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GRIEF STRICKEN In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet says, “The readiness is all” (5.2.160). But is the “readiness” all? Throughout the play I believe it is not. Hamlet’s thought process and grief plays a large part of his readiness to act, or lack there of. Mainly his lack of acting is his killing of King Claudius when he has the opportunity. The conflicting character to that of Hamlet is Ophelia. “The readiness if all” (5.2.160) pertains to her throughout her life in the play, even to her death. Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pith and moment With this regard their currents turn awry And lose the name of action (3.2.91-96). Conscience, cowards, thought and action. All this has a great deal to do with Hamlet and the way he led his life. The biggest of these is thought and grief. I saw him as his thoughts and grief led him to his conscience, his sel