A Serious Procrastinator

   As stated in the BBC article "Viewpoint: Why do we procrastinate so much?", procrastination, or leaving everything for the last minute, is wired into every human's brain. This is not surprising, since I imagine most people have procrastinated at some point like I have (in fact, I procrastinated a little on doing this blog, but that is not the point). This is seen in Shakespeare's play Hamlet. He procrastinates on his decision of avenging his father's ghost and killing of his uncle Claudius. But due to the circumstances, one must question: was Hamlet really procrastinating, or is it just pure indecision lead by feelings and morale?

   The procrastination seen in Hamlet is of a very severe kind, if it is considered as procrastination. He lets the vengeance of his father's memory for another day all throughout the play, and if it was not for the opportunity that Claudius' and Laertes' plan gave him, he may have never killed his uncle in revenge for what he did. This proves that Hamlet is a serious procrastinator; not a chronic one, or not that we know of because we can´t know this based only on the play, but he has a very grave condition in this department. Avenging your own father is not something that many people would procrastinate on. This is exactly what TS Elliot meant by saying that his actions were disproportionate to the circumstances; a normal person would not hesitate that much on taking action on something related to a parent's memory. Sure, this action would not be murdering your father's brother but still, the passion for a father makes people do horrendous things. He is surely procrastinating on a subject that is clear as crystal.

   There is also another side to this argument. One that states that his procrastination on the subject is lead by his over-thinking mind, which makes him consider things one too many times before doing them, and his morale, which inhibits him of making such a horrible act. This second one is not so present, but it is a big part of it. This proves that Hamlet was not procrastinating, he is just processing his thoughts on when is the best time and way to do it. He is planning it out, something a procrastinator would not do until the last moment. His head is clearly in the game throughout the play. This argument shows that Hamlet is not a procrastinator, he is just thinking it through and planning it out thoroughly.

    In my opinion, the first argument is the correct one. Hamlet had no point in thinking something so basic and so instinctive so much. He is procrastinating because he is afraid of committing avunculicide (killing one's uncle) and its consequences. As the photo states, I believe Hamlet puts the "pro" in procrastinate.