Gertrude's Reaction Causes Hamlet example essay topic

Hamlet Hamlet is a classic example of a tragedy as Hamlet suffers while trying to avenge his fathers death and eventually dies at the end while attempting to do so. Hamlet feels empty without resolution to his father's death and since there is no justice system that is going to reveal the truth about his father's death, he must take it into his own hands. Hamlet delays killing Claudius for a long time after the ghost appears. Hamlet delays his revenge of his fathers death not because he is a coward but because his psychological feelings and need for a perfect revenge cause him to delay in order to wait for the perfect moment to kill Claudius. When the ghost first appears to Hamlet he tells him that it was his brother who slipped poison in his ear while he was sleeping in the orchard and clearly asks him to get revenge for his untimely murder. The ghost speaks to Hamlet about his father and says, 'Revenge his foul and most unnatural murderer'; (1.5.

31). Although Hamlet has little doubt that the ghost is not his father's, he must still prove to himself that Claudius is in fact the murderer before he attempts to kill him. Hamlet decides to have the players act out what the ghost has told him and see Claudius' reaction. When the play 'The Mouse Trap'; is performed, Claudius is shocked by the play and storms out, which is the reaction of guilt that Hamlet had hoped for. The play is named 'The Mouse Trap'; because it is designed to catch Claudius so that he reveals his distress of the play and shows that he was the murderer.

Hamlet is now certain that Claudius is the murderer of his father and he can now carry out his revenge by murdering him. Hamlets first opportunity to kill Claudius that he actually considers is when Claudius is confessing to god. Hamlet decides not to kill him at this point because he does not want to kill him while he is praying because he will go to heaven. This is the farthest that Hamlet has come to killing Claudius so far as his sword was drawn and ready to be used until he thinks logically and realizes that Claudius will be free from sin at the time of his death. This was a luxury that his father did not even have so why should he allow Claudius to have it. Hamlet is now becoming especially impatient with the fact that he has not killed Claudius yet and he is ready to strike at the first opportunity.

Hamlet enters his mother's room in the next scene and he begins to fight with her when he suddenly hears a voice behind the arras. Without looking he thrusts his sword through it thinking it is the king. Gertrude's reaction causes Hamlet to pause and ask, 'Is it the King?' ; (3.4. 32).

His doubt is quickly assured when he looks behind the arras to reveal Polonius' body. This scene is very important because it shows that Hamlet is certainly not afraid to kill Claudius and he is not a coward. He thinks he has the perfect opportunity to kill the King in front of his mother so he does so without hesitation. This action displays a great deal of courage by Hamlet.

Even after he discovers it is Polonius he does not show a great deal of remorse and he even calls him a fool. This event causes more problems in delaying Hamlet because he now has to deal with the fact that Laertes now wants him dead. Also, after Hamlet commits the murder he goes away for a few weeks and is unable to be in contact with the King which delays his revenge even further. Hamlet begins to wonder why he has not completed his task of killing Claudius yet. He expresses his confusion when he says, 'Of thinking to precisely on th' event/ (A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom / and ever three parts coward), I do not know / why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do,' ; / Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means / to do 't'; (4.4. 43-49).

Hamlet knows that he is able to carry out the death of Claudius and it is only a matter of choosing the right time. As time goes on and Hamlet still has not had the perfect situation to kill Claudius, he becomes impatient and begins to appear mad to Claudius and Gertrude. This display of madness is only an act by Hamlet because it is clearly not true. Hamlet proves this when he tells his mother that he is not crazy and he asks her to keep it a secret. Hamlet has also shown that he always thinks things through like not killing Claudius when he is praying, and logically believing the it was Claudius behind the arras before he thrust his sword through it. If he was mad he would not have the ability to think things through and he would just act on impulse.

When Hamlet is emotionally charged, he acts with less thought, but when he has time to think, he does not act. Hamlet is finally given the ultimate opportunity to kill Claudius when Laertes challenges him to a fencing match. Claudius devises a plan to poison Hamlet but it backfires as Gertrude drinks the cup and both Hamlet and Laertes are cut with the poisoned rapier. When Hamlet learns from Laertes that they are both near death he is put in a must do situation and he reacts without hesitation. He orders the doors locked and for the first time he puts Claudius in a defenseless position and he attacks him with the poison. Claudius dies shortly after and Hamlet has completed his mission to seek revenge for his father's soul.

Hamlet could have easily killed Claudius at any moment if he did not care how it was done. However, Hamlet was looking for the perfect revenge and therefore he passed up many opportunities to kill Claudius. He could have easily followed Claudius out after the play and killed him, he could have easily attacked him while he was praying, or even at any point when he could get Claudius alone, but this would not have been the dramatic revenge that Hamlet was looking for. Hamlet delays his revenge of his fathers death not because he is a coward but because his psychological feelings and need for a perfect revenge cause him to delay in order to wait for the perfect moment to murder Claudius.