---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't…"
description: "\"Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, but if he did kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, ther..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/dallas-roberts-19762_annoying_yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-ki_1569811.jpg"
---

#  Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't kill his stepfather…

![“Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, but if he did kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, there wouldn't be a play. He has to be annoying, if you will, and not do what would be the thing to do.” quote by Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/dallas-roberts-19762_annoying_yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-ki_1569811.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/dallas-roberts-19762_annoying_yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-ki_1569811.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/dallas-roberts-19762_annoying_yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-ki_1569811.jpg)

> “Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, but if he did kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, there wouldn't be a play. He has to be annoying, if you will, and not do what would be the thing to do.”

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker notes that Hamlet's inaction is essential; if he killed his stepfather quickly, the play would lose its purpose.

**In simple terms:** Hamlet's delay creates drama; immediate action would end the story.

Key Takeaway

Value the tension of unresolved conflict.

Themes

drama conflict character

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

theatrical philosophical

When to use this quote

- theatre analysis
- scriptwriting
- character study

Key Concepts

narrative structure psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- Why is inaction compelling?
- What does delay reveal about character?

A Different Perspective

Some may view the delay as unnecessary.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Annoying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying/) [Annoying Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying-hamlet-5906495/) [Did](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/did/) [Doesn Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-kill/) [Hamlet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet/) [Hamlet Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hamlet-doesn-5906496/) [He](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/he/) [His](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his/) [Kill Stepfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill-stepfather-5906497/) [Minutes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minutes/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Stepfather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stepfather/) [Ten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ten/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [Would](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would/) [Yes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/yes/) [You](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you/)

## Related quotes

> [We got latched together and I was hoping you could separate us? (Amanda) They were made by your stepfather. Any chance you have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/we-got-latched-together-and-i-was-hoping-you-could-separate-us-amanda/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [My stepfather had a connection with The Second City and told me I should go there. I woke up in a cold sweat one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-gomez/my-stepfather-had-a-connection-with-the-second-city-and-told-me-i/)

[Ian Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-gomez/)

> [I always was in some form of communication with my real pops. I kept an ongoing relationship with my biological father which will only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quincy-brown/i-always-was-in-some-form-of-communication-with-my-real-pops-i-kept/)

[Quincy Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quincy-brown/)

> [No matter mother or father or either or neither, in the end, we all grow up. Yet, because of you, my stepfather, I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerardo-campbell/no-matter-mother-or-father-or-either-or-neither-in-the-end-we-all/)

[Gerardo Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerardo-campbell/)

> [My stepfather was a brilliant and funny psychiatrist but he was a hound dog. He just didn't know how to be faithful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-hepburn-ferrer/my-stepfather-was-a-brilliant-and-funny-psychiatrist-but-he-was-a/)

[Sean Hepburn Ferrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-hepburn-ferrer/)

> [“Mind Your Language in the Presence of Patriachs Q. When is rape not rape? A. When it is your father or stepfather.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-caroline-taylor/mind-your-language-in-the-presence-of-patriachs-q-when-is-rape-not/)

[S. Caroline Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-caroline-taylor/)

> [I was brought up by a Marxist rationalist stepfather, so I don't believe in the supernatural or religion or horoscopes, and the absolute nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natascha-mcelhone/i-was-brought-up-by-a-marxist-rationalist-stepfather-so-i-don-t/)

[Natascha McElhone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natascha-mcelhone/)

> [The step father bound to fulfill own's responsibility but They doesn't doing happly even compulsion are hidden. its a different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-step-father-bound-to-fulfill-own-s-responsibility-but-they-doesn/)

[Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/)

> [My father left when I was three, and I have no memory of him. The most significant male figures in my life were my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/my-father-left-when-i-was-three-and-i-have-no-memory-of-him-the-most/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [I went out every single night so I was never alone with my stepfather. At 12, I stopped going on holiday with them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-keeler/i-went-out-every-single-night-so-i-was-never-alone-with-my-stepfather/)

[Christine Keeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-keeler/)

> [My mother remarried when I was young, and my stepfather adopted me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-van-zandt/my-mother-remarried-when-i-was-young-and-my-stepfather-adopted-me/)

[Steven Van Zandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-van-zandt/)

> [A lot of people don't realize this, but probably the one person that gets made fun of in 'South Park' more than anybody is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-parker/a-lot-of-people-don-t-realize-this-but-probably-the-one-person-that/)

[Trey Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-parker/)

> [I think how strict my mother's home could be with my mom and my stepfather, there was a fluidity and freedom in my dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-think-how-strict-my-mother-s-home-could-be-with-my-mom-and-my/)

[Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/)

> [“Lanny Bellin, Daniel’s stepfather.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-fairstein/lanny-bellin-daniel-s-stepfather/)

[Linda Fairstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-fairstein/)

> [I was having an argument with my stepfather, and he was like, 'Why don't you join the Marine Corps?' And I was like, 'Noooo!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-was-having-an-argument-with-my-stepfather-and-he-was-like-why-don-t/)

[Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/)

## More by Dallas Roberts

> [I try my damnedest to quirk up anything that I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/i-try-my-damnedest-to-quirk-up-anything-that-i-m-in/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [I like computers as a tool. I like them as an instrument. I think they're just pretty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/i-like-computers-as-a-tool-i-like-them-as-an-instrument-i-think-they/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [I still take way more jobs than I turn down, and the reason that I turn down a job is that I just can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/i-still-take-way-more-jobs-than-i-turn-down-and-the-reason-that-i/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [In the acting community in New York we call 'Law &amp; Order' 'grad school,' because everyone eventually does a 'Law &amp; Order.' My first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/in-the-acting-community-in-new-york-we-call-law-order-grad-school/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [I've been a fan since I was a kid of that sort of bump-in-the-night stuff. I don't tend to go in too much for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/i-ve-been-a-fan-since-i-was-a-kid-of-that-sort-of-bump-in-the-night/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [Like all kids who want to be in action movies, I want to jump out of a speeding car, shoot guns, slide out the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/like-all-kids-who-want-to-be-in-action-movies-i-want-to-jump-out-of-a/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [I enjoy playing someone who doesn't show up and say, 'This is what I am, and this is what I'm about,' but is someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/i-enjoy-playing-someone-who-doesn-t-show-up-and-say-this-is-what-i-am/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [Luckily, what you trade off in not being part of the comic book canon and not having some literature that you can use to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/luckily-what-you-trade-off-in-not-being-part-of-the-comic-book-canon/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [Our emotions controls our mind(thoughts)…therefore what we think about determines how we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/our-emotions-controls-our-mind-thoughts-therefore-what-we-think-about/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [I find that with any good run on a show with good writers, they put something on paper, and you put something back on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/i-find-that-with-any-good-run-on-a-show-with-good-writers-they-put/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [Once the audience has to use themselves to cross the distance to the character, that's what's really exciting. That's when it starts to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/once-the-audience-has-to-use-themselves-to-cross-the-distance-to-the/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [Letting go of toxic people in your life is a big step toward freeing yourself to have more quality time to love yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/letting-go-of-toxic-people-in-your-life-is-a-big-step-toward-freeing/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [If you're into a leather-jacketed crime fighter and his artificially intelligent robotic supercar, tune into 'The Good Wife.' If, on the other hand, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/if-you-re-into-a-leather-jacketed-crime-fighter-and-his-artificially/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [It's funny, my kids and I live together, and I have a lot of actor friends. So my kids think everyone is on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/it-s-funny-my-kids-and-i-live-together-and-i-have-a-lot-of-actor/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

> [To try to create a character without a whole lot of information can be taxing. At the same time, it's fun to just stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/to-try-to-create-a-character-without-a-whole-lot-of-information-can/)

[Dallas Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

[Explore all 32 Dallas Roberts quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/)

## More Annoying quotes

> [Why couldn't Jesus command us to obsess over everything, to try to control and manipulate people, to try not to breathe at all, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/why-couldn-t-jesus-command-us-to-obsess-over-everything-to-try-to/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [The trouble is. . .that everybody sneers at restrictions and demands freedom, till something annoying happens; then they demand angrily what has become of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/the-trouble-is-that-everybody-sneers-at-restrictions-and-demands/)

[Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/)

> [At Epcot Center the Disney corporation has focused its attention on two things greatly in need of Disneyfication: the tedious future and the annoying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/at-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-focused-its-attention-on/)

[P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/)

> [The book it reminded me of most is Henry Miller’s The Books in My Life. Like Miller, Shields manages to convey his affection for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-alexis/the-book-it-reminded-me-of-most-is-henry-miller-s-the-books-in-my/)

[Andre Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-alexis/)

> [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/)

[Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/)

> [Belief is a good thing in principle, but an annoying thing in human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-wurtzel/belief-is-a-good-thing-in-principle-but-an-annoying-thing-in-human/)

[Elizabeth Wurtzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-wurtzel/)

> [Shut the fuck up ur so annoying and you think your the shit lmao sit the fuck down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/shut-the-fuck-up-ur-so-annoying-and-you-think-your-the-shit-lmao-sit/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only kind of freedom that the mob can imagine is freedom to annoy and oppress its betters, and that is precisely the kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-kind-of-freedom-that-the-mob-can-imagine-is-freedom-to-annoy/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Die, enemies of Ra!" Sekhemet yelled. "Perish in agony!" "She's almost as annoying as you," I told Horus. "Impossible," Horus said. "No one bests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/die-enemies-of-ra-sekhemet-yelled-perish-in-agony-she-s-almost-as/)

[Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/)

> [My middle finger is used when words aren't enough for people to understand that they're annoying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-middle-finger-is-used-when-words-aren-t-enough-for-people-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [...Be grateful for what you have to be thankful for instead of complaining about the little things that annoy you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/be-grateful-for-what-you-have-to-be-thankful-for-instead-of/)

[Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/)

> [Would you want people walking up to you and pointing at your d--k? I can't believe I'm still talking about this. But I've worn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-hamm/would-you-want-people-walking-up-to-you-and-pointing-at-your-d-k-i/)

[Jon Hamm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-hamm/)

> [I ceased in the year 1764 to believe that one can convince one’s opponents with arguments printed in books. It is not to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-c-lichtenberg/i-ceased-in-the-year-1764-to-believe-that-one-can-convince-one-s/)

[Georg C. Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-c-lichtenberg/)

> [WikiLeaks is irritating and annoying for Germany, but not a threat. From an international perspective, I see their actions as totally irresponsible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-maiziere/wikileaks-is-irritating-and-annoying-for-germany-but-not-a-threat/)

[Thomas de Maiziere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-maiziere/)

> [It doesn't annoy me but I think of myself as a presenter who is gay, rather than a gay presenter. It's a subtle distinction,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-davis/it-doesn-t-annoy-me-but-i-think-of-myself-as-a-presenter-who-is-gay/)

[Evan Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-davis/)

[Browse all 1,217 Annoying quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/annoying/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, but if he did kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, there wouldn't be a play. He has to be annoying, if you will, and not do what would be the thing to do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dallas Roberts"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-kill-his-stepfather-ten-minutes/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Annoying"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-kill-his-stepfather-ten-minutes/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/dallas-roberts-19762_annoying_yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-ki_1569811.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/dallas-roberts-19762_annoying_yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-ki_1569811.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d8/dallas-roberts-19762_annoying_yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-ki_1569811.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't kill his stepfather ten minutes into the play, but if he did kill his…” — Dallas Roberts",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dallas Roberts",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-roberts/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Yes, it's annoying that Hamlet doesn't...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-kill-his-stepfather-ten-minutes/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-roberts/yes-it-s-annoying-that-hamlet-doesn-t-kill-his-stepfather-ten-minutes/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
