Hamlet's delay stems from his philosophical nature, his need for absolute certainty of Claudius's guilt, and his complex psychological struggle with the morality of revenge.

This remains one of the play's most debated questions. While Hamlet claims to be "putting on an antic disposition," his emotional trauma and the weight of his task suggest that his mental state exists in a gray area between sanity and madness.

Ophelia's tragic death represents the collateral damage of revenge and political intrigue. Her descent into madness and drowning symbolize the destruction of innocence and the far-reaching consequences of corruption in the Danish court.