In order to give a definitive answer to this question it is necessary to fully understand the social background of both characters and the era in which the plays were written. First we need to establish whether both characters' tragic flaw is actually their procrastination. I will respond by evaluating the characters' choices against the problems they face. I will also offer an alternative argument by saying that both characters are Protestant and that their procrastination is catalyzed by their religious faith. Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration is that Marlowe's play contains the conventions of a morality play (actors on stage dressed as men tempting sins), while Hamlet is more of a modern Renaissance play. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is the heir to the throne. His life takes a turn for the worse after his father's death. Before he had a chance to reclaim the throne, his uncle married his mother, taking the throne away from him. Surrounded by corruption and infidelity, Hamlet looks into an investigation to prove whether his father was murdered and whether it was at the hands of his uncle. Faust is the representation of a typical "Renaissance man", a man who could know everything about anything because knowledge was limited. He is a disgruntled scholar who turns to magic to gain unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures, however, blinded by his arrogance, his procrastination to repent leads to his eternal damnation. Marlowe's Faustus (Latin for "lucky") is a reworking of the story of Faust, a German legend that shares the same story. It has also been identified that Hamlet shares some themes and plots (revenge, regicide and madness) with previously written writings, one being the saga of Hrolf Kraki, believed to be Scandinavian, the other... half of paper... ... both characters die tragically. In conclusion, the way Shakespeare uses religion, as a catalyst would be Hamlet's Protestantism, which created his doubts about the ghost. This influences Hamlet to take part in the act of deception, pretending to be mad to deceive Claudius. In Faustus this would be the evil angel who convinces him to proceed with his frivolous requests by tricking him, feeding his megalomaniacal mannerism with the wonders and possibilities he can access. This creates indecision in both Hamlet and Faustus, for example 'whether to repent or not', 'the ghost is a devil or my father', 'if I repent, the devil will indeed tear me to pieces'. This indecision fuels the procrastination of the tragic flaws of both characters, although Faustus is blinded by his arrogance, it is his actual procrastination to repent that leads him and Hamlet to their eventful deaths.)