Hamlet's Perceptions in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Hamlet's Perceptions in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

To die, would be to abandon this garden suffocated by weeds. To take one's life, is to alleviate turmoil from the heart. Although extremely tempting, Hamlet cannot, therefore will not commit suicide. For he believes God "had… fixed / his canon 'gainst self-slaughter!" (line 131-132 p.166). With this in his mind he drags his burden deeper and deeper into a pit of agony. Inflicted upon him were the excruciatingly painful blows of his father's death and the incestuous marriage of his mother and uncle. Hamlet held his father with high esteem calling him an excellent king and Hyperion. He resents his "more than kin, and less than kind" (line 65 p.165) stepfather, exclaiming, "So excellent a king, that was, to this! / Hyperion to a satyr" (line 139-140 p. 166). He not only shows resentment towards his uncle, Claudius, but is also beset with anguish over his mother's hasty marriage, crying out, "She married O, most wicked speed, to post / with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! / It is not nor it cannot come to good: / But break, my heart" (line 166-169 p.167). Then, the spirit of King Hamlet visits Elsinor to reveal to his son, "the serpent that did sting thy father's life now wears his crown." (lines 39-40 p.172). The spirit asks, "If thou didst ever the dear father love -- revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. Hamlet must avenge his father's unnatural and horrible death! He swears to revenge but delays his vengeance missing opportunities one right after the other. In the Shakespearean play, Hamlet, the conflict comes from Hamlet's Christian and moral beliefs and his need to avenge his father's murder. Instead of storming into Claudius' room to kill him after hearin...

... middle of paper ...

...blivion, or some craven scruple / of thinking too precisely on the event, / a thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom / and ever three parts coward,… / Sith I have cause and will and strength and means / to do't." (lines 33-46 p.206). Finally he realizes something about himself. His cowardly reluctance is due to ethical considerations. He is so frustrated with himself he puts all his Christian and moral beliefs aside to avenge his father's death and swears, "from this time forth, / My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!" (lines65-66 p.207). In the end it was to late. Hamlet's delay in action were results of his Christian and moral beliefs and his need to avenge his father's murder. His procrastination became his downfall leading to the tragic death of his mother, Learertes, Claudius, and himself. Hamlet was the fallen hero that waited to long.