Hamlet, although not a man of many actions, is a man of many words. Although, like many others, Hamlet is caught up in the moment; say or commit without fully understanding the consequences or what will result. When he is with his father's ghost, Hamlet promises: "Haste me to know that I have such swift wings." As meditation of the thought of love/Can sweep towards my vengeance. » (1.5.35-37) Hamlet did not keep his word to his father, his actions were not quick nor an act of revenge. Hamlet strikes not in an act of revenge, but in an act of anger and self-preservation after the murder of his mother. He hesitates at an opportune moment, while the king was praying, because in engaging in the act of revenge, Hamlet did not fully understand what was being asked of him. That he should not only take another man's life, but also commit treason by slaughtering the king. Hamlet has written a short scene depicting how the late King Hamlet was murdered and asks visiting players to act out this scene in the King's presence. When the King abruptly leaves before the curtain closes; Hamlet thinks this is a sign of guilt. Ready to slaughter the king after this revelation, Hamlet sneaks in behind Claudius while the man is alone, his jury drawn. But before he knocks, Hamlet notices that Claudius is praying. Hamlet quickly justifies that if Claudius were slain while on his knees repenting, his soul would rise to heaven: “And so he goes to heaven” (3.3.79). Delaying his vengeance until Claudius was, "When he is drunk, or asleep, or angry./Or in the pleasure of his bed,/At the play of an oath, or about an act/That has ..... . middle of paper ...... ge and self-defense Hamlet's tragedy is complex, leading the audience to more questions than resolutions As several elements lead Hamlet to strike the king at. death, the purpose for which Hamlet strikes is the murder of the queen The blood of the queen staining the already blood-stained hands of King Claudius and the sudden feeling of self-preservation were the elements that led Hamlet to become impulsive in his. actions. Rage and self-preservation being Hamlet's incentive to slaughter the king, it stands to reason that Hamlet broke his oath of vengeance for his father's death, in the end, leaves his words. escape him when he promises himself to the ghost of his father, which leads to the failure of his promises Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Barbara A Mowat and Paul Werstine. 1. New York: Simon & Shuster, 2003.