The Role Of Hamlet's Delay In Killing Claudius

“Perhaps the single most debated question about Hamlet is ‘why does it take him so long to avenge his father’s murder?’” (Evelyn O’Connor 1). In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, the titular character delays murdering Claudius, thus allowing many of the events in the play to transpire. It is Hamlet who initially points out the delay, and it continues to be a major part of the play throughout. The question remains, however, as to why it takes him so long to kill Claudius. Perhaps he is procrastinating, perhaps he has morals and does not wish to stoop so low as to murder someone, perhaps it is a flaw in his character, or perhaps outside obstacles hinder him. Since Hamlet mentions his own delay in killing Claudius, one can infer that the delay is not caused by external factors, but rather by something that has to do with his character. Therefore, it is Hamlet’s personality, his determination for justice, and his religious beliefs and morality that cause him to put off murdering his uncle. Hamlet is an intellectual, not necessarily a man who leaps into action. He wants things to be thorough before he does them, ensuring he makes as little error as …show more content…
While his morals and beliefs can be questioned throughout the play, they are evident in certain scenes and play a big role in Hamlet’s decision-making process. Hamlet certainly has religious beliefs, as he mentions throughout the play. These beliefs come into play when he contemplates taking revenge. First, he questions the credibility of the ghost of King Hamlet. He does this not only because he is an intellectual who is skeptical of the story it tells, but also because he believes it may be an evil spirit trying to tempt him towards the devil. Second, he stops himself from killing Claudius when he is praying because he does not want Claudius to go to heaven while his father is a vengeful