Careful When Killing The King
The Shakespearian play “Hamlet” demonstrates a great deal of delay as seen through the main character Hamlet. Hamlet set out to gain revenge for his father’s murder, although Hamlet wanted to complete the task he never reached his end objective. Hamlet cannot act until he has the perfect plan for the perfect time; he has to be very careful to avoid investigations leading back to him. Killing the King has to be the perfect murder. Hamlet’s delay falls under the perfectionist theory, which suggests that before Hamlet could act on the revenge for his father, he first had to verify the ghost’s sincerity, from there Hamlet had to prove that his uncle was truly guilty of the murder, also Hamlet demonstrates delay through his constant over thinking. Hamlet put much thought into every move he made, with hope to enact the revenge he felt obligated to preform, his over analysis of every possibility caused a great deal of delay throughout the play.
When Hamlet meets the ghost of his father, he does not act on the mission right away. Although Hamlet wants to get revenge for his father’s tragic death, he must first prove whether the ghost told the truth or not. Hamlet says “The Spirit that I have seen Maybe the devil: and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape” II.ii lines 596-599. Hamlet is saying maybe the ghost isn’t real or maybe he isn’t my father. To prove the Ghost’s sincerity he must prove Claudius’ is guilt.
Hamlet devises a plan to put on a play with in a play. In front of the king Hamlet is going to show a play of something similar to his father’s murder. Hamlet explains the play to the King
The Mouse-Trap. Marry How? Tropically. This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago is the duke’s name; his wife, Baptista: you shall see anon: `tis a knavish piece of work: but what o` that? your majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us not: let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung. III.ii lines: 233-239
If the King shows any sign of a guilty conscience while watching the play, Hamlet will be able to rightfully kill Claudius. In the end, Hamlet’s plan worked and he was sure of Claudius’ is guilt. From here Hamlet, now has the motive to kill his uncle and gain revenge for