Hamlet Group

Question:

tjstuart21
tjstuart21
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What are some examples of when Hamlet can be seen as one who is indecisive and fails to act appropriately?

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Posted by tjstuart21 on Wednesday September 30, 2009 at 10:36 AM and tagged with hamlet, indecision.

Answers:


  1. jagtig

    The main place where he is indecisive is when he overhears his uncle confessing his crime in his prayers. Then he says that he shouldn't slay him at that time because he'll go to heaven if he does. That is the result of an old belief that no matter how bad you were, if you were killed while praying, you would automatically go to heaven.


    or III,iii,36

    click on link to go to the beginning of the two soliloquies

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    Posted by jagtig on Wednesday September 30, 2009 at 11:32 AM


  2. jseligmann Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Actually, I don't think Hamlet ever fails to act appropriately. That's his problem, really. Even in the example supplied here by jagtig, Hamlet does not then and there kill Claudius because he wants to kill him perfectly, in the fullness of his guilt. There is no way for Hamlet to have known that Claudius couldn't pray.

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    Posted by jseligmann on Friday October 2, 2009 at 6:41 PM