The Insanity Of Ulterior Motives In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

The knife in your hands, revenge on your mind, and a burning desire in your heart, would you take the chance to slay your greatest enemy with ease, or would you let it slip? This is the dilemma in which William Shakespeare places Hamlet in the play Hamlet. Some may argue that this dilemma is a test of will power or courage but based on Hamlet’s behavior during the play and textual evidence, this decision of taking Claudius’ life, or sparing him is determined by ulterior motives presented earlier in the play. Hamlet’s decision to spare Claudius while he prays in the closet is a strange decision in most viewers’ eyes but after reviewing textual evidence, Hamlet’s decision becomes justified by ulterior motives and these motives are acted upon because of Hamlet’s sanity in this play. Not only is Hamlet sane during this play, he is so cool, calm and collected, that he remembers his ulterior motives guiding his thoughts and actions. These ulterior motives are his father’s orders from beyond the grave his desire to condemn Claudius to an eternity in hell. This persuasive essay will explain and provide textual evidence about Hamlet’s sanity during the closet scene and his ulterior motive guiding him

His father’s ghost says, “Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder.”(1.5.29). Hamlet was very obedient to his father when he was alive and Hamlet’s obedience is without question when he receives one last set of orders from his deceased Father. Because King Hamlet is stuck in purgatory, Prince Hamlet doesn’t want to kill Claudius when he has a chance of going to heaven. When Hamlet finds Claudius praying, He believes killing him would send him to heaven, doing no justice to his father and using up his one, last chance to fulfill his fathers orders. The next ulterior motive that Hamlet follows is closely related to this one but is based on Hamlet’s desires and passion to torture