The Psychology of Inaction in Shakespeare's Hamlet

Introduction

Though William Shakespeare was writing his masterful histories, comedies, and tragedies long before the science of psychology had begun to develop in any formalized and purposeful way, there is a great deal of psychological depth and even conscious analysis at work in many of the Bard's texts that makes for very interesting psychological fodder for modern minds. In Hamlet, much of the play's action is actually driven by the main character's inaction; it is Hamlet's inability to make decisive decisions that allows much of the action to take place, and even many of the actions Hamlet does take seem to cast him in a role of reduced responsibility, calling into question his decision-making processes and the psychology from which they are derived.

Hamlet's relationship with Claudius is one of the clearest examples of this throughout the play, as it is Claudius' murder of Hamlet's father that sets the play and its title character on their courses of destruction and tragedy. Gertrude, Hamlet's mother and now the wife of his usurping uncle, is also a significant character in terms of understanding Hamlet's psychological state of mind and the question of how much decision-making is based on perception rather than objective reality. Sexual feelings for Ophelia further complicate Hamlet's decision-making process and add to his indecisiveness. All in all, Hamlet is plagued by doubt throughout the play regarding the best course of action and, at certain times, even what he believes to be real. His indecisiveness is clearly demonstrated in his interactions with other characters.

Inaction at Work

The fact that Hamlet is left so indecisive and, in many ways, inactive due to his psychological confusion drives the play forward, as is made quite clear from early on. The first time he is left alone onstage, he comments, "How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable / Seem to me all the uses of this world!" (Act I, scene ii, lines 136–7). Many different psychological states could be read into this statement — most notably depression — but regardless of the exact diagnosis that might be applied, it is clear that this psychological state is leading to definite indecisiveness and confusion on his part. If truly all of the world and its offerings seem "stale" and "unprofitable," then there is no real course of action to be taken; everything is utterly useless.

The famous "To be or not to be" speech, which is in many ways the height of Hamlet's despondency — at least in terms of his indecisiveness — makes this quite clear as Hamlet struggles with what is "nobler in the mind." Hamlet is driven not necessarily by true nobility, but by perceived nobility, having largely set aside worldly ends and settled for whatever peace he can scrape together in his mind (III.i, 63–4). This speech exemplifies the paralysis of will that defines Hamlet's character throughout the play.

Hamlet and Claudius

This peace is short-lived, however, as Hamlet is confronted with his uncle Claudius and the several related evils he has committed: killing his own brother (Hamlet's father), taking his brother's wife (Hamlet's mother), and seizing his brother's throne — thus setting the stage for Hamlet's revenge and confusion. Much has been made of the supposed Oedipal nature of Hamlet's relationships with Claudius and Gertrude, but even setting this aside, it is clear that the many different roles Hamlet bears in relation to Claudius — nephew, stepson, prince and claimant to the throne, avenger — could cause a great deal of psychological conflict and confusion.

As Laertes mentions, "his [Hamlet's] will is not his own"; Hamlet must also think of what is good for the state, and this in part stops him from acting on his beliefs without more solid proof (I.iii, 20). Somewhat contrary to this view of competing impulses, others have seen Hamlet's hesitation toward Claudius as a matter of pure logic, especially when he sees Claudius vulnerable at prayer: "and am I then revenged, / To take him in the purging of his soul, / When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?" (III.iii, 86–8). Seeing this as a matter of pure and functional logic, Michael Schroeder claims that "it is contradictory to want to take revenge and not have it," and thus it would be contradictory for Hamlet to kill Claudius in this instance (pp. 13). This is likely an oversimplification of Hamlet's thought process, as there are many other influential factors besides his desire for revenge, but it does demonstrate how even the simplest of human desires can generate psychological confusion on the basis of real interpersonal relationships.

Conclusion

There are many different influences on Hamlet's psychological progression throughout the play, but his relationships with other people taken as a whole constitute the most important feature of his life in this regard. Hamlet remains inactive because he is torn by a variety of different and often oppositional loyalties and feelings, and is left unsure of who or what is right and wrong because every person he encounters seems to embody both positive and negative positions within the larger context of the play. The complexities of the relationships described above directly lead to Hamlet's ongoing indecision and inaction.