What character traits explain hamlets indecisiveness?

Answer 1

Prince Hamlet: The gloomy young Prince who constantly wavers between vengeance and suicide. Hamlet's melancholy is initially the result of his mother's hasty and disloyal marriage to Claudius, her late husband's brother. When young Hamlet learns from his father's ghost that Claudius murdered him, the young Prince swears vengeance. He pledges to treat his mother harshly, but to refrain from harming her.

As part of his revenge plot, Hamlet pretends to have lost his sanity. The mad Prince stages 'The Mousetrap' play to judge Claudius' guilt. He kills the spy, Polonius, and drives Ophelia to insanity. Escaping death, Hamlet intercepts a treacherous letter from Claudius, which orders his execution. Forging a new letter, Hamlet orders the King of England to execute Rosencrantz and Guildenstern instead. Plagued by gloominess and self-hatred, Hamlet often contemplates suicide and berates himself for delaying his vengeance. Compared to the fiercely active Fortinbras, Hamlet feels like an idle loser. Set-up by Claudius and Laertes, Hamlet is slain in a fencing competition by Laertes' poisoned rapier. Before he dies, however, Hamlet slashes Claudius with the same blade and finally kills him.

Answer 2

Hamlet = cogitation, hesitancy, judgmental King Hamlet = wisened, angry Claudius= dictatorial

Answer 3

The supremacy of morality over instrumental reason - kinda like the opposite of these days, we act with confidence to do what works with little thought of the long term consequences.