Text Response: Hamlet
?Hamlets greatest weakness is his procrastination.? Do you agree?
A man?s true weakness is displayed only under certain circumstances, wherein their very values and morals are challenged. William Shakespeare?s revenge tragedy Hamlet encompasses the struggle of young Hamlet who feels the call to be a gentleman, but at the same time live up to his obligation as a son to avenge his father?s ?most unnatural murder?. Due to this dilemma, Hamlet, being a young man with a scholarly outlook seeks for a perfect solution in what would appear an imperfect world, with Denmark as an ?unweeded garden?. In order to appear as a saviour and not a murderer, Hamlet procrastinates and delays his revenge in order to somehow obtain the two outcomes simultaneously. However, by ?thinking too much on the event? he is unable to succeed, and by then it is too late to ?set it right? once again; for everyone loses their lives.
From the time the ghost warns him of the ?serpent that stung thy father?s life?, Hamlet is consumed with his fathers ?commandment? to avenge his father, by placing his words ?in the deepest volume of my brain.? Hamlet, however, does not directly confront Claudius, unsure of what everyone else would think of him. He thus ?per chance?s to think meet an antic disposition? in order to discreetly plan his course of action. His choice of staging the ?Mousetrap? play is aimed to ?catch the conscience of the king? and force him to ?proclaim his malefactions.? Hamlet succeeds, as he overhears Claudius confess his offence ?as rank?smelling to heaven? and thereby has complete proof to assemble the murderous course of action. Yet he refrains from doing so, ?scanning? his revenge to be insufficient, as he would be killing a man in his state of grace, where he is ?fit and seasoned for passage.? In this process however, Hamlet questions himself as to why he is only able to ?unpack his heart?with words? and his reason for being a ?coward? which emphasizes his struggle to decide how he should have proceeded.
Hamlet?s incapability to act quickly and to be definite is furthermore exposed through Laertes, who through his own actions contrasts Hamlet?s. With his father too unfairly murdered, Laertes is placed in a similar position to Hamlet, yet acts completely different. He is immediately angered, confronting Claudius in his rage as to the whereabouts of his fathers? body. He is only focused on obtaining revenge, ?giving both worlds to negligence? to be ?thoroughly revenged?. Laertes abandons any morals and other values and acts on the thought of revenge alone, willing to ?prove him self indeed his father?s son? by ?cutting [Hamlet?s] throat it?th church?. To Laertes, it did not matter what the consequences were as he did not stop to think about them, where as Hamlet has done the opposite, considering every possible outcome of his actions. While Laertes is finally able to avenge his father by striking Hamlet with the ?envenomed rapier?, Hamlet was forced to give up his ?ambition? with his ?hopes?for the election? destroyed.
The difference between the soldier and the student is made all the more apparent through Fortinbras, the valiant soldier from Norway. Having surrendered to Denmark, Fortinbras had been restricted to his activites, yet attempts to continue his conquest for the sake of honour. Having learned of this, Hamlet realizes that the procrastination to which he had succumbed made him a ?beast no more? and ?Rightly to be great?is to find quarrel in a straw when honour?s at the stake?, This was Hamlet?s greatest weakness, and having rectified it at this point, he makes his ?thoughts bloody or nothing worth.? In order to commit a deed requiring no morals, he had to abandon them first, which was the reason behind his previous failure. He returns to Denmark with a murderous intent, allowing him to succeed.
Hamlet?s ultimate weakness was that he was handling two incompatible aims, which could not be achieved with one action, no matter how thorough it was in planning. The constant delaying of a direct confrontation clearly demonstrates Hamlet?s doubt and insecurity in committing such an outrageous act, for it was not befitting of a prince to resort to a regicide. Ultimately, Hamlet loses his life and his ambitions, as well as the people cared for him, substantiating the tragic nature of this play.
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let me know what y'all think..
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