Motifs of Revenge and Procrastination in Hamlet Essay

What Shakespeare is trying to explain is that revenge is a two edge sword. When used correctly revenge can lead to success and wealth; however, it can also be a flaw that leads to corruption and death. Revenge is an emotion that consumes someone's ever waking moment, and becomes their addiction. Perhaps this is something that every person should remember. Revenge is dangerous. Revenge is not something that should be taken lightly. As the bible states, we should be slow to speak, slow to anger, and in this case slow to

`Hamlet' is no doubt one of the greatest literary works ever written. William Shakespeare presents in it complexity of human nature and examination of human behavior. After reading this drama one of the main questions we have to ask is ` Why does Hamlet delay?'. Why does he wait so long before taking revenge on Claudius for killing his father? While answering the question about postponement we have to take under consideration few aspects.

It is almost like having an argument in one’s head. A side of you knows you have an obligation to finish a task; the other side turns a blind eye and tries to convince you that it will eventually get done, just not now. This is a huge dilemma that we constantly see in throughout the story of Hamlet. Though we might view procrastinating as a minor offense to things, in some situations failing to act quickly could have dyer consequences. In a way it is going against your rational mind because one knows he or she does not act quickly greater damage may occur. For example Hamlet having the perfect opportunity to butcher the man who murdered his father hesitates and thinks his actions over claiming he will do it later. “Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I’ll do’t. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I revenged. That would be sann’d; A villain kills my father; and that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven.” (Shakespeare. Act III, Scene iii). Rationality leading to irrationality at its finest in this instance. Hamlet has gazed too deeply into whether the timing of the kill is right that he is now ‘loathe to act’, “There is nothing good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” (Shakespeare. Act II. Scene

Revenge is a recurring theme in Hamlet. Although Hamlet wants to avenge his father’s death, he is afraid of what would result from this. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet’s unwillingness to revenge appears throughout the text; Shakespeare exhibits this through Hamlet’s realization that revenge is not the right option, Hamlet‘s realization that revenge is the same as the crime which was already committed, and his understanding that to revenge is to become a “beast” and to not revenge is as well (Kastan 1).

Hamlet’s need for revenge begins in act 1 when the ghost tells him what happened. In the play, the ghost of King Hamlet appears and tells his son, Hamlet, that he is his father’s spirit, “I am thy father’s spirit…” (act I, scene v). The ghost is talking to Hamlet and tells him how he was really killed. He says, “Now, Hamlet, hear. 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abus'd; but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown” (act I, scene v). King Hamlet’s spirit explains to his son that the serpent

In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the titular character struggles to engage in his desired plan of revenge. Hamlet shows throughout the play that he is inconsistent, indecisive, and unsure of himself, as well as his actions. The play focuses on Hamlet’s revenge; however, he continuously fails to happen at opportunistic moments. Throughout the play, Hamlet insists that he intends to avenge his father’s death through the murder of Claudius, but Hamlet fails to act on occasion because of his indecisive personality.

The Bible says “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” (Romans 12:19). In modern society, most people do not think about revenge as a bad thing, but rather as a natural part of life. Sometimes it is viewed down upon and questioned by those with high moral standards, or when a person wants revenge so severe that it would require blood to be shed. This was the case for Hamlet in the play Hamlet, by Shakespeare. After finding out his father had been killed by his Uncle, who had taken over the throne of Denmark, he is filled with anger and hatred, along with a feeling of self loathing. Throughout the course of the play, Hamlet pretends to be a madman so he can have his way, questions death and what comes after dying, and wonders if he should actually kill another human being. After the conflict is resolved, Shakespeare

Revenge resembles taking action and justice for what is right. Shakespeare is familiar with this concept that is presented in his play, Hamlet. The characters Hamlet, Fortinbras, and Laertes show the willingness to seek revenge on others through the five assumptions of revenge play.

Although Hamlet knows well enough that he must avenge his fathers’ death, the action of revenge does not come easily to him. Hamlet throughout Hamlet is contemplating the revenge for his father’s death. Hamlet is indecisive, hesitant, and contemplative yet at other times impulsive. He is still, as it is, being influenced by his reason taking into consideration that Hamlet is a scholar. He does not act upon his feelings immediately but decides to investigate further on the suspicions he has about Claudius and his fathers’ death. This attitude tends to make Hamlet procrastinate and only until he has done away with his scholastic characters will he actually play out his Acton.

“If you seek revenge, dig two graves.” This ancient Chinese proverb explains the mood in Hamlet, a play, written by Shakespeare. The theme of revenge is seen throughout the play as each character extracts one form or another of revenge from a person who has wronged them. In the play the characters Hamlet, Laertes, and Fortinbras all desire revenge for a lost father; however, their motivations for murder differ.

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, struggles with procrastination throughout the play. As Samuel Taylor Coleridge said, "No brilliant intellect can be considered valuable if one withdraws from action." It is this tragic flaw of inaction that eventually brings about Hamlet’s downfall. In the beginning of the play, Hamlet is given explicit instructions by the ghost to kill his uncle/step-father Claudius to avenge his father’s murder; yet, he fails to do so. Hamlet’s inaction and hesitation to kill Claudius is justified in his own mind and to the audience. Hamlet’s initial disbelief in the reliability of the

“While seeking revenge, dig two graves - one for yourself”, as is what happens to those who take revenge, buried in their own unforgiveness. Francis Bacon’s idea of revenge attempts to bypass this problem of unforgiveness, with the forgiveness of the perpetrator. But not all revenge can be simply forgiven, which is the case in Hamlet; Francis Bacon also knows about this problem, but describes it in his own words with “The most tolerable sort of revenge is for those wrongs which there is no law to remedy; but then let a man take heed the revenge be such as there is no law to punish”(Francis Bacon 15). Sir Francis Bacon’s idea of revenge relates to Hamlet in how revenge is handled, the repercussions of acting in revenge, and its ability to change a person's thought process.

Since a long time the idea of revenge has existed in our human nature. It has been our instinct to take back for a person that has been hurt. Today we find that many literary works uses revenge as a theme for the plot but how it is shown depends from a character to another. Hamlet and The Lion

“One may smile, and smile, and be a villain”, said in Act 1, shows Hamlet's will to gain control. Using phrases like this portray a controversy between the doing the right thing and trying the right thing. Narcissistic behavior like this is common when trying to achieve power. A person for instance has an inflated sense of own importance over the people that surround them. Although, he could have chosen to do nothing about the betrayal toward him, it wasn’t morally in his will to act in such way. His actions displayed ways that acting out was seen as a defense mechanism. Hamlet regularly isolates himself prior to wanting something. Not only does isolation happen frequently, but it is rare for Hamlet to share any information he has gained, but uses it against others in a way of having control over them, Having so many emotions and feelings built up inside, gives an additive toward unruly, and controlling behavior. A Google article stated, “Shakespeare’s play arises not from the structure of revenge itself, but from the grafting on to it of a complex of acute anxieties revolving around a vision of endemic human corruption” (pg.3). Protagonist use revenge as a way of significant act toward control. In this case, Hamlet seeks this type of revenger after experiencing many failed attempts to obtain the justice he felt he so deserved.

Well known is it that the main plot of Hamlet is outlined by revenge. Upon learning the circumstances of his father’s death, Hamlet’s attitude shifts. Once a saddened mourner, Hamlet becomes a man on a mission for revenge. When the ghost of Hamlet’s father brings the news to the awestruck Hamlet, Hamlet is appalled by the “Foul and most unnatural murder” (1.5, 31). Hamlet immediately promises the ghost the retribution he desires, claiming that he will seek swift vengeance against his father’s murder to prove his love for him: “Haste me to know’t that I, with wings as swift as meditation or the thoughts of love, may sweep to my revenge” (1.5, 35-37). Ironically, Hamlet promises the ghost a swift revenge, though his revenge is anything but quick. The theme of delayed activity reoccurs throughout the plot of the story, because, consistently, the protagonist’s time-table for accomplishing the task is slowed due to his pondering of moral issues. Hamlet’s Mousetrap scene is a perfect