Shakespeare has created many unique and peculiar characters throughout his works but Hamlet probably has to be one of the most bizarre personas within any of his writings. Hamlet’s simple inability to act upon his father’s death ultimately led to his own demise and destruction of the ones around him. He exhibits multiple times where he fails to follow through with his motives.
On one occasion Hamlet misses the opportunity to assassinate Claudius, “...how all occasions do inform against me, and spur my dull revenge!... I do not know why yet I live to say ‘This thing’s to do;’... Sith I have cause and will and strength and means to do so.” (IV. iv. 31-32). Hamlet wanted to send Claudius to hell, and the only which way he could do so would be to kill him while he was not participating in holy prayer. Despite his strong desire to end Claudius’s life, he did not do so because he would rather see his uncle pay his dues than to let him off easy. It is this excessive contemplation and hesitation that hinders any opportunity Hamlet might of had to pursue his intentions.
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Only after Ophelia’s death is when Hamlet recognizes his ignorance, “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers, if you added all their love together, [it] couldn’t match mine.” (V. i. 249-250). Hamlet clearly had a deep love for her that no other could compare to, but his inability to