In most stories the hero does not pause before his actions to contemplate the consequences, yet Hamlet does. He pays attention to what he does so that his soul does not go to hell: “He must consider whether his actions will lead to him being saved or damned. The fact that an eternity is at stake in his actions gives him reason to consider the consequences” (Cantor 38-39). This quote from Cantor's criticism highlights Hamlet's thoughtfulness in acting on his revenge. Hamlet is very concerned with making sure his soul doesn't go to hell, he wants to make sure he isn't stuck with his father's vengeance, and he almost doesn't commit the act because of this concern. The first time Hamlet has the chance to kill Claudius he doesn't take advantage of it: “Now I could do it, now he's praying; And now I will - and so I will go to heaven, and so I will be avenged. This would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for this I, his only son, send this same villain to heaven” (III.iii.71). Here Hamlet is saying that if he kills Claudius while he is praying there is a possibility that his soul can go to Heaven. He doesn't want to take this risk because otherwise Hamlet would do the opposite of what his father asked of him, yes, he would die but he would be in heaven instead of spending eternity in hell. These thoughts of Hamlet delay him from what he is trying to do. If Hamlet had done it