Action Vs. Inaction In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

875 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The imagery of hamlet

“To be, or not to be, that is the question…” In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, this is the question the protagonist, Hamlet, faces. The idea regarding whether to act or not act derives the entirety of the story. Hamlet portrays the theme action v. inaction, through Laertes, Fortinbras, and Hamlet’s inability/ ability to handle conflicts that arise following their father’s deaths.
The play’s first example of inaction/ action includes Hamlet’s debate on whether he should kill Claudius or let him live. After being approached by his father’s ghost, and later formulating a plan to indicate if the ghost was being truthful- Hamlet is met with a praying Claudius.
And now I’ll do’t. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be scann’d…. …show more content…

No. (3.3.70-71)

After being given a chance to take action and fulfill the deed his father asked of him, Hamlet decides to kill him at another time - this is a prime example of the action v. inaction displayed throughout the play. Even after being given evidence to prove Claudius did in fact kill his father, Hamlet continues to choose not to. In this case he decides not to because he doesn’t want his father’s killer to go heaven while his father is in hell.
Unlike Hamlet, Laertes does intend to take action right away to fulfill his father’s deed. After returning from France and being informed that his father was murdered he begins to charge the castle- willing to kill anyone involved.
To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
Let come what comes; only I’ll be revenged
Most thoroughly my father.

Show More
Related

  • Analyzing Hamlet's Worth

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Conflicting thoughts are often profound in Hamlet, like how he is faced with a choice of now or never but always has approached them carefully. One was when Hamlet speaks while walking into an empty room and begins to question why we do what we do. ``To be or not to be-that is the question `` 127, a famous quote from Hamlet. Provoking the thought of reason in his actions. To act now or later would be his though...

    Read More

  • Hamlet

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    Vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation. To this point I stand, that both worlds I give to negligence, let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged most thoroughly for my father.” (Act IV Scene 5 lines 136-141)

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Hamlet's Soliloquy

    691 Words  | 2 Pages

    The interpretation of Hamlet’s, To Be or Not to Be soliloquy, from the Shakespearean classic of the same name, is an important part of the way that the audience understands an interpretation of the play. Although the words are the same, the scene is presented by the actors who portray Hamlet can vary between versions of the play. These differences no matter how seemingly miniscule affect the way in which someone watching the play connects with the title character.

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Decisions in Hamlet by Shakespeare

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    By most accounts, this passage would be taken to mean that he does not kill Claudius because at this time the King is praying, and when praying one's soul will ascend to heaven if one should die. Hamlet wants Claudius to burn in hell; for him to go to heaven would make his revenge void. He will avenge his father's death when Claudius is engaged in some other less holy act, in order to insure the King's place in hell.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Talk and Action in Hamlet

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    Talk and Action in Hamlet The character of Hamlet is very prestigious, but he has many shortcomings. In many cases, he shows that he is all words and no action. He waits until the very last minute to take a course of action. Hamlet realizes this, and he wishes that he had the characteristics of Fortinbras, Laertes, and Horatio.                       For instance, when he finds Claudius praying, he could have easily killed him and been done with it.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Gluttony In Hamlet

    523 Words  | 2 Pages

    and so i am revenged. That would be scann’d: A villain kills my father, and for that, i, his sole son, do send this same villain to Heaven.” -Hamlet Act III Scene III- Here Hamlet is showing that he can be gluttonous for continuing to draw out his uncle’s death.

    Read More

  • Indecision, Hesitation and Delay in Shakespeare's Hamlet - Needless Delay?

    684 Words  | 2 Pages

    Due to the king's reaction to the play, Hamlet attains the belief that the Ghost was telling the truth the night of the apparition. In Hamlets mind, it is now his duty to avenge his father's murder. This is where the real problem of inaction enters the play. Later that night, Hamlet has a perfect opportunity to kill Claudius, when he sees the King kneeling in prayer. He wonders if this is the time to kill him and get it over with, but decides not to.

    Read More

  • Turning Points in Hamlet

    1034 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the players’ scene, Hamlet revises the play of The Murder of Gonzago, adding in a scene that hints at the murder of King Hamlet. When Claudius reacts to Hamlet’s trap and makes a sudden exit, Hamlet now knows that the ghost’s story is true and will “take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound.” He now has no reason not to act. Prior to witnessing Claudius’ reaction, Hamlet has been debating with himself over the legitimacy of the ghost and its story. He has been questioning himself and whether he is a coward, because all he has done is talk, not having taken any action. Now that Hamlet knows the murderous sin Claudius has committed, Hamlet feels no guilt in avenging his father’s death. The plot takes a turn, as Hamlet becomes more of a man of action than a philosopher.

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Hesistation to Kill Claudius

    1500 Words  | 3 Pages

    Furthermore, it is possible to propose that Shakespeare merely uses this scene to provoke irritation and consequently suspense from the audience. If Hamlet wasn’t given this opportunity to kill Claudius we would have not this insight into Hamlet’s indecisiveness, possible cowardice and inability to kill Claudius in cold blood. It is probable to suggest that through this soliloquy we are shown that Hamlet’s initial passion for revenge after the Ghost’s visitation has faded as the play progresses to merely thinking about killing Claudius.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Hamlet's Inability to Take Action

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    As illustrated through his speeches and soliloquies Hamlet has the mind of a true thinker. Reinacting the death of his father in front of Claudius was in itself a wonderful idea. Although he may have conceived shcemes such as this, his mind was holding him back at the same time. His need to analyze and prove everythin certain drew his time of action farther and farther away. Hamlet continuously doubted himself and whether or not the action that he wanted to take was justifiable. The visit that Hamlet recieves from his dead father makes the reader think that it is Hamlet's time to go and seek revenge. This is notthe case. Hamlet does seem eager to try and take the life of Claudius in the name of his father, but before he can do so he has a notion, what if that was not my father, but an evil apparition sending me on the wrong path? This shows that even with substantial evidence of Claudius' deeds, Hamlet's mind is not content.

    Read More

  • Hamlet’s Indecisive Nature

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    In between periods of vague action Hamlet’s road to revenge takes several detours. After the ghost of his father, who is an act of God and the devil, commands Hamlet to avenge him, Hamlet agrees and says, “Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift/ As meditation or the thoughts of love, / May sweep to my revenge (I, v, 29-31).” Hamlet promises his fathers spirit that he will swiftly avenge his death, and although he acts quickly to authenticate the spirits allegations, there is a delay of weeks before he a acts again. Moreover, Hamlet recklessly and unknowingly kills Polonius in Act 3, Scene 4; a period of inactivity follows on his part. After which the ghost returns to refresh Hamlet’s memory, “Do not forget. This visitation / Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose (III, iv, 111-112).” Delays in action as well as the appearance of the spirit a second time support the fact that Hamlet is less then swiftly avenging his fa...

    Read More

  • The State of Mind of Hamlet in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    965 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare sets the stage for Hamlet's internal dilemma in  Act 1, Scene 5 of Hamlet when the ghost of Hamlet's father appears and  calls upon Hamlet to "revenge his foul and most unnatural murder"  (1.5.24).  It is from this point forward that Hamlet must struggle  with the dilemma of whether or not to kill Claudius, his uncle, and if  so when to actually do it.  As the play progresses, Hamlet does not  seek his revenge when the opportunity presents itself, and it is the  reasoning that Hamlet uses to justify his delay that becomes paramount  to the reader's understanding of the effect that Hamlet's mental perspective has on his situation.

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Indecisiveness In Hamlet

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet has evidently shown in the play how his uncertainty in his decisions slows him down in killing Claudius. His indecisiveness makes spend more time thinking about the situation and the possible outcomes. In act 2 scene, Hamlet has yet to fulfil his promise to his father. Hamlet is holding himself back from avenging his father. Hamlet refuses to act as if he knows what he is doing when in reality, he has not found out whether the act of killing is heroic and moral or cowardly and immoral. “O vengeance! Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, that I, the son of a dear father murdered, prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, must, like a who 're, unpack my heart with words and fall a-cursing like a very drab, a scullion! Fie upon’t, for!” (2.2 579-585). Despite all this, instead of taking revenge immediately, Hamlet wants to find out whether his ghostly father is telling the truth. This takes a while as Hamlet would eventually realize it is true later in the play. Hamlet had a so much time to kill King Claudius but it is his uncertainty of his father 's words that delays the revenge. Later in act 3 scene 3, King Claudius is seen kneeling in prayer as he confesses his sins.

    Read More

  • Analysis of William Shakespeare's Hamlet

    436 Words  | 1 Pages

    Hamlet is distressed due to the fact of his fathers ghost telling him of the horrid death that he suffered and wanting him to make things right. Hamlet questions the ghost and wonders if all this information could be true. He wonders if the ghost is just really an evil ghost that is lying to him. Rising action is all the events that lead the play to the climax. In acts two and three the events are helping the readers anticipate what will happen. Claudius has chosen two of Hamlet’s school friends to spy on him to see why he is acting so strange. Meanwhile Hamlet plots with the players to re enact the death for Claudius. Because of the reaction of the king the story of the ghost was confirmed.

    Read More

  • Inconsistency in The Character of Hamlet

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet seems incapable of deliberate action, and is only hurried into extremities on the spur of the occasion, when he has no time to reflect, as in the scene where he kills Polonius, and again, where he alters the letters which Rosencraus and Guildenstern are taking with them to England, purporting his death. At other times, when he is most bound to act, he remains puzzled, undecided, and skeptical, until the occasion is lost, and he finds some pretence to relapse into indolence and thoughtfulness again. For this reason he refuses to kill the King when he is at his prayers, and by a refinement in malice, which is in truth only an excuse for his own want of resolution, defers his revenge to a more fatal opportunity, when he will be engaged in some act "that has no relish of salvation in it."

    Read More

More about Action Vs. Inaction In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Open Document