In Shakespeare's captivating Tragedy of Hamlet, the protagonist Hamlet, struggles to complete his father's request to "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder."(I.V.31) Hamlet's decision to proceed with his quest changes, given the predicament Hamlet seems to find himself in constantly. As he plans to revenge his father, Hamlet fails to act on instinct; it is his contemplative attitude that obstructs him from achieving his desired goal for his father. Hamlet is nothing but a character; a character composed of a consciousness with a quick sensibility, indecisiveness and thoughtfulness. As a primitive rule, Hamlet is devoted to rely on deep thought and contemplation, but his procrastination is the very reason of his failure to act on instinct.
"unpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing—no, not for a king
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward?" (II.II.595-598)
This quote from Hamlet demonstrates Hamlet's self criticism and lack of initiative. "Am I a coward?"(II.II.598) This is his own self resopnse to his inability to avenge his fathers death. Hamlets natural instincts fail to motivate him to accomplish his task; his mental state fiddles with him. This causes Hamlet to criticize himself for his conflicted behavior. It is on the groundwork of his profound thinking and destined behavior that reveals he is a man of thought; not a man of action. Hamlet needed proof that it was his uncle who murdered his father: "The serpent that did sting thy father’s life Now wears his crown."(I.V.46-47) "One scene of it comes near the circumstance Which I have told thee of my father’s death."(III.II.81-82) If Hamlet and Horatio see the king express any emotion throughout the death of gonzago, calling it the "Mousetrap"; then Hamlet will believe what the Ghost said. It is only when Hamlet had the opportunity to kill Claudius that we see how Hamlet's true nature stops him. In act three scene four Hamlet stumbles upon Claudius praying and realizes this is his chance to revenge his father. But makes the excuse "Now he is a-praying, And now I'll do 't, And so he goes to heaven."(III.IV.77-79) His constant mental bickering