Theorists Of Hamlet

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The Internal and External Theorists of Hamlet The reasons for Hamlet's delay have been a topic of debate for centuries. Hamlet, saddened by the loss of his father, plagued by the directions of his father’s ghost, and angered by his mother’s relationship with Claudius, hesitates to act on impulse and contemplates his actions in depth before reacting to his surroundings. After learning about his father's murder, Hamlet's first thoughts are of a violent revenge upon Claudius; however, his actions are far from immediate violence. Two traditional schools of thought have presented theories regarding Hamlet’s delay. The internal theory is represented by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, August Wilhelm Schlegel, and Hermann Ulrici who attribute Hamlet’s…show more content…
Schlegel’s belief is that Hamlet cannot prevent his thoughts from slowing his actions. Hamlet’s “habit of meditation paralyzes [his] capacity for action” (Reed 93). Schlegel notes that Hamlet has “no firm belief either in himself or in anything else; from expressions of religious confidence he passes over to skeptical doubts”(92). Hamlet overanalyzes each situation he is in and doubts whether he is being logical in his actions. “The spirit that I have seen may be a devil, and the devil hath power t’assume a pleasing shape”(2.2.627-29). After listening to the ghost’s recitation of his own murder and agreeing to avenge his death, Hamlet questions the veracity of the ghost. He has an internal debate on the topic of the ghost’s motives and his role in avenging his father’s death against the possible consequences of falling to the temptations of an evil being posing as his father. Again, Hamlet’s actions are paralyzed when King Claudius is kneeling by his bed. Hamlet’s instinct, drawing his sword, is to kill Claudius while he is unaware of his surroundings. His meditations delay his action as he thinks “and so he goes to heaven…a villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven”(3.3.79-83). By closely analyzing his every thought, Hamlet is unable to act swiftly and
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