I.The mission of Hamlet

After his father’s death, Hamlet has seen the reality of the society. People flattered on the new King; good friend betrayed him; his lover was manipulated by her father...all these things disappointed him. The humanist ideals and the reality had a huge conflict. The ideals suggest that people should live in harmony, but it seems that the ideal is the ideal after all, it couldn’t happen.

Thus, Hamlet began to think about this classic and well-known question: live or die. Though depressed and upset, Hamlet still felt a sense of responsibility to stick to the ideal of humanism. He felt the urge to fight against the society, to break the old rules and end the chaos. In the end, Hamlet killed the King and got his revenge, but he died. It represents that it will take much to break from the old frame and there is risk of fighting for the right thing. However, it will all be worth it.

II. The delayed reaction of Hamlet

In fact, Hamlet knew that his father was killed by his uncle at the beginning of the play, but it took him so long to make the decision and finally take the revenge. This is hard to explain. Shakespeare once said that there are a thousand Hamlets in a thousand people’s eyes. The various explanation of this action represents different characteristic of Hamlet.

Goethe holds the idea that Hamlet’s hesitation suggests a great undertake is assigned to someone that is not capable. With the heavy blows, the loss of father, the betrayal of friend, the loss of lover, remarriage of his mother, he is not strong enough to handle all these things. Hence, he was bewildered which causes the delay in revenge.

Belinski holds that Hamlet has belief in humanism. But the tragedies happen one after another. It is too short a time for Hamlet to realize and accept the vast contrast between the ideal and reality of humanism. He needs time to balance the thoughts in mind. And that’s the reason for his delayed revenge.

III. The characteristic of Hamlet

The most prominent performance of Hamlet's characteristic is undoubtedly indecision. Faced with his father being poisoned, his mother being taken possession, the kingship stolen, Hamlet had a strong desire to revenge. However, he had this incomprehensible doubt when it comes to killing the enemy for revenge. He doubted that he was too small to confront the vicious power alone. Struggling constantly with the desire of revenge and the doubt of himself, he missed several excellent opportunities to kill the enemy. Hamlet’s revenge becomes an ideological struggle.

Character determines fate. Hamlet's tragic character leads to his tragic fate. But for his indecision, the story could have turn out to have a relatively happy ending.