Revenge Others however have proposed a more practical explanation: Hamlet would like to make Claudius death more painful and ruthless than Old Hamlets. April 26, 2022 by Essay Writer In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the main character continually delays acting out his duty of avenging his father's murder. He has to ask himself if his revenge is worth this. Let me put the problem in its simplest form. Hamlet's Antic Disposition: Is Hamlet's Madness Real? To Hamlet, the marriage is "foul incest." Hamlets depressed state may be a contributory reason as to why he delays. Because King Hamlet left his fate up to his son, Hamlet had to make complicated decisions on his own, which altered his mental state as the play progressed. One of Hamlet's main concerns when deciding whether to act upon his revenge is the value he places on life.