Hamlet's worst enemy

Essay by car__05High School, 12th gradeA-, May 2007

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Procrastination is the avoidance of a task until it is too late. It is a characteristic that many people have, or had, at some point in life, and almost all the time it has a negative effect. The result of procrastination could be failing an assignment because you kept putting it off until the last minute, and in the end not having enough time to complete it. The play Hamlet, written by William Shakespeare, perfectly captures the act of procrastination and the negative effect it can have on the procrastinator. In the play young Hamlet is told by the ghost of his father to avenge his father's death by killing his uncle Claudius, as Claudius was the one who murdered his father in the first place. However, for some reason Hamlet waits too long before killing Claudius, and as a result kills numerous people along the way. It is commonly believed that Hamlet was not able to kill Claudius because of his compassion and sensitivity towards the matter.

Hamlet lacks the two most basic things that would allow him to carry out the act of murdering his uncle; strength and courage. However, some critics say that Hamlet's inability to murder his uncle was a direct result of his over analyzation of the matter. The truth is, Hamlet is just too sensitive towards other people. Ultimately, Hamlet delays revenge on his uncle because he is far too sensitive to commit such a crime. Hamlet's sensitivity is shown throughout the play through his shattered idealism and views on life and the afterlife, his strong intellect, and most significantly, through his lack of courage. Hamlet may be guilty of having several flaws, but sensitivity is certainly his most tragic and is the reason why it takes him so long to kill...