f the ghost. Another way Hamlet covers up his fear is by blaming the wait to kill Claudius on his lack of perfect opportunity. Once Hamlet believes that Claudius is truly the murderer he says, "And now I'll do't./ And so he goes to heaven,/ and so I am revenged./ That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that./ I, his sole sun, do this same villain send,/ to heaven." (Act 3, Sc. 3, ln 78-83)(167) Hamlet can kill Claudius as soon as he chooses, but decides to wait to kill him and blames this on ensuring that Claudius's murder is valid and that he will not be elevated as a martyr or a victim. This is not necessary, Claudius' death must come and waiting is cowardly. Hamlet was ready to kill Claudius at one time, but Claudius was busy praying, and Hamlet says, "when he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,/ Or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed,/ At game a-swearing, or about some act. That has no relish of salvation in't-/ Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven'/ And that his soul may be as damned and black/ As hell, whereto it goes." (Act 3, Sc. 3, ln. 94-100)(169) Hamlet is given a perfect opportunity to revenge his father's death while Claudius is praying, but Hamlet decides against it. Yet another display of his cowardliness. Hamlet has the opportunity throughout the play, and perfect timing is not important, for if Hamlet does not kill Claudius then he has not done his job. Hamlet is a coward and again tries to play down his cowardliness by blaming circumstances such as imperfect timing among other things. With all this in mind, the biggest reason Hamlet does not immediately follow through with his plot for revenge after Claudius' guilt has been assured is that Hamlet believes himself weak and incapable of completing his task. The most famed line in the play is at a point when Hamlet is at the lowest point. "To be or not to be-that is the question:/ Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer/ the...
