Final blog- The Delay

Here's your prompt for this blog: Where does the reluctance Hamlet feels towards killing his uncle come from? Is it reasonable or silly? What does his reluctance say about what's going on inside Hamlet's head and his self-examination? Finally, what do you think Shakespeare wants us to learn from this inability and ultimate delay in taking Hamlet's revenge?

           I believe that Hamlets reluctance to kill is somewhat reasonable. Hamlet is a very confused man. Regardless of the situation, if you are a sane person, it would be very difficult to kill someone in cold blood. This reluctance says a lot about what is going on inside of Hamlets head. Hamlet is a religious man; he contemplates suicide many times but his religion and the uncertainty of the afterlife is what stops him. When Hamlet has the chance to get revenge, Claudius is praying. Hamlet realizes that if he kills Claudius while he is praying, he may go to heaven and Hamlet does not want that, “now he is praying; And now I’ll do’t: and so he goes to heaven:”(3.3.74-75). After the delay, Hamlet decides that he wants to kill Claudius while he is sinning. Not too long after that Hamlet does not hesitate to kill the suspicious figure behind the tapestry which ends up being Polonius. This sudden change in attitude shows that after Hamlets delay, he feels regret and remorse as too why he cannot kill Claudius and this remorse is what powers him to kill Polonius.

Throughout the entire play, Hamlet struggles with his emotions. Not only was his father murdered, but his mother married his Uncle. He does not know why it is so hard for him to express his emotions, when it comes so easy to the Frist Player who acts his part in the mousetrap play. This ultimate confusion and self-hate contributes to the reason Hamlet delays. Another reason for the reluctance is the fact that the ghost is who told him that Claudius killed Old King Hamlet. This supernatural figure made Hamlet question if the information was even true. I know this because later in the play, he starts to question the ghosts information and he plans the 'mousetrap' so he can read Claudius' face.

I believe that Shakespeare is trying to teach the audience that even when one wants to get revenge; it is difficult if you are good at heart. As stated in this article,  there are many theories as to why Hamlet delays, including religious bonds, sanity and even insanity. Some believe that his reluctance was unreasonable but I completely disagree for the reasons stated above. Although no one will ever truly know, I believe that the delay was reasonable and the cause was a result of many things, including his strong religious ties and the confusion that was going on in his head.

 

https://www.google.ca/search?q=i+can't+stop+thinking+cartoon&rls=com.microsoft:en-CA:IE-Address&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=xIDmUqyBGOeo2gX68IHoDQ&ved=0CCsQsAQ&biw=1188&bih=559#facrc=_&imgrc=mqqE2y4hyV34DM%253A%3BXEIv-oX7FovhyM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbeatingcowdens.files.wordpress.com%252F2013%252F02%252Fcant-stop-thinking-cartoon.gif%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fbeatingcowdens.com%252Ftag%252Fcell-phones%252F%3B319%3B295

This is a great picture for my blog. As I stated before, I believe that a large part of Hamlets delay has to do with his confusion. His father was killed and he feels as if he has lost his mother to Claudius as well. To top it off, a strange ghost tells Hamlet that Claudius is the murderer. As one can see, Hamlet has a lot on his mind and just like the picture says, he "Can't stop thinking."