Hamlet, procrastination

AP English paper The big question is: Why does Hamlet take so long to get his revenge? Is he delayed by traits in his character or by external obstacles that prevent him from acting sooner? Explain which cause or causes are most important. In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the protagonist’s ploy to murder his enemy is delayed—conjointly—by traits in his character and by external obstacles. Both factors are intertwined and operate thusly—such …showed first 75 words of 966 total…

…showed last 75 words of 966 total…with the fearsome ghost, he is immediately affrighted. Soon after, when he is able to gain a little composure, he becomes suspicious of the spirit and moves to tactfully gather information before impulsively accusing Claudius. After this, Hamlet once again delays the murder because he chooses to wait for a justified revenge, rather than accomplish the deed swiftly, but to his dissatisfaction. Therefore, both external obstacles and inborn qualities conjointly prevent Hamlet from “acting sooner.”