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s Hamlet's "inaction" hesitation or a deep inner struggle? Decipher why he doesn't take revenge immediately
William Shakespeare's Hamlet has become one of the most famous, imitated and analyzed plays since it was first performed in the early 17th century. This work is not only influential in the field of literature, but also provides a profound exploration of human nature in psychology. However, whether the protagonist Hamlet's hesitation is a lack of courage or reflects a deep inner struggle is still widely discussed today.
The performance of "doing nothing" relies on Hamlet's thought process, that is, the moral and emotional struggle he faces after facing the truth of his father's murder.
Hamlet's road to revenge is limited by his complex personality and environment. First, he was deeply disappointed with how quickly his mother remarried, which made him have to resolve this inner confusion before launching his revenge. Hamlet finds it difficult to face the truth mentioned by the ghost because he is unwilling to bear such a heavy moral burden. This is not just an act of revenge, but also a questioning of one's own emotions and family values.
The cause of this revenge mainly comes from his father's ghost asking him to take revenge on Claudius, the enemy who killed his father, but Hamlet is faced with the contradiction between action and thinking. Psychologists often interpret this as a disorder caused by Hamlet's mental state, and even mention that it is caused by his feelings for his mother. Psychologist Sigmund Freud believed that Hamlet's struggles and delayed action demonstrated his Oedipus complex, which made his motivations more complicated.
"Hamlet's struggle is between his emotional heart and the real world."
Shakespeare does not present a simple hero in this play, but a complex character who is deeply troubled by inner conflicts. From the first act, Hamlet’s self-doubt and suspicion are repeatedly displayed. His famous quote "To be or not to be, that is the question" is not just about thinking about life and death, but also about the struggle with self-consciousness. And this struggle is what is preventing him from acting quickly.
Many of Hamlet's soliloquies in the play directly reflect his struggles, allowing the audience to understand his complex psychological state. These monologues are not only an expression of his thoughts, but also a comprehensive reflection on his life situation. At this level, "Hamlet" is not only a revenge drama, but also a journey of thinking about human nature, self and morality.
"Hamlet's struggle is the inevitable result of his personal character and is also constrained by the background of the times."
In addition, Hamlet's delay is closely related to the historical background at that time. Faced with the betrayal of patriarchy and the reshaping of matriarchy, all his actions were forced to be placed within a framework of moral doubt, which made him even more hesitant in his actions. Denmark was in political turmoil at this time, which made Hamlet face more moral and political pressure in his choice of revenge.
In short, Hamlet's inaction is not because he lacks the courage to act, but because of his deep inner struggle. Shakespeare uses this character to remind us that the real struggle is often not with the outside world, but with our own thoughts and emotions. This also makes "Hamlet" a classic work that explores human nature.
Hamlet's story also inspires contemporary people to make choices when facing conflicts between individuals and society, or to take actions after careful consideration. Therefore, this work still makes people think deeply. How should we face the choices and struggles in life?
