Hamlet. Why did Hamlet hesitate/delayed killing Claudius - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages However, the funny thing is that Prince Hamlet did not act on the order of his father’s ghost immediately. Some may think that Hamlet was afraid to avenge, but this paper will prove that there were a number of reasons that are believed to have led to the delay of this revenge. This work will explain the reasons why Hamlet was hesitant to kill his uncle Claudius.
Many people would have expected Prince Hamlet to immediately act on the order of his father’s ghost and kill his uncle Claudius to avenge for his father’s murder. In fact, under normal circumstances many people would have gone ahead and avenge their father’s death without seeking further proof of the killing after such an experience. However, Hamlet acted differently. He decides to carry out further investigation, so that he can find out the truth behind his father’s murder. Kotsias explains that “much of the delay is attributed to Prince Hamlet’s contemplative and thoughtful nature” (Kotsias 848).
As every human Hamlet starts doubting the authenticity of the spirit that told him about the cause of his father’s dead. In Knights’ opinion, “prince Hamlet is convinced of the truth in the ghosts, but still keeps in mind the possibility of the information being false” (Knights 101). He even questions whether the ghost that had appeared to him was from heaven or hell. This disbelief is even confirmed when he tells Horatio and the other sentinels not to tell anyone about the ghost. Therefore, it can be stated that Prince Hamlet was afraid of acting on orders given to him by the ghost because the ghost might not have been his father’s and had given him those orders with the aim of making his life unbearable.
However, another explanation of Hamlet’s secrecy can be his fear. Schleiner explains that, “there is a possibility of Hamlet being afraid of accepting the fact that the ghost that had appeared to him was truly his father’s and that all the ...Download file to see next pagesRead More