I believe that Hamlet is reluctant when presented with the opportunity to take the life of the man who killed his father, because Hamlet does not want to kill Claudius while he is openly regretting the murder of King Hamlet. Hamlet does want revenge but perhaps not in these circumstances. As hard as it would be to kill someone, it would be much harder to kill them while they are at their most vulnerable point; because we would like to picture the person we are trying to kill as evil, not emotionally compromised, regretful, or human. This delay is very reasonable and speaks to Hamlets thoughts and self-reflections. Hamlet has given this murder much thought and has perhaps come to the conclusion that Claudius must not just be killed, but killed at the right time. Hamlet may also think that to kill Claudius at this time when he is so vulnerable is no more honorable than the way Claudius killed the king, and that it is not what the king would have wanted. This point ties in perfectly to the message that Shakespeare may have been trying to convey. I believe by showing this delay Shakespeare was saying that although revenge seems like it is the best thing todo or the easy thing to do it may not be the right thing to do. By the easy thing to do I simply mean it  would be easier for hamlet to kill Claudius then to easier to kill Claudius than let the murder of King Hamlet go. Sometimes the easiest thing and right thing aren’t the same, and I think that is the point Shakespeare was trying to make. That in order to be the better person Hamlet had to overcome what he thought was just.

(Pyrrhus son of Achilles)