Hamlet seems like he can never get anything done. He gave a whole speech about how he was tired of living with his problems and how he can easily commit suicide. He continued by even saying he didn't understand why it was so hard for others to do it. After all of the talking he did, he never went through with his plan to kill himself. Now he wants avenge his father's death so he swore to the ghost that he would kill Claudius. He had a crystal clear opportunity to kill Claudius right there. He was defenseless and there was no one there to witness it but he cowardly refrained from doing it. He came up with a lame excuse that Claudius was praying and he wants him to suffer in hell not in heaven.
I am fully aware that from a religious aspect as a Roman Catholic killing someone is a mortal sin but if he was really concerned about that then he wouldn't have killed Polonius. Even if it was an accident and he didn't know who it was, he went with intent to kill. It would still count as a sin and unless he confesses them he would go to hell too. If he were to kill Claudius he can confess his sins and go to heaven anyway. So Hamlet being afraid of killing Claudius because of religious reasons is invalid to me. I am also pretty sure Hamlet doesn't care about ethics or morals anymore.
It could be in his heart he doesn't want to do it. He might feel like he has an obligation to do it for his father's vengeance. If this is the case then he is right for waiting it out and thinking about it carefully. His reputation is at stake. People are beginning to suspect that he is insane. I thought he was insane since he saw the ghost the first time but anyway he should not rush something he knows truly that he doesn't want to do. There could also be a small chance that Claudius is innocent. If he is, then Hamlet hesitating can be a good thing as it is saving an innocent person. If he were to kill the king and he was innocent then Hamlet might have ended up dead or forced by the people to leave his own country.
Overall, I feel that this is going to haunt Hamlet for the rest of the story and it will affect the outcome heavily.
Hamlet does seem like he could hardly achieve what he really wants. The only time so far in the play I've seen him really accomplish was making Claudius's guilt aware after the show he put on. My biggest confusion is why when Hamlet was with Gertrude in her private room he instantly killed Polonius through the curtains believing it was Claudius. He did not really think about whether it was right to kill a man at that point he just did what he should of done when facing the chance to kill a praying Claudius. The decision made by Hamlet will lead to more obstacles in the way of Hamlet avenging his father.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Sean! It always struck me as so rash. And ironic. The guy who overthinks everything makes one quick decision and it ends in murder.
DeleteI agree, Sean! It always struck me as so rash. And ironic. The guy who overthinks everything makes one quick decision and it ends in murder.
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