Hamlet 2.2 Discussion: Hamlet's Hesitation

The video explores the reasons behind Hamlet's delay in avenging his father's murder. It discusses various critical perspectives, including Romantic views that emphasize Hamlet's intellectual nature and psychological analyses by Freud and others. The video also presents alternative interpretations, such as Asimov's view of Hamlet's competing goals. It concludes with a discussion on Hamlet's skepticism and moral dilemmas, highlighting the complexity of his character and the play's themes.

What is the central question regarding Hamlet's character discussed in the introduction?

• Why Hamlet is unable to love Ophelia

• Why Hamlet trusts the ghost

• Why Hamlet delays taking revenge

• Why Hamlet becomes king

According to Coleridge, what disturbs the balance in Hamlet's character?

• His desire for power

• His love for Ophelia

• His trust in the ghost

• His vivid imagination

What psychological theory did Freud apply to Hamlet's character?

• The Electra complex

• The Oedipus complex

• The Id, Ego, and Superego

• The Collective Unconscious

Which film versions of Hamlet emphasize the Oedipal aspect of his relationship with his mother?

• Franco Zeffirelli's 1990 film

• Both B and C

• Laurence Olivier's 1948 film

• Kenneth Branagh's 1996 film

What does Isaac Asimov believe is the reason for Hamlet's delay?

• His fear of the ghost

• His inability to act

• His competing goals

• His love for Ophelia

What inconsistency in Hamlet's monologue is highlighted in the final section?

• His plan to flee Denmark

• His decision to marry Ophelia

• His change of mind about the ghost's truthfulness

• His sudden trust in Claudius

According to religious critics, why might Hamlet's revenge not be justified?

• Revenge is never justified

• Claudius is innocent

• Hamlet is not the rightful heir

• The ghost might be a devil