As J. R. R. Tolkien says, “A man that flies from his fear may find that he has only taken a shortcut to meet it.” A common term for what Tolkien refers to is cowardice; the lack of taking action. For some, one’s cowardice can lead to the destruction of lives. In Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, the character of Hamlet monopolizes the majority of the time in the play with his cowardly behavior which, in the end, only results in great tragedy. The way in which Hamlet conducts himself ultimately causes the disastrous ends for nearly every character in the play. In William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, Hamlet’s tragic flaw of cowardice inhibits him from retaliation leading him to be solely culpable for the disastrous end of many characters in the play.
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As the play progresses, Hamlet’s procrastination steadily increases as does the amount of insanity Hamlet displays. After three acts, Hamlet finally makes his first attempt to murder Claudius. Hamlet displays his cowardliness in his failed attempt to kill Claudius. “And so he goes to heaven,/ And so am I (revenged.) That would be scanned:/ A villain kills my father, and for that,/ I, his sole son, do the same villain send/ to heaven” (3.3.70-83). When given the prime opportunity to kill Claudius, Hamlet’s fear of hell prevents him from obtaining vengeance. This only delays his retaliation more until later in the act Hamlet kills Polonius. It is important to note that the death of Polonius was preventable, had Hamlet not failed to take action sooner. “His continuous awareness and doubt delay him in performing the needed act” (Devi, 2014). Once the news spreads throughout the nobles of what Hamlet had done, Ophelia and Laertes reach their own points of instability. By killing her father, Hamlet causes Ophelia’s suicide. Additionally, once Laertes discovers the news, he counters with a plan to murder Hamlet that only leads him to his own doom later in the play. Therefore, Hamlet’s failure to act leads to the direct murder of Polonius and indirectly kills Ophelia and …show more content…
Hamlet’s procrastination can be linked to his weariness of hell. “No traveler returns, puzzles the will/ And makes us rather bear those ills we have/ Than fly to others that we know not of?/ Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,” (3.1.88-91). Here, Hamlet admits that the fear of what hell could be is what keeps people alive. “Hamlet is struck between two values which cause conflict in him—his loyalty to his father, and his belief that murder of any kind is wrong” (Devi, 2014). It is only after Hamlet intentionally kills Laertes that he accepts that he will go to hell, and therefore, he is finally able to murder Claudius. After the death of Polonius, Hamlet feels that what he had done is justifiable, and, therefore, he does not feel as though he is going to hell. However, after killing Laertes, Hamlet accepts his inevitable fate and no longer fears going to hell. Hamlet is only able to kill Claudius because he knows that hell is unavoidable. Only after hell is certain for Hamlet, is he able to avenge his father’s death and is capable of killing
As the play progresses, Hamlet’s procrastination steadily increases as does the amount of insanity Hamlet displays. After three acts, Hamlet finally makes his first attempt to murder Claudius. Hamlet displays his cowardliness in his failed attempt to kill Claudius. “And so he goes to heaven,/ And so am I (revenged.) That would be scanned:/ A villain kills my father, and for that,/ I, his sole son, do the same villain send/ to heaven” (3.3.70-83). When given the prime opportunity to kill Claudius, Hamlet’s fear of hell prevents him from obtaining vengeance. This only delays his retaliation more until later in the act Hamlet kills Polonius. It is important to note that the death of Polonius was preventable, had Hamlet not failed to take action sooner. “His continuous awareness and doubt delay him in performing the needed act” (Devi, 2014). Once the news spreads throughout the nobles of what Hamlet had done, Ophelia and Laertes reach their own points of instability. By killing her father, Hamlet causes Ophelia’s suicide. Additionally, once Laertes discovers the news, he counters with a plan to murder Hamlet that only leads him to his own doom later in the play. Therefore, Hamlet’s failure to act leads to the direct murder of Polonius and indirectly kills Ophelia and …show more content…
Hamlet’s procrastination can be linked to his weariness of hell. “No traveler returns, puzzles the will/ And makes us rather bear those ills we have/ Than fly to others that we know not of?/ Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,” (3.1.88-91). Here, Hamlet admits that the fear of what hell could be is what keeps people alive. “Hamlet is struck between two values which cause conflict in him—his loyalty to his father, and his belief that murder of any kind is wrong” (Devi, 2014). It is only after Hamlet intentionally kills Laertes that he accepts that he will go to hell, and therefore, he is finally able to murder Claudius. After the death of Polonius, Hamlet feels that what he had done is justifiable, and, therefore, he does not feel as though he is going to hell. However, after killing Laertes, Hamlet accepts his inevitable fate and no longer fears going to hell. Hamlet is only able to kill Claudius because he knows that hell is unavoidable. Only after hell is certain for Hamlet, is he able to avenge his father’s death and is capable of killing