Why Is Hamlet A Coward

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What is a coward? A coward is one who lacks the courage to do or endure dangerous or unpleasant things. In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet a grief-stricken prince of Denmark comes home to his father’s funeral and he seeks revenge against the murderer. There are many different lesser plots to Hamlet, but revenge central theme that the play follows. Those in the play who seek revenge may be able to act on it or may not. Hamlet is one of those who seems to not be able to act on his revenge. Hamlet lacks the courage to complete take his revenge against the antagonist of the story Claudius, who is Hamlet’s uncle and the King of Denmark. By observing and reading the scenes from Hamlet show how Hamlet as a character is a coward.
Hamlet is a coward …show more content…

Laertes has the ability to perform tasks that may be unpleasant or dangerous. Laertes does not simply try to kill someone by thinking cautiously the whole time, but by directly confronting them and facing them head-on. When Laertes returns home to Denmark he even confronts Claudius about the death of his father. Swearing Laertes says “I dare damnation. To this point I stand,/That both the worlds I give to negligence,/Let come what comes, only I’ll be reveng’d/Most thoroughly for my father.” (IV. v. 133-136). With this declaration Laertes plots with Claudius to kill Hamlet and they construct a plan to have Laertes fence with Hamlet and for him to kill him. They instrument a plot of revenge for the death of Polonius, quickly coming up with three ways to kill Hamlet: stabbing him with an unblunted sword, placing poison on the sword, and poisoning Hamlet’s drink (IV. vii.). After they construct this plan they swiftly utilize the plan. Laertes did not wait for the perfect moment, at the perfect time, and at the perfect place. He created the place, time, and moment to carry out the dangerous task. Hamlet, however, waited and waited for what he thought one day would be the perfect moment in which he could kill his uncle. Even when Hamlet had an opportunity to kill Claudius, he talked himself out of it. When compared to Laertes, Hamlet is a coward because of his inability …show more content…

Yes, Hamlet was very cautious throughout the whole play once he had figured out that Claudius had killed the King, his father. A cautious man would have seized the opportunity when Claudius was on his knees alone and defenseless. He could have killed him there and then without having to worry about anything happening to himself. Hamlet is about to do it when he says “No!/Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent:” (III. iii. 87-88). Standing over Claudius, Hamlet decides not to kill him and gives another excuse to let him live for a little bit longer. He was all alone with Claudius and had possibly the best opportunity to kill his uncle. He could have had his revenge in that moment. If he had the ending could have been very different from what actually happened. It was Hamlet’s cowardice and constant hesitation that led to his ultimate demise. Hamlet was not a cautious man, but a

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