One of the most important things to keep in mind when looking at the different critical takes on Hamlet's inability to act—his indecision—is that critics, like audiences, are seeing the play and the character through the prism of their own time. This is Shakespeare's greatest gift to us—works that continue to remain fresh as the centuries pass and that offer new insights and new interpretations to each generation.
For example, Samuel Johnson, writing in the eighteenth century, said this about Hamlet:
Hamlet is, through the whole play, rather an instrument than an agent. After he has, by the stratagem of the play, convicted the King, he makes no attempt to punish him, and his death is at last effected by an incident which Hamlet has no part in producing.
In other words, this is a seriously non-robust Hamlet, looked at almost contemptuously by the action-minded Johnson in light of his revolution-filled century.
However, a modern blogger, Carl Wheatley, writes this:
Hamlet's needs are deep and complex, his motives more unconscious than they appear. This lends a new theme to the play for a modern interpretation, which sees Hamlet as a man struggling with his own mind, rather than as a vengeful loyal son.
The idea that there is no right answer to the question of why Hamlet acts or does not act within the play means that each production asks and answers the question for itself, as does each individual viewing it.
Throughout the play, Hamlet's tragic flaw is his hesitation and inability to carry out revenge for his father's murder. There are several explanations regarding why Hamlet refuses to act. The first explanation concerns Hamlet's inability to differentiate whether his father's ghost is genuine or a demonic spirit sent to mislead him into making a terrible decision. While Hamlet wants to believe his father's ghost, he decides to have performers reenact King Hamlet's assassination during a play entitled The Murder of Gonzago, during which he carefully watches Claudius's reactions. Hamlet is also a religious man, who fears that taking revenge will doom his soul for eternity. After witnessing his father's ghost and hearing his comments about the horrors of purgatory, Hamlet has reservations about murdering King Claudius and ruining his afterlife.
Following Claudius's reaction to "the mousetrap" scene, Hamlet is certain that Claudius assassinated his father and vows to take revenge. However, in act 3, scene 3 Hamlet has the perfect opportunity to murder Claudius while he is praying but refuses to take action. Hamlet justifies his inaction by saying,
Now might I do it pat. Now he is a-praying. And now I’ll do ’t. And so he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged.—That would be scanned. A villain kills my father, and, for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send To heaven. Oh, this is hire and salary, not revenge" (Shakespeare, 3.3.74-80).
Hamlet believes that if he murders Claudius while praying for forgiveness, Claudius will go to heaven, which will not satisfy Hamlet's revenge. There are also other explanations to explain Hamlet's inability to act, which include the practical argument that Claudius's supporters may attempt to harm Hamlet if he assassinates the king. In addition to putting himself in a dangerous position, Hamlet may not want the responsibilities of being the king of Denmark.
When evaluating different explanations to justify Hamlet's indecisiveness, it is best to analyze the text and examine Hamlet's thoughts and concerns regarding murdering his uncle. In terms of evaluation criteria, one must be able to make a connection between Hamlet's actions and his inner thoughts. Also, pay close attention to how Hamlet attempts to justify his actions, like when he refuses to murder Claudius while praying.
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