is thedecisive character, and the man of action. He takes the first action, the action that sets thestory in motion - the poisoning of Hamlet's father. He also instigates the final action, the poisoning of the blades and the cup; an action that will backfire and cause his own death. In the play, there seems to be a constant shift of action, where only one party can act atany time. These two parties are of course Hamlet and Claudius. When Claudius has takenthe action that secures him the throne, he allows Hamlet to become the man of action. But Hamlet procrastinates. The only action Hamlet takes is staging the play, which seemsmore to serve the purpose to establish that Claudius is indeed guilty of his father's murder. He does this for himself and for Horatio. Then he proceeds to kill the eavesdroppingPolonius. Hamlet is given the chance to avenge ''this foul and most unnatural murder'' when hesees Claudius praying. Hamlet, being a Christian prince, cannot bring himself to killClaudius while he is praying, as this would secure his place in heaven. Hamlet wants tomake sure Claudius will suffer in the afterlife, just as his father did. Hamlet leaves justbefore Claudius gets up, declaring he cannot pray; "My words fly up, my thoughts remainbelow: Words without thoughts never to heaven go" (Claudius, Act III, Scene 3). HadHamlet known Claudius was unable to pray, then he could have had his revenge right thenand there, instead of waiting until the end, and taking everyone else with him. Most of the other characters would probably have acted much quicker than Hamlet ifthey were in his position. Imagine Polonius in the situation Hamlet found himself in. Hewould not procrastinate as much. It would have most likely been off with the head of themurderer! Any other character in the play would not have stayed as quiet as Hamlet does(confiding only in his best friend, and even keeping the truth from his mother until the...
