Is Hamlet even delaying his revenge or does it merely take him some time to plot and execute it? Critic G.B. Harrison stands by this assumption and says “In the play which Shakespeare wrote, there was no delay”. But there are other critics finding the answer to the delayed revenge in the main character himself.
But for sure there is some sort of delay all through the play, a delay that somehow is based on the behavior of the main character, Prince Hamlet. If there was no delay, Hamlet would have acted in a whole different way. As soon as he was told that his father had been killed by his uncle, he would have taken out his sword and simply killed the new king of Denmark. There would not have been much delay and self-doubt then.
Hamlet’s act of revenge is fulfilled a couple hundred pages and thousands of lines later. The question comes to mind: Why did Hamlet delay so long in taking his revenge for his father’s murder?
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Different phases of Hamlet's actions
- Insecurity
- Does Delay equal Morality
- Action and misdirection
- Proving who's guilty
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay examines the question of why Hamlet delays his revenge against his uncle, Claudius, who murdered his father. The essay analyzes the various phases of Hamlet's actions, exploring his internal struggles and the factors that contribute to his procrastination.
- Hamlet's internal conflict between action and inaction
- The role of doubt and uncertainty in Hamlet's decision-making
- The impact of Hamlet's intellectual nature on his ability to act
- The moral implications of Hamlet's delay
- The complex relationship between Hamlet and his uncle, Claudius
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction sets the stage by exploring different interpretations of Hamlet's delay, highlighting the debate among critics regarding whether Hamlet's actions constitute a true delay or simply a strategic approach. It also provides context by highlighting the enduring relevance of Hamlet as a masterpiece of English literature.
The chapter "Different phases of Hamlet's actions" delves into the various stages of Hamlet's behavior, analyzing his initial uncertainty, his encounter with the ghost, and his subsequent efforts to gather evidence before taking action. It discusses the concept of "delay" as a complex phenomenon within the context of the play.
The chapter "Insecurity" examines the profound impact of Hamlet's insecurity on his decision-making process. It explores how his doubts and anxieties prevent him from taking decisive action, even after learning of his father's murder.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary keywords and focus topics of this essay include Hamlet's delay, revenge, uncertainty, doubt, morality, action, inaction, intellectualism, and the complex dynamics of the play's characters.
- Quote paper
- Niklas Bastian (Author), 2009, Why did Hamlet delay his revenge? An analysis of Shakespeare's play, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/338818
