The play put on by the traveling entertainers and jesters with the help of Hamlet was a great success except for the unexpected reactions by the king. The play, chosen and named by Hamlet, The Mousetrap, was about a man who murdered his king by pouring poison in his ear and stealing the crown for himself. The King seemed shocked and very out of sorts. He quickly called the play off and fled to his chambers and was overheard saying some shocking things to himself, people must learn that the walls have ears. Our source has told us that he heard King Clauduis admit to himself to murdering the previous King! Saying "Oh, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven. /It hath the primal eldest curse upon ’t, / A brother’s murder." (III.iii.37-39). Grave news indeed. Our informant was also witness to Hamlet watching the king, with a look of pure hatred and vengence in his eyes! He even drew his sword. The spy thought Hamlet was going to kill the King right then and there but instead overheard him saying "To take him in the purging of his soul/ When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? /No.
/Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent. /When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, /Or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed, /At game a-swearing, or about some act /That has no relish of salvation in ’t— /Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, /And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell, whereto it goes" (III.iii.86-96).
If I was Hamlet I would have killed him. It only seems like he is procrastinating, and putting it off. He was just making excuses to do it later. Procrastination is a pretty glaring flaw, somewhat tragic actually.
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