Indecision, Hesitation and Delay in Shakespeares Hamlet - Procrastination :: GCSE Coursework Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlets  Procrastination In William Shakespeares Hamlet, Hamlets tragic flaw is his procrastination. From the premier(prenominal) time Hamlet was acted until now, critics have fought over the mind for Hamlets procrastination. Some say that the cause is due to Sigmund Freuds theory that Hamlet has an Oedipal Complex, which is his love for his mother. Others argue that he just never finds the amend time to carry out the revenge of his fathers murder. The Oedipal Complex theory in regard to Hamlets situation seems more potential because of the amount of times Hamlet has to kill Claudius but always fins a reason not to kill him. If it is not the case, then the cause of the procrastination remain a mystery. There is no reason for Hamlet not to kill Claudius, whom he hates, and was ordered by a higher power to destroy, other than the fact that subconsciously, Hamlet needed Claudius to keep him away from his mother. Hamlet procrastinated precisely because of his fear of intimacy with his mother, knowing that Claudius was the only person separating he and Gertrude. Although Hamlet has a sacred duty to avenge his fathers murder, his desire for his mother is too strong for him to leave an open pathway to her. He tries to find excuses to postpone his cleaning Claudius. First, he tries to discover whether or not Claudius really did kill King Hamlet, which gives him some time. After he has convinced himself that Claudius is to blame, he attempts to murder him just twice. The first time, he finds Claudius praying, and uses that as a scapegoat so he can again put off his pious duty. Later when he is alone with Gertrude, he thinks that Claudius is behind the curtains, and kills the man there. Unfortunately, Polonius becomes the victim of Hamlets dagger. The only time when Hamlet does not hesitate to carry out his pious duty is when he is in the bedroom with Gertrude. Unfortunately by mere coincidence, Polonius is the man behind the bedroom curtain, not Claudius. Hamlet stabs Polonius instinctively because he is where he truly desires to be, with his mother. This is the only time when Hamlet actually has the courage to try to kill Claudius, thus opening the path to Gertrude. All of the other times in the play, Hamlet is every alone or with people who he needs to hide his desire from.