Hamlet
 
In Hamlet's speech in act three, scene three Hamlet
discloses many facets of his character to us, aspects that
we have thus far only been able to see as fragments in
other speeches. He reveals himself to be an over-analytical
man who often procrastinates. He also shows that he does
not really want to kill Claudius but feels compelled to out
of a sense of duty to his dead father. Hamlet demonstrates
his over-analytical nature in line seventy-three of the
speech when he says "That would be scann'd:", meaning that
he should examine his situation more closely. Instead of
simply killing Claudius while he had the chance he
over-analyses and eventually decides to postpone Claudius'
murder, missing the best chance he will obtain in the play.
Hamlet is also a procrastinator and this is demonstrated
many times in the play. In line eighty he says "Why, this
is hire and salary, not revenge". He knows that he must
kill Claudius but he postpones it. This almost suggests
that Hamlet does not really want to kill Claudius, but
feels obligated to do so. Through his over-analysis he
seems to be almost talking himself out of doing his job.
 
One of Hamlet's most renown traits is his over-analysis of
conversational topics and situations in which action must
be taken. An example of his over-analytical nature is
apparent in his speech in act one, scene four, line 13. He
begins his speech quite normally, replying with a simple
answer to Horatio's inquiry but then his thoughts begin to
wander and he starts to analyze and philosophize about
topics unrelated to Horatio's question. Another trait of
Hamlet is the way he procrastinates. For example, in act
two, scene two, line 603 he convinces himself that his plan
to add sixteen lines to the play and watch Claudius'
reaction, rather than completing his task, is the best plan
of action. Although in the end he postpones the murder of
Claudius, beginning on line 570 he acknowledges his lack of
action. This also shows that Hamlet does not really want to
kill the king and that he will go to great lengths to
postpone his duty. In fact, Hamlet reveals to us about his
unwillingness to kill Claudius early in the play. In act
one, scene five, line 189 he says "O cursed spite,/That
ever I was born to set it right!", meaning that he is angry
that he is now put in the position of having to kill the
king and he is sorry that he was born with this destiny.