English 12
Period 4
June 5, 2014 Hamlet’s thinking problem
In William Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, a mission is given to the young prince: to seek vengeance against his uncle, Claudius, his father’s murderer. Hamlet has a lot of chances to kill the now King of Denmark, Claudius but he misses this opportunity numerous times. Hamlet delays because he’s consumed by this own thoughts about vengeance. Hamlet is obsessed over his mother’s new marriage which makes him loose his concentration. After old King Hamlet’s death, he’s the only one who’s still grieving. Therefore, early on in the play, Hamlet, realizing that Claudius is trying to find out why Hamlet is acting strange, decides to "put an antic disposition” on. Hamlet’s delay to enact his mission is because he overthinks a situation a lot which makes him lose all his concentration.
Gertrude decision to marry Claudius right after Old King Hamlet’s death is shocking news to Hamlet and this is shown throughout the play. Though Young Prince is still focusing on his mission but his mother’s marrying decision is a big deal in Hamlet’s mind which makes him lose his concentration. During Act 1, Scene 2, Hamlet is shown depressed and wants to die, a lot is going on in his mind and thinking about his mother’s remarriage and says “She married, O, most wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets! It is not, nor it cannot come to good. But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue.” (Act I, Scene 2; L.L. 161-164). In this soliloquy Hamlet is thinking too much about his mother’s marriage which makes him lose focus from his actual mission. According to an online discussion site about Hamlet’s problem, a high school teacher, eNotes Staff Review Editor argues that Hamlet’s thinking causes all the problems in his life. She writes, “Hamlet "thinking too much" certainly supports my theory of Hamlet's tragic flaw being inaction! There are many examples of times when Hamlet over-thinks a situation.” (Charleston). She believes that Hamlet’s tragic flaw is inaction caused by his own thoughts and she then gives some examples proving hamlet thinks too much and that’s why he delays too much. Therefore, Hamlet overthink several situations too much as mu
Hamlet’s famous “to be