Why does hamlet take a long time to act on his father's request? Should he have acted sooner, for example while Claudius is praying?
2006-09-17 13:51:16 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Because Hamlet needed proof or Claudius' duplicity. Had he killed him without proof, he would have been guilty of regicide (killing the 'rightful' king). He needed a valid reason to remove Claudius from power, as he sought to become king himself.
Obviously, it became irrelevant. Had he known he would also die, he probably would have acted sooner.
2006-09-17 13:57:57 · answer #1 · answered by Jim T 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The whole point of Hamlet, his "fatal flaw," is his indecision, Ahead of his time, Hamlet, like so many "moderns" can be paralyzed be thinking TOO much and seeing TOO many sides of an issue. The internal debate (of which "To be or not to be . . ." is a good example) that Hamlet carries on with himself prevents him (until the end, of course) from taking any decisive action.
2006-09-17 13:56:28 · answer #2 · answered by johnslat 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because he is indecisive and waiting for convincing proof that Claudius killed his father. But mostly confusion and indecision.
He goes to college, comes home for break, finds out his father is dead and his mother is married to his uncle, encounters the ghost of his father telling him to get revenge and a very needy, possibly mad girlfriend. Thats a lot to process. Fortunately, finals were over.
2006-09-17 13:56:51 · answer #3 · answered by Dane 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋