Hamlet Essay, Research Paper

Think Before You Speak uh I Mean KILL!!!

The famous poet Alexander Pope once stated, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. In William Shakespeare s tragedy, Hamlet, the main character heeds the message of this early proverb. Hamlet is given the duty of avenging his father s murder, yet it takes him a painstaking amount of time to fulfill the simple task. This is why the character of Hamlet is often criticized to be lethargic, cowardly, and indecisive. But, that is far from the truth. In fact, Hamlet s hesitance is the product of drawn-out assessments and thorough preparation. This preparation helps Hamlet achieve his goal in a manner which holds him in high regards at the end.

In Act I, Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father. King Hamlet gives him three important tasks to complete: to avenge his murder (by means of killing Claudius), to leave Queen Gertrude to be dealt with by the heavens, and to taint not thy mind. Hamlet assures his father,

I ll wipe away all trivial fond records,

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past

That youth and observation copied there,

And thy commandment all alone shall live (1.5.99-102)

And immediately begins to mentally, if not physically, carry out the promise. He intentionally starts exaggerating and feigning his emotions, and vows, As I perchance hereafter shall think meet/To put an antic disposition on (1.5.171-172). Hamlet will attempt to put on an act of insanity to throw everyone off. He is able to convince Ophelia of his delirious state. After an encounter with a crazed Hamlet, Ophelia claims that,

Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;

That unmatched form and feature of blown youth

Blasted with ecstasy. O, woe is me

T have seen what I have seen, see what I see! (3.1.162- 165)

Hamlet s madness act is actually a deploy which occupies everyone by keeping them in awe of the origins of his insanity. This intelligent move buys him time to plot an appropriate revenge against the alleged Claudius.

Hamlet would love to just do away with Claudius, but many factors prevent him from rushing the act. It is obvious that Hamlet has extreme animosity towards Claudius for marrying his mother so hastily. Killing Claudius would satisfy many urges of Hamlet, but he knows that if he wrongfully kills a person-especially the king-he will be looked down upon by society. He deliberates by stating,

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen

May be the devil: and the devil hath power

T assume a pleasing shape;

The play s the thing

Wherein I ll catch the conscience of the King. (2.2.615- 622)

Therefore, Hamlet manipulates the play to mimic the supposed actions Claudius took to kill King Hamlet. After the whole court witnessed Claudius s incriminating reaction, Hamlet was provided the perfect opportunity to kill him. Hamlet walks in on Claudius s attempt at prayer, but is able to restrain himself. Hamlet reminds himself,

Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;

And now I ll do t. And so he goes to heaven,

And so I am revenged. That would be scanned.

A villain kills my father; and for that,

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

To heaven.

Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge! (3.3.73-79)

By careful thinking and considering of the situation, Hamlet stopped himself from an unpromising mistake.

Hamlet begins to realize that his plan is failing. Although it is well thought out, he still hasn t gotten much accomplished. Claudius instantly sent him on a ship to England with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern after the catastrophe at the play. Hamlet concludes,

Now, whether it be

Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple

Of thinking too precisely on the event- (4.4.39-42)

O, from this time forth,

My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! (4.4.65-66)

While on his way to England, Hamlet is taken prisoner aboard a pirate ship. He finds a letter from Claudius asking for the death of Hamlet to be taken place in England. Hamlet ingeniously rewrites it to have Rosencrantz and Guildenstern fall victims instead. His quick thinking won him a second chance at avenging his father s murder. When Hamlet arrives back in Elsinore, a fencing match is proposed. Revenge is brought upon when Hamlet thrusts the poison-laced rapier into Claudius. The extent of Hamlet s plotting paid off in the finale. He was able to avenge his father s death by sending Claudius to hell, and he did so in true soldier-fashion. He would have been proud to hear Fortinbras s praise,

Let four captains

Bear Hamlet like a soldier to the stage;

For he was likely, had he been put on,

To have proved most royally; and for his passage

The soldiers music and the rites of war

Speak loudly for him.

Take up bodies. Such a sight as this

Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.

Go, bid the soldiers shoot. (5.2.400-405)

In conclusion, Hamlet s hesitation was for the better. If he had rushed his decision, Hamlet could ve been condemned of killing an innocent man. Through buying time with his madness act, Hamlet was able to investigate the actual murderer and plot the perfect retribution. Even when Hamlet doubted his tentativeness, it worked out in the end. He killed Claudius and achieved praise from Fortinbras for doing so. As Polonius said,

though this be madness, yet there is method in t. (2.2.206-207) Hamlet s well-thought out method won him respect from his father and all of Denmark.