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The Importance Of Revenge In William Shakespeare's Hamlet

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Although Hamlet was intellectual when it came to his plans, he was overly obsessed with vengeance to kill Claudius, and is very indecisive especially on his plans to kill him. In the tragedy Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Prince Hamlet lost his father and has been depressed ever since. His uncle Claudius took over the throne and married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude. One day a ghost, Hamlet’s dead father, told him how Claudius killed him by putting poison into his ear. Hamlet seeks revenge for his dead father and wants to kill Claudius for his crime. Hamlet deals with many adversities with his family, friends, and himself. His father was killed by Claudius who married Gertrude and took over the King’s position. His so called friends can’t be trusted …show more content…
Hamlet has a tendency to procrastinate on his plan for revenge for Claudius. After the players exited, Hamlet says, “The spirit that I have seen/May be a (devil,) and the (devil) hath power” (2.2.627-628). Hamlet already decided to kill Claudius when the ghost told him how Claudius killed him. Now Hamlet is debating whether or not to believe the ghost and is saying that the ghost could be a devil in disguise to destroy him. Hamlet is making excuses for him not to kill Claudius by having a play performed to see Claudius’s reactions towards it. This shows how Hamlet is indecisive and a procrastinator because he doesn’t know whether or not he wants to continue on with his plan and falls back on …show more content…
While Claudius is praying, Hamlet drew out his sword and says, “And how his audit stands who knows save heaven/But in our circumstance and course of thought/ 'Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged” (3.3.87-89). Claudius is asking for forgiveness and Hamlet thinks if he kills him now Claudius would go to heaven. Hamlet doesn’t want him to go heaven so he decides to wait until Claudius commits another sinful crime. He is making an excuse and it doesn’t make sense because he’s not busy but yet pushes his plan off to side. It seems as if he won’t kill him until it’s too late and he won’t have any more

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