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Hamlet's Decision To Kill Claudius In Hamlet By William Shakespeare

393 Words2 Pages

Although it may seem cowardly, Hamlet's decision to not kill King Claudius is just another act that conveys that he is indeed a patient strategist and thinker, revealing that those who do not let their emotions overpower their logic ultimately make the wisest decisions. Throughout the play, Hamlet continuously proves himself to be a curious and patient character. After discovering the truth about his father’s murder, instead of immediate action, Hamlet decides to strategically deceive the rest of the characters by convincing them that he is a madman, as a way of masking his true intentions of killing Claudius. In such a way, he will be able to cunningly kill the man he seeks revenge on while not serving as many consequences in the aftermath. His actions are …show more content…

Similar to the trojan horse, Hamlet will be able to successfully deceive those around him through his madness. Furthermore, Hamlet’s innate ability to question societal norms is clearly evident when he says “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time.. When he himself might his quietus make, With a bare bodkin?”(3.2, 78-84). He proves himself to be someone who is inquisitive about life after death, a subject that is rarely thought of by any other characters in the play. Through questioning human fear of death and life beyond the afterlife, Hamlet proves that he is a character that is able to think beyond his time. Thus, when Hamlet is given the opportunity to kill Claudius as he prays, Hamlet decides to wait for a better time. After observing Claudius praying, Hamlet notices that killing will “Hire and salary, not revenge” (3.3, 83). Unlike his father, who was taken “grossly, full of bread”(3.3,

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Hamlet develops the play-within-the play to try and get a reaction out of Claudius. Although it does work and he gets the reaction he desires on a silver platter just as he hoped, he is then further uncertain within himself and procrastinates on what needs to be done. Within this action of setting up this play he desires enough certainty to act on his thoughts and he receives that assurance, yet he still chooses not to, which then leads to more procrastination which is a common theme within the play. As a result of his inaction, others are harmed and chaos erupts. As such, Hamlet does not act despite having the external assurance that Claudius did murder his father, he just lacks the certainty within himself to do the actions.

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Hamlet was given the prime opportunity to kill Claudius when he found him on his knees begging for forgiveness. Hamlet negated not to kill him right then and there because he wanted Claudius to go to hell, not heaven. Hamlet’s lack of sanity, or his tragic flaw, in the play is definitely what caused his inability to

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This proves that Hamlet still has a very clear mind. In addition, Hamlet receives the justification he required to kill the king after his master plan of holding a play worked. Even when he has the reassurance he desired, he still can't bring himself to murder Claudius. He has many opportunities to pursue the deed however, he lets them slip by. For instance, in act 3 he says “Now might I do it pat.

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The main character of William Shakespeare’s tragedy is actually a confused person that’s stuck between two choices. Some may argue that he feels guilty for his father’s death and so it’s his duty to avenge it. While others may disagree and conclude that he is just a maniac who is both violent and dangerous. Hamlet passes through the lane of hesitancy, where he hesitates to kill King Claudius. As a matter of fact, the main conflict of Hamlet is that he feels both the need to solve the crime and punish the responsible.

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And so am I revenged. That would be scanned, a villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven” (line 74-79). Hamlet believes that Claudius is praying and doesn’t want to kill him, because he doesn’t want him to go to heaven. This inability is the tragic mistake that hamlets creates, to his soon to be

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Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, centers around Hamlet’s contemplation of killing his uncle in order to avenge his father’s death. His decisions and values determine his fate. However, Hamlet’s intended action to avenge his father’s death is continuously postponed due to his moral dilemma. However, this moral dilemma causes him to make the decisions he does, and therefore, demonstrates the theme of his uncertainty versus his faith. Not only does faith stop him from taking alternative routes to achieve his goal, but his uncertainty causes him to either delay his revenge or make the wrong decisions.

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Hamlet considers this an unfavorable outcome because he believes that Claudius should suffer in the afterlife for his heinous actions, which include the murder of Hamlet's father. This internal conflict demonstrates Hamlet's hesitation to carry out his revenge, as he grapples with the moral implications and the desire for justice. It highlights his tragic flaw of overthinking and being indecisive, which ultimately leads to his downfall. In another pivotal moment, Hamlet has the opportunity to kill Claudius while he is praying. However, he decides not to take action because he believes that killing Claudius during a state of repentance would send him directly to heaven, without facing the eternal punishment he deserves.

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Before learning the truth, although Hamlet’s character was still very bothered by his mother’s quick marriage, murder never occurred in his mind until after his consultation with the ghost. When Hamlet begins to carry out his plan, he attempts to take proper precautions to ensure his victory by carefully planning about how his vengeance will play out as we see with his scheme to display an antic disposition and outwit his uncle with the “Mousetrap” play. However, Hamlet begins punishing himself for his procrastination and all of that carefulness is thrown away when he murders Polonius. This was out of character for Hamlet and the first sign of his mental corruption since he acted so impulsively killing Polonius compared to when he had the chance to kill Claudius when he was praying. Hamlet’s ideologies alter from the beginning of the play to the end, through contrasting the changes in Hamlet’s mindset, his rationality and obligation are overcome by

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As Claudius repents, Hamlet feels as though it's the best time to kill him until he says: And so ’a goes to Heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be scanned. A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his son, do this same villain send To heaven (3.3.73-78) Essentially, Hamlet wanted to murder Claudius because he was the Old King’s murderer.

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Many characters show signs of intelligence throughout William Shakespeare’s Hamlet as they conjure plans to achieve their goals. However, Hamlet’s intelligence is far superior to that of all the other characters. He is capable of altering the kingdom’s perception of him to his advantage by adjusting his behaviours. The schemes he devises outsmart everyone and leave him to appear innocent. Most importantly, Hamlet miraculously escapes his own death and instead brings an end to those involved in his execution.

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However, Hamlet cannot just kill in cold blood, he takes time to plan out every move and analyze the rights, wrongs, and consequences of every step he makes while seeking his revenge. Hamlet says in his soliloquy in 2.2.594-598: “This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words And fall a-cursing like a very drab, A scullion!” This quote is proof that Hamlet cannot seem to grasp why he cannot bring himself to kill Claudius. Hamlet comes across as a decent man. Killing is not something he can do in cold blood.

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Hamlet is presented with several opportunities to pursue his vengeance, but delays each time for multiple reasons in which reveal his true nature. There are many reasons Hamlet restrains from killing Claudius. Firstly, Hamlet does not know whether the ghost should be believed or if it is just the devil in disguise trying to trick him. This is a valid reason because if the ghost is the devil, then Hamlet’s soul will be damned to the Hell. Hamlet’s

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Many of Hamlet 's traits may appear to be weaknesses but they are, at second glance, strengths which aid him in his attempt to do away with Claudius. His refusal to murder the "incestuous, murderous, damned Dane" as he prays in Act 3, Scene 3 was a wise decision. If the prince had indeed killed the king he would have been immediately

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Hamlet is stressed over his own father's murder, but he has to plan the right way to murder his Uncle Claudius. At one point, he thought he had finally murdered Claudius but it turned out to be Polonius, the chief counselor to the king . This murder only complicated things for Hamlet and caused him to be more confused about what to do with the situation. Shakespeare decided to depict Hamlet in a way that shows his flaws because it creates drama in the play.

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In the beginning of the play Hamlet, the main character, is struggling with events that have taken place in his life. His Father has recently died and his Uncle has now married his Mother. With sorrow and pain, Hamlet tries to understand and unravel the aberrant events that have taken place with his family. The events have amended the way Hamlet views death. After his Father’s death, Hamlet questions the afterlife; whether it offers a “peaceful slumber” or an “everlasting nightmare”.

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