What Is Over-Thinking In Hamlet

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The ability to think and make choices is a unique strength humans are gifted with in order to help them reach their goals and succeed in life. In Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet cannot achieve his goals unless he acts on impulse since his tragic flaw is over-thinking. The main reason Hamlet overanalyzes each of his actions before he can proceed with them is due to his religious morality. Hamlet greatly values his religious beliefs and he lets them affect him by either permitting or preventing him from certain aspects of life. Making decisions is difficult for Hamlet since he does not know if he should do what he needs to for revenge or do what he believes God wants him to do. The people of today’s society are able to be decisive because …show more content…
The relationship Hamlet and Ophelia share drastically changes as they both face the powers of insanity. Initially, Hamlet and Ophelia are both presented as deeply invested in each other. The revelation of Hamlet's love for Ophelia comes from Polonius as he reads one of Hamlet's letters that states, "[Hamlet has] / not art to reckon [his] groans; but [he] love[s] thee / best, O most best, believe it" (2.2.119-121). Since Hamlet privately wrote this love letter to Ophelia, it shows his true feelings for her. This greatly contrasts to when Hamlet is in the midst of his plan for revenge. Despite the fact that Hamlet claims to deeply love Ophelia, he uses her to advance his plot. Although Hamlet uses Ophelia for his own selfish reasons, he becomes outraged when she tries to return the gifts he gave her as he exclaims, "Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a feeder of sinners?" (3.1.121). Hamlet's mistreatment of Ophelia shows his religious belief that Ophelia is sinful and no longer pure due to her premarital relationship. The belief that man comes before woman since God created man first, as well as women being created from man, is reflected through Hamlet’s actions. Hamlet completely disregards his unhappiness about Ophelia ending their relationship when he asks her, "Lady, shall I lie in your lap?" (3.2.109). This treatment of Ophelia from Hamlet is as though he was not previously extremely angry at her and making disrespectful remarks towards her as a woman. Hamlet’s indecisiveness demonstrates his inconsistency in his attitude towards Ophelia. His strong religious views cause him to irrationally act upon the anger he feels, in contrast to his motivation for revenge that causes him to act otherwise. His over thinking of the plan for revenge causes him to be inconsistent in how he approaches situations, such
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