Hamlet 2

“Hamlet accuses himself for failing to act. What do you think is the main cause of his delay?”

“Hamlet” by Shakespeare clearly distinguishes the central differences and parallels between the three main younger characters – Prince Hamlet, Laertes, Fortinbras – of the play. Whilst at some instances Hamlet’s lack of decisiveness is obvious, it is not completely accurate to state that “hamlet accuses himself for failing to act”. Hamlet’s capabilities to act are especially dealt with towards the end of the play. Hamlet’s incapacity to act, however, partially relates to the character he presents. A typical scholar who struggles with forces that impede him from implementing revenge; His melancholic and unhealthy view of the world, his cowardly nature and an act of deception which stems from his “antic disposition”.

Revenge, as a feature of the code of honour in the 1600s, adds to Hamlet’s dilemma. While Laertes and Fortinbras are capable of acting decisively in their quest to seek revenge, this does not seem to be the case with Hamlet. Once Laertes receives the news of Hamlet’s murder of Polonius, and understands Hamlet to be the cause of his sister’s madness, Laertes is willing to take action almost immediately. We see this when Laertes states, “To cut his throat i’th’ church.” Similarly, Fortinbras of Norway prepares to seek revenge on Denmark for the “land” lost to the old king Hamlet. Upon the news of a new king to the throne, Fortinbras thinking Denmark to be “disjoint and out of frame” sends a message “importing the surrender of those lands.” Such valiant and sharp action is in contrast to Hamlet. Whilst Laertes and Fortinbras express determined courage and strength to seek revenge appropriately, Hamlet clearly lacks that aspect of life.

From the very beginning of the play, we see Hamlet experiencing a crisis in his life. The sudden death of his father, followed by the sudden marriage of his mum to his uncle is all too much for the young prince to handle. Hamlet is portrayed as a weak character, unable to carry out acts that are expected of him as the betrayed Prince. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy – “O that this too sullied flesh would melt, /Thaw and resolve itself into a dew.” – signifies Hamlet’s “grief” is of “unmanly” proportions. Hamlet’s lack of self confidence and weakness is shown when he compares Claudius to being “no more like my father/Than I to Hercules.” Furthermore, the appearance and the declaration of Hamlet’s duty are too much for the scholar Prince to handle. “O cursed spite/That ever I was born to set it right.” This symbolises Hamlet’s resistance in avenging his father’s death. The sudden burden on Hamlet makes him believe that the world, or more importantly, God has turned on him. We see this when Hamlet states “How all occasions do inform against me...” The inability to accept the truth and act quickly causes him to postpone his duty upon all evidence that Claudius is to blame. “I’ll take the ghost’s word for a thousand pound” further suggests that Claudius is the culprit. For a character with such instability, revenge is not possibility.

Hamlet is often seen as a sympathetic character, incapable of taking action. It is arguable, however, that the common impression of Hamlet is far from being precise. Hamlet is commonly portrayed as a weak character, unable to carry out acts as he indulges himself in despairing the reflection. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy – “O that this too sullied flesh would melt, /Thaw and resolve itself into a dew.” – signifies Hamlet’s “grief” is of “unmanly” proportions. Despite being said, Hamlet does not struggle with the immorality of murder. The two instances where he commits murder, moral integrity appears to be the least of his qualms. First, hamlet stabs Polonius – “The unseen good old man” - to death in a “rash and bloody deed”. Additionally, Hamlet continues his spree of “madness” and decides to “lug the guts into the neighbour room.” Hamlet does not appear to have the minute amount of sorrow for the murder and Gertrude sees him as “Mad as the sea and wind when both contend...” .Likewise, Hamlet who is to blame in the cold blooded murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Hamlet substitutes the letters to the King of England, “Folded the writ up in the form of th’other...” with the misleading message to kill Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. This act of “horrible” murder is not followed with any compassion. Instead Hamlet states, “They are not near my conscience...” which suggests that the young Prince has little sorrow for the death of his close friends. Although he is aware of the corrupt world of Denmark, he ironically does not see himself as part of it.

Whilst Hamlet’s naivety is supported my many, Hamlet’s capability to take action cannot be completely ignored. Whilst hamlet might not be as sharp in taking action, his capacity to take action should not be questioned. The Prince’s delay is taking action, nonetheless, has to be blamed on his melancholic and unhealthy view of the world, lack of self confidence, his cowardly nature and his act of deception.