In the play Hamlet by William Shakespear, Hamlet delays seeking revenge on Claudius for his fathers murder. Hamlet wants his revenge to be as perfect as possible. In order to do this he must do three things, decide whether or not to believe the ghost, to be sure Claudius will pay for his sins after death and be sure that his father's story is told to make his revenge justified.
The uncertainty Hamlet has in regards to the ghost plays a very large role in his procrastination regarding his revenge. Hamlet is unsure of the ghost. Though the ghost resembles his father, "In the same figure like the king that's dead" (I. i. 41), he is not sure if it is good and is trying to help or is evil and is trying to take his soul, "The spirit that I have seen/ May be the devil and the devil hath power/ To assume a pleasing shape" (II. ii. 610-612). Hamlet has to be sure that the ghost is really telling the truth about Claudius. The only way for Hamlet to be sure of Claudius's guilt is to have the players perform a play which has a death scene similar to that of his fathers death. During the play, Hamlet will observe Claudius, if he reacts then Hamlet knows he is guilty, "The plays the thing/ Wherein I"ll catch the conscience of the king" (II. ii.616-617). When the death scene occurs in the play Claudius becomes very emotional and leaves. This proves to Hamlet that Claudius is guilty and can now carry out his revenge. Hamlet now believes that what the ghost has said is true, "I"ll take the ghost's word for/ A thousand pound" (III iii.291-292). Now that Hamlet knows Claudius is guilty he can go forth with his plan to kill him and avenge his father's murder. .
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The second time Hamlet delays in enacting his revenge, occurs just after the play within a play. Hamlet goes to find Claudius, he finds him kneeling in a prayer like state. This causes Hamlet to question himself, if he kills Claudius while he is praying and confessing, his soul will go to heaven, "Now might I do it pat, now he is praying,/ And now I"ll do't.
