A fundamental concept of physics is that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; as well as inaction. Although this term is used to describe physical entities, it still applies to our inherent desire to achieve certain goals and the consequences that may arise from doing so. Many serious mistakes can be made by directly addressing an important issue or by not doing so, and could possibly lead to death. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the protagonist's indecision is what ultimately leads to his death. Prince Hamlet's oscillation between action and inaction during his quest to avenge his father's death is a key aspect of the play's plot advancement; starting with the apparition's appearance, then his refusal to kill Claudius at the perfect time to strike, and finally the sudden death of Polonius. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"? Get an original essay In the first act of the play, the audience is presented with a scenario like this: Hamlet's father, the king from Denmark, recently died. His widowed mother marries his uncle, who then takes Hamlet's place on the throne. He later encounters the apparition of his father wandering the halls of Elsinore in Act 1, Scene 5, in which it is revealed that King Hamlet was in fact murdered by his brother Claudius. Hamlet is called to action by the ghost when he declares "Avenge his vile and most unnatural murder", to which he responds: "Haste me to know that I, with wings as swift / As meditation or thoughts of love, / May sweep toward my vengeance.” This order from his deceased father is the one that gives the play its main plot, to which Hamlet responds by saying to quickly reveal the identity of the murderer so that he can take revenge as quickly as one falls in love. Through this conversation, Hamlet is given his ultimate goal and must now devote all of his time to achieving it. Shortly after the ghost disappears, the protagonist is left to his mission to avenge the late king. The audience may assume that Hamlet will simply walk into the castle courtyard and kill Claudius, but this would not be the typical case of an Elizabethan revenge tragedy like Hamlet. After deciding to act on the ghost's wishes, Hamlet says, "Perhaps the devil, and the devil has the power / T' takes a pleasing form." Yes, and perhaps / By my weakness and my melancholy, / As he is very powerful with such spirits, / Deceives me to damn me. I will have motives / More relative than that. The room is the thing/In which I will catch the conscience of the king.” Contrary to his initial plan, to act, Hamlet thinks the ghost might be the devil taking the form of his father and decides he must have more proof than the word of a spirit. He feared that the ghost would tempt him to commit murder so that he would be condemned to hell, and he even references a Bible verse that says "even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light" when he talk about the devil. During this scene, Hamlet makes it clear that he will not make any move until Claudius' guilt is confirmed. For the king's murder to be valid, the accusation must first be confirmed. The plot changes again at this point: the young prince wonders who to trust, the ghost or Claude, and so he decides to do nothing until he has all the evidence he needs to prove that King Hamlet was indeed murdered by his brother. Thanks to this choice, the main conflict of the play is established and continues in the rising action. Once again, the consequences of Hamlet's constant fluctuations between?