In Shakespeare's Hamlet, the formalist approach can be applied to help explain Hamlet's delay on killing Claudius. The main character frequently delays acting out his duty of avenging his father's murder. Hamlet's nature and morals (which are intensified by difficult events) prevent him from carrying out the task. The issues that Hamlet has in seeking revenge can be seen though a formalistic approach.
             A Formalist approach is helpful to study Hamlet. It allows the reader to identify a "stable meaning" within the text (Barnet 1405). One of the firm ideas in Shakespeare's play revolves around Hamlet's delay in avenging the death of his father.
             In the opening scenes of the play, the ghost of Hamlet's late father reveals to Hamlet the true means by which his father died. The ghost tells Hamlet that his father's death was caused by Claudius pouring poison into his ear. He exhorts Hamlet to avenge the murder. Hamlet's initial response is to act on the ghost's exhortation. Hamlet says; "Haste me to know't that I with wings as swift...May sweep to my revenge" (Barnet 1068). Yet by the end of the same scene, his reluctance to murder King Claudius is evident. Hamlet says; "The time is out of joint, O cursed spite, that I was ever born to set it right" (Barnet 1073).
             Many theories have been put forward as to the reasons for Hamlet's delay in avenging the King. One theory suggests that Hamlet wished to determine the nature of the ghost before acting, for he says that "The spirit I have seen may be a devil" (Barnet 1091). However, even after the 'play within a play' through which Hamlet has obtained his 'proof' as to the nature of the ghost and confirmed that Claudius is guilty, Hamlet says " I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound" (Barnet 1106), but fails to act and can onl
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