Final answer:
Shakespeare has Hamlet act on his intentions to kill due to the complex interplay of Hamlet's emotional turmoil, feigned madness, character motives, and the dramatic demands of the revenge tragedy genre.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reason Shakespeare causes Hamlet to kill at a particular time in the play is a complex one that can be attributed to multiple factors within the narrative structure and character development. In the tragedy, Hamlet is driven by intense emotions and a quest for truth and justice, leading to actions that are at times impulsive and at others deeply contemplated.
The context of Hamlet's actions is further complicated by his feigned madness, his genuine emotional turmoil, and the intricate play of motives and suspicions among the characters.
One can argue that Shakespeare's decision for Hamlet to act stems from the inner conflict that the prince experiences, which is an inexpressible emotion due to the guilt of his mother, Gertrude, and his inability to find a proper outlet or objective correlation to his feelings, as well as the demands of the revenge tragedy genre.