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Why Hamlet Delays In Killing Claudius

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There are several theories about why Hamlet delays in killing his Uncle, King Claudius. As the son of a murdered noble, Hamlet is obligated to avenge the death of his father. It’s a law, but he must first talk with god to ensure his safety in his journey and that taking vengeance will not send him straight to hell.
The act is never performed until the end of the play. Quite some time after Hamlet discovered Claudius was his father 's killer. Some historians and literary experts would say Hamlet 's strong religious believes held him back from performing this sinful deed. Others say that Hamlet was a melancholic and therefore was too depressed to kill his uncle. Infamous psychologist, Sigmund Freud, felt Hamlet suffered from an oedipal complex and could not kill Claudius because he himself wished to be in Claudius ' royal position.
Hamlet delays in killing Claudius not only because he 's suffering from an Oedipal complex but also because his basic sanity keeps him from killing Claudius. In society we are taught that those who commit murder are sick or insane and will go to hell. However, Hamlet 's society believes the son of a murdered noble is responsible for avenging his father. And if the son does not abide to this law he himself deserves to die. …show more content…

When the ghost of King Hamlet appears and tells his son that Claudius killed him by pouring poison in his ear, Hamlet does not act straight away he takes his time to think about what the ghost told him. He wonders whether it is a good ghost or a bad ghost. He plans things out wanting the new king to be embarrassed for what he has committed. When the group of actors come to town, Hamlet says to one of them, "Dost thou hear me old friend? Can you play The Murder of Gonzago?" The player agrees that he can perform the play. "We 'll ha 't tomorrow night. You could for a need study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which I could set down and insert in 't, could

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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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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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His conscience was aligned with his religious beliefs which got in the way of allowing him to act on his thoughts. This sparked an inner conflict in Hamlet about what to do. When Hamlet was first told by the ghost to kill King Claudius, Hamlet overthinks the decision on throughout the book. Hamlet knows his conscience driven mind will prevent him from acting on his instincs to kill Claudius. “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” (3.1.87) Hamlet is angry with himself that he has let his conscience come in the way.

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He murdered the first King of Denmark in secrecy so he could usurp the throne and make the Queen his own. No one would suspect Claudius as the murderer due to his relation as the brother to the late King. Later on in the story, Claudius is suspecting Hamlet of not only being crazy, but possibly learning of the murder. With his words and power as King, he sent Hamlet to England to “get better” from his illness. Along with that he sent Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, two of Hamlet’s old friends, to supervise Hamlet and confirm he would meet his doom.

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