Hamlet's Free Will The choices made by Hamlet, which ultimately lead to his death, are all guided by his free will. In mourning his father's death, Hamlet chooses to do so for what others consider an excessive length of time. “But to persevere / in obstinate mourning is a conduct / of impious stubbornness” (I.ii.99-100), according to Claudius. During this period of mourning, Hamlet encounters his father's spirit and promises to avenge his father's death. However, upon reflection, he questions the validity of the ghost's message. At this point he carefully chooses a plan of action that will inevitably show that “the king is to blame” (V.ii.340). Following his plan, Hamlet freely chooses to kill Polonius, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, Ophelia, Laertes, Claudius, and himself. After the performance of “The Mousetrap,” Hamlet is summoned to his mother's room. After arguing with Gertrude about the intentions of his play and why he wanted to distress the king so openly, Hamlet kills Polonius. “And now? A mouse? Dead for a ducat, dead (III.iv.27-28)! Maybe Hamlet didn't know who he was killing. «Wretched, reckless, foolish intruder, farewell! / I took you for your best” (III.iv.38-39)! Perhaps Hamlet thought he was killing the king. In any case, the point is that Hamlet kills with his own hands, thoughts and actions. It's his choice. “To be” the instrument of revenge “or not to be” is the dilemma Hamlet faces throughout the play. Hamlet does not have much time to reflect on his choices, because time is not on his side. The king has his own plans to get rid of Hamlet. He sends Hamlet with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to England for “Let my head be cut off” (V.ii.27). Hamlet reviews the sentencing documents, fully aware that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern would have been executed instead. Arriving at Ophelia's funeral, Hamlet finds himself facing the anger of Laertes. Laertes rightly blames Hamlet for Polonius' death and Ophelia's subsequent suicide. Once again both deaths were due to the choices Hamlet made, the murder of Polonius, and the madness of Ophelia. Finally we come to the sword fight between Hamlet and Laertes. Hamlet is unaware of Claudius' poisoned chalice and the poisoned tip of Laertes' sword. When Laertes cuts Hamlet, he chooses to stab Laertes, which would also see him dead. When the queen dies after drinking the poison and Laertes confesses to the entire deed, implicating Claudius, Hamlet finally kills the man who killed his father..