WHY DOES HAMLET DELAY? TO TAKE REVENGE FROM HIS

REVENGE.

Helmet By

Shakespeare

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NASEEM

PRESENTER

Muhammad Naseem

Ishaq Noori

Muhammad Ilyas

CONFLICT “revenge his foul and most unnatural murder”  “sleeping in my orchard, A serpent

stung me”  “The serpent that did sting thy father’s

life Now wears his crown.”Said by the ghost

NUISANCE The reason for Hamlet's delay has

haunted critics for four centuries. Different authors have presented differing reasons for the delay.

HEAVE MORE QUERIES It raises another question concerning

this puzzling aspect of the play: Why does Shakespeare give so much importance to the delay without clearly presenting the reason for it?

WE MUST KEEP TWO THINGS IN MIND. First, Shakespeare makes it clear that

Hamlet is acutely aware of a delay. Second, Shakespeare also makes it clear

that Hamlet himself is not sure why he delays.

QUOTES OF FAMOUS CRITICS T. S. Eliot “artistic failure” Herman Ulrici “that there was a question

of immorality in seeking revenge.” One of the critics said “artistic miracle ”

PRESENTER

Muhammad Ilyas

REASONS He is melancholic, or depressed, which

leads to inaction. He is actually "mad" or insane, not just

acting mad or insane. He is fastidious, thorough, and won't act

until he is absolutely sure of the details (thus, when he finally does act, it is always spontaneous, on the spur of the moment, as they say).

REASONS CONTINUE It is difficult for Hamlet to take revenge

on Claudius without his mother being hurt.

He is a master procrastinator. He doesn't want to send Claudius to

heaven by killing him at prayer. He feels the need for the story of what

really happened to be made public, and he won't kill Claudius until the truth is known.

REASONS CONTINUE He is unsure of the identity of the Ghost. He is afraid. He is too moral to kill. He is more of a scholar than an

avenger.  Thought is his form of action.

PRESENTER

Muhammad naseem

MAIN REASONS OF DELAY 1 “The time is out of joint. O cursed spite,

That ever I was born to set it right!”. That is, Hamlet believes that Claudius’

murder could only be justified, in his own eyes as well as in the eyes of the people of Denmark, if the timing is right. (play in the play)

MAIN REASONS OF DELAY 2 He is then ready for action, but he

doesn't want to send Claudius to heaven. He doesn't want to send Claudius to

heaven by killing him at prayer….

MAIN REASONS OF DELAY 3 Hamlet is certainly depressed over his

father's death, his mother's hasty and incestuous marriage, and his loss of the thrown (to Claudius).

MAIN REASONS OF DELAY 4 It is difficult for Hamlet to take revenge

on Claudius without his mother being hurt.

THEREFORE, HAMLET SET OUT A MISSION “A MOUSETRAP ” FOR THE TRUTH. 

THEREFORE, HAMLET SET OUT ON A MISSION “A MOUSETRAP ” FOR THE TRUTH, IN ORDER TO PROVE CLAUDIUS’ GUILT FOR TWO REASONS The first being that Hamlet could only

kill Claudius if he absolutely believed in his guilt, and thus his conscience would allow him to freely carry out his revenge.

The second being that Claudius’ sins needed to be exposed to Denmark so his murder by Hamlet’s hands would be seen as justice, not a crime.

The End