The Struggle with Procrastination in Hamlet by William...

The Struggle with Procrastination in Hamlet by William Shakespeare In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, struggles with procrastination throughout the play. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge said, No brilliant intellect can be considered valuable if one withdraws from action. It is this tragic flaw of inaction that eventually brings about Hamlet’s downfall. In the beginning of the play, Hamlet is given explicit instructions by the ghost to kill his uncle/step-father Claudius to avenge his father’s murder; yet, he fails to do so. Hamlet’s inaction and hesitation to kill Claudius is justified in his own mind and to the audience. Hamlet’s initial disbelief in the reliability of the†¦show more content†¦Hamlet says the spirit that I have seen may be a devil, and the devil hath power t’assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps, out of my weakness and my melancholy, as he is very potent with such spirits, abuses me to damn me (2.2.627-632). Fearing deception, Hamlet has doubts, which initiate his inaction. His hesitation is somewhat resolved in the form of a play. In order to test the truth of the ghost, Hamlet devises a scheme to perform a play to catch the conscience of the King(2.2.634), by reenacting a scene similar to the events recounted by the ghost about King Hamlet’s murder, in order to prove Claudius’ guilt. Here, Hamlet’s inaction results not only from his distrust of his father’s apparition, but from his distrust of his own senses. Had Hamlet trusted his father in death as he had in life, Hamlet’s life would never have resulted in such a tragic end. Once Hamlet is sure of Claudius’ guilt, it is Hamlet’s belief in his religion that leads him to inaction. In Hamlet’s mind, it is now his rightful duty to avenge his father’s murder. At the end of Act 3 Scene 3, Hamlet has a perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, when he sees the King kneeling in prayer. Hamlet enters the Kings private chapel with a sword in hand, ready to kill Claudius. As Hamlet enters he observes, now he is a-praying, and now I’ll do t(3.3.77-78). But, Claudius is agonizing over his actions. He has committedShow MoreRelatedEssay on Hamlets Procrastination And Co919 Words   |  4 Pages Hamletamp;#8217;s Procrastination and Cowardicenbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In William Shakespeareamp;#8217;s play Hamlet, Hamlet is a loyal prince who vows to avenge his fatheramp;#8217;s murder. When Hamlet discovers the painful truth about his fatheramp;#8217;s death, he is left with feelings of hatred and resentment in his heart towards the murderer, Claudius. Although Hamlet is a very noble and sophisticated man, he struggles with the issue of avenging his fatheramp;#8217;s death. 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