How Is Hamlet Indecisive

509 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Hamlet and his indecisiveness

Hamlet’s indecisive personality is prevalent throughout this Shakespearean tragedy. When he faces a challenge, and consequently is required to make a decision, he endures debates within himself. He vacillates between his presented options. Act one of the play is no exception. Hamlet’s character is introduced when he encounters the ghost. Initially the reader rapidly becomes familiar with Hamlet’s personality when the ghost of Hamlet’s recently deceased father appears to him and presents him a major dilemma. In addition, while coming to know Hamlet’s character, the reader learns his personality type is parallel to his hamartia— indecisiveness. The ghost appears to Hamlet and sweeps him aside saying “pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing to what I shall unfold./ So art thou to revenge” when he is informed what truly took place (1.5.9-12). The ghost reveals to Hamlet his father was murdered a “foul and most unnatural” murder and that he is responsible for obtaining a just end result (1.5.31). This forces Hamlet into a corner as he is amidst grieving for his father and furthermore has to process the actual cause. He is required to carry the burden of avenging his father’s death all the while processing the circumstances surrounding it. He begins one of several existential contemplations when he claims “O all you host of heaven! O Earth! What else?/ And shall I couple hell?” (1.5.99-100) so as to say …show more content…

What else, should I include hell?” and reveal his personal beliefs. This particular quote displays the conflicting beliefs of Nihilism and Essentialism. Hamlet can be described as having an

Show More
Related

  • Hamlet And Claudius Research Paper

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet also corrupted by the ghost of his father. After his father’s death, Hamlet mourned over his father and was left dark and bitter. Without even getting an adequate time to mourn he is approached by the ghost of King Hamlet. With Hamlet caught off guard by the ghost and its demands put Hamlet into turmoil. With thoughts of revenge and death, Hamlet is hesitate to make a resolve. The longer it takes for Hamlet to make a decision the greater the corruption takes control of him. The vengeance of the ghost sinks into Hamlet making is madness greater every moment that passes. Hamlet gripped with his own madness withdraws from the world. Unable to make up his mind, he hides from Claudius and won’t reproach him till his resolve is absolute. The crippling madness o...

    Read More

  • Self Reliance In Hamlet

    1093 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet spends hours upon hours pondering life. He obsesses about events he feels have adversely affected him. However, he also believes these events are quite simply consequences of existence and that life itself may not be worth living. He is convinced that he is one of the few sincere people in the world; therefore he has no tolerance for people he perceives as abusive. As a result, each negative experience pushes him further away from people and deeper into his preoccupation with the tragedy and cruelty in his life.

    Read More

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

    684 Words  | 2 Pages

    The question of why Hamlet delays in taking revenge on Claudius for so long has puzzled readers and audience members alike. Immediately following Hamlet's conversation with the Ghost, he seems determined to fulfill the Ghost's wishes and swears his companions to secrecy about what has occurred. The next appearance of Hamlet in the play reveals that he has not yet revenged his father's murder. In Scene two, act two, Hamlet gives a possible reason for his hesitation. "The spirit that I have seen / May be a devil, and the devil hath power / T' assume a pleasing shape" (2.2.627-629). With this doubt clouding his mind, Hamlet seems completely unable to act. This indecision is somewhat resolved in the form of the play. Hamlet comes up with the idea of the play that is similar to the events recounted by the ghost about his murder to prove Claudius guilty or innocent. 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.

    Read More

  • The Inner Struggle in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    912 Words  | 2 Pages

    On the journey through the path of life, there are encounters with many different incidents and situations where we must act accordingly.  Depending on what type of personality is possessed, there are numerous ways that we can deal with these encounters.  In the play Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the main character is confronted with a cluster of dilemmas and is in emotional distress.  The ghost that encounters Hamlet, the monarchs’ incest, and the contemplation of murder, are the major conflicts which he must deal with one way or another.  As a result of these three issues, as well as Hamlet’s particular character, he handles these issues internally which causes internal struggle and a passive response.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Indecisiveness In Hamlet

    1463 Words  | 3 Pages

    Indecisiveness is an inner conflict that inhibits a person from choosing a decision and acting on it. This inner conflict is easily relatable; however, explaining the fuel that ignites the conflict is much more difficult. Every human being must make decisions every day. Moreover, some of these decisions are tougher to choose than others. Psychologically, a decision is not tough because the situation is difficult, but the way the mind perceives the situation is what makes the choice baffling. In other words, humans make decisions more arduous than they seem. Also, the mind of every individual is unique and processes information

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Weak and Pitiful Hamlet

    844 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet’s sanity began to deteriorate when learned that his father’s death was not an accident, but rather a foul deed committed by the newly crowned King of Denmark. “If thou didst ever thy dear father love – Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder” [Act I, v l .23-25]. As a mysterious ghost appeared in the terrace, Hamlet learned of a murderer that would prove his fealty towards his father. As he contemplated the appalling news recently brought to his attention, the control Hamlet had over his actions was questioned. “O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! My tables meet it is I set it down, That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain. At least I am sure it may be so in Denmark,” [Act I, v l. 106-109]. Hamlet’s hatred toward his father’s killer caused him to relate the tribulations between murder and the aspects of Denmark as a country together. As with most of the conflicts Hamlet faced, his lack of ability to avenge his father’s death, furthered the deterioration of his life and surroundings.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Uncover The Truth In Hamlet Analysis

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    Considered to be one of the most famous playwrights written in the history of English literature, Hamlet is no doubt a complex play and far from being easy to decipher. The protagonist finds himself entangled within a slew of different predicaments ranging from love, incest, death, murder, and even touches upon the spiritual world when his father’s apparition presents himself with the task of avenging his death. How he goes about handling all of these difficulties has been a debate for decades and continues to baffle even the greatest minds today. However, in order for Hamlet to uncover the truth and fulfill the task he is given, he must put on an act of madness in which the other characters mistake him to have truly lost his mind. While he

    Read More

  • The Transformation of Hamlet

    933 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Hamlet, the protagonist Hamlet faced many dilemmas that led to his transformation throughout the play. The people around him and the ghost of his father dramatically affect him. Seeing his father’s ghost had changed his fate and the person he had become. The path he chose after his encounter with his father’s ghost led to his death.

    Read More

  • Christianity in Shakespear's Hamlet

    1137 Words  | 3 Pages

    At first, Hamlet sees the ghost of his dead father and vows to avenge his death. “Christianity forbids followers to seek out spirits for advice or communication” (Ja) Hamlet has his faith tested because he is unsure about what his father is telling him. If the truth is that Claudius is the one who murdered Hamlet’s father then Hamlet will need to commit murder himself in order to fulfill his promise to his father’s ghost. “Hamlet, after the shock of his discoveries, becomes virtually another person and re-evaluates the situation in accordance with his religious views. Perhaps the ghost is just an illusion or mental disorder making him imagine this tale, and the murder of his father is illusory because he is not able to accept this kind of marriage and he wants to justify his crimes.” (****) Hamlet wrestles with his feelings and decides he must arrange for Claudius to admit to the murder instead of murdering Claudius himself. He is aware of the moral dilemma he finds himself in, if he kills Claudius then he, Hamlet may go to hell. If he refuses to kill Claudius then his father may be sent to hell. Hamlet knows from his religious background that murd...

    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

  • Hamlet's Indecisiveness In Hamlet

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    Making decisions is a hard task as any hesitation as well as a lack of commitment can result in unsuccess and disappointing results. In Shakespearean plays, the hero consistently played a major part of the tragedy in which he/she has fallen to their demise. In Hamlet, the protagonist Hamlet is on a mission to seek revenge for his father, King Hamlet and kill his brother King Claudius. Hamlet has displayed his desire for vengeance numerous times throughout the play but it is his uncertainty in his decisions that delays his plan of revenge, which in turn, also contributes to his own death. Revenge also plays a key role in the death of Hamlet as he struggles to simultaneously seek vengeance while satisfying his morals. Hamlet’s indecisiveness

    Read More

  • Free Essays - Hamlet as a Tragic Hero

    1445 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the play’s tragic hero, Hamlet exhibits a combination of good and bad traits.  A complex character, he displays a variety of characteristics throughout the play’s development.  When he is first introduced in Act I- Scene 2, one sees Hamlet as a sensitive young prince who is mourning the death of his father, the King.  In addition, his mother’s immediate marriage to his uncle has left him in even greater despair.   Mixed in with this immense sense of grief, are obvious feelings of anger and frustration.  The combination of these emotions leaves one feeling sympathetic to Hamlet; he becomes a very “human” character.  One sees from the very beginning that he is a very complex and conflicted man, and that his tragedy has already begun.

    Read More

  • Hamlet Character Analysis

    1796 Words  | 4 Pages

    William Shakespeare's “Hamlet” is one of the most tragic plays ever written. It is about a young prince trying to keep his word to his dead father by avenging his death. Hamlet procrastinates when avenging his father’s death, which is his tragic flaw. Hamlet appears to be a coward as well as depressed. He finds himself questioning his own ambitious motives such as revenge and hatred toward his murderous uncle. Hamlet tells Horatio, his friend that he is going to fake madness as he loses his determination. It is Hamlet’s hubris that makes me begin to believe he is mad. Hamlet does at one point have doubt concerning the honesty of the ghost. His various reasons for delay in seeking revenge is that he wants to make sure his uncle Claudius is one hundred percent guilty and at the same time does not want to hurt his mother. He has too much Oedipus complex, love for his mother.

    Read More

  • Hamlet as the Tragic Hero

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet is the best known tragedy in literature today. Here, Shakespeare exposes Hamlet’s flaws as a heroic character. The tragedy in this play is the result of the main character’s unrealistic ideals and his inability to overcome his weakness of indecisiveness. This fatal attribute led to the death of several people which included his mother and the King of Denmark. Although he is described as being a brave and intelligent person, his tendency to procrastinate prevented him from acting on his father’s murder, his mother’s marriage, and his uncle’s ascension to the throne.

    Read More

  • Inconsistency in The Character of Hamlet

    1079 Words  | 3 Pages

    The perfection of Hamlet’s character has been called in question - perhaps by those who do not understand it. The character of Hamlet stands by itself. It is not a character marked by strength of will or even of passion, but by refinement of thought and sentiment. Hamlet is as little of the hero as a man can be.  He is a young and princely novice, full of high enthusiasm and quick sensibility - the sport of circumstances, questioning with fortune and refining on his own feelings, and forced from his natural disposition by the strangeness of his situation.

    Read More

More about How Is Hamlet Indecisive

Open Document