Hamlet’s procrastination continues throughout the play. Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet begins with the quote, ‘here is a story about a man who could not make up his mind’, and although seen too simplistic by some, many people agree with this statement. Hamlets own ‘tragic flaw’, or as described in Act 1, Scene 4, ‘a vicious mole in nature’, is he continually analyses, and this is seen as the cause for Hamlet’s procrastination. As Levin conveys, “thought is Hamlet’s tragedy; Hamlet is the man who thinks too much, ineffectual because he is intellectual; his nemesis is a failure of nerve, a nervous prostration.”
In Act 3, Scene 2, Hamlet uses a play to check the authenticity of the ghost by observing Claudius’ reaction. It is ironic how Shakespeare has Hamlet using acting-the ultimate form of deception, to prove another’s dishonesty. Deceit is a recurring theme in the play, and Shakespeare continually questions the difference between reality and appearance. Hamlet continually tries to avoid lies and trickery, as they are qualities he despises. The revenge quest reluctantly involves him with these descriptions. It is therefore ironic how Hamlet uses acting ‘to catch the conscience of the King’, as it is the only licensed form of deceit. This perhaps shows Hamlet’s deep commitment to moral goodness, but also how he is frightened that once he begins to act dishonestly, he will become like Claudius. In this idea, Shakespeare is presenting to us the problem with Hamlet’s over-analytical character, and the main moral problem with revenge; is it an endless cycle of violence and deceit?
After the success of the ‘mousetrap’ play, Hamlet declares, ‘I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound.’ This seems to have solved Hamlet’s reason for delay, as he seems determined to kill Claudius as shown by his soliloquy in act three, scene three. A main way Shakespeare presents Hamlet’s character, and his ‘tragic flaw’ is through the use of soliloquies. The long speeches help Shakespeare reveals his character to the audience, and thus leaving him open to judgement. As Shakespeare continually uses soliloquies for Hamlet in the play’s structure, and this shows us that the writer wanted us to know what is going through Hamlet’s mind.
Hamlet finds Claudius at prayer, which again provides him with an excuse to delay the murder. It shows Hamlet’s character failing again, as he over-examines the scene. He wants to catch Claudius in a moment ‘that has no relish of salvation in it’, as he thinks if he kills Claudius whilst confessing his sins, Claudius will go straight to heaven. This demonstrates how Hamlet does not base his moral decisions purely on instinct. His intelligence provides a problem when decision making, but is it really a character fault to think before doing? Many suggest in Hamlet’s case it is, as his procrastination begins to affect the lives around his. Hamlet says ‘And now I’ll do’t - and so a goes to heaven, and so am I revenge’. In this quote Shakespeare is presenting a problem with the action of revenge through Hamlet. If Hamlet revenges Claudius, is Hamlet also revenged? It makes him a murderer, and therefore comparable to Claudius. Will someone continue the cycle, and revenge Hamlet for Claudius’ death? Revenge can produce an infinite chain of violence, which Hamlet could avoid.
Elizabethans were very religious, and Christian conscience is reflected throughout ‘Hamlet’. The ideas are very dominant to Shakespeare, as he presents the ideas of salvation, damnation and the ghost, as ‘realities’ in the play. It is only the characters that doubt them, particularly Hamlet. Hamlet struggles between the idea of what is morally right in Christian ethics, and his emotions- that feel obligated to act as his father wishes. In Shakespeare’s time, revenge was a crime in law and religion, and the church in this period considered the act of revenge to be a sin. Therefore, if Hamlet were to perform the revenge on Claudius his soul would be eternally damned. The Old Testament contradicts this belief by suggesting ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.’ This shows the problems with revenge Shakespeare was presenting through Hamlet, and how the character debates these points.
Is Hamlet’s delay purely concerned with the moral problem of revenge and murder? Although Hamlet is plotting and debating the consequences of Claudius’ revenge, he has actually destroyed many people, perhaps the way he would like to destroy Claudius. each member of the Polonius family is also a victim of Hamlet; Polonius literally murdered by the Prince, Laertes also killed accidentally in the duel scene and Ophelia driven to madness by Hamlet's cruelty and the death of her father at her lover's hands. How he still remains focused on revenge Claudius shows how much his soul is tortured by the task. These deaths are not acts of revenge, which shows that Shakespeare’s Hamlet is concentrating on the problems with revenge. Others sugeest that the destruction of Polonius and Ophelia mean Hamlet is more conscience of moral problems and consequences.
Catharine Belsey quoted in 2000, ‘Two world wars….have called into question the idea that violence is necessarily the best way of dealing with wrong.’ This argument can be applied to ‘Hamlet’- what are the problems with revenge? Many suggest that the play itself is a moral debate over this subject- ‘is not so much a revenge play, as a play about revenge’. Evidence that supports this theory- many revenge stories the structure and characters
Contrast of Hamlet’s character with Fortinbras and Laertes-foils.
Shakespeare thinks revenge should be thought over- praising Hamlet, cussing Laertes Revenge tragedy had become a popular theme in Elizabethan theatre, and although plays such as Thomas Kyd’s ‘Spanish Tragedy’ and Marlowe’s ‘Jew of Malta’ provided excellent drama, the story’s used a repeated structure. Perhaps Shakespeare was trying to provide some reality to the character- who cannot be seen as truly hero or villain, and a normal person can relate to. This is Shakespeare’s approach to tackling the real problem with revenge.
Hamlet’s problem with revenge is it an endless cycle of violence. If Hamlet plots and conspires does he become Claudius? Does not base his moral decisions on instinct, intelligent.
.Bacon ‘a kind of wild justice’
Hamlet’s final revenge is not actually initiated by him; it is his response to Claudius poisoning his mother. In 1796 Goethe suggested that Hamlet’s revenge quest was, ‘a heavy deed placed on a soul which is not adequate to cope with it.’ Others plots- role reversal. Focus on the fall of a hero rather than on execution of a pledge to revenge.
