Preview

Hamlet Soliloquies

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
912 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Hamlet Soliloquies
In William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" there are four major soliloquies that reflect the

character of Hamlet.

In this paper I will be analyzing and discussing how these four soliloquies reflect

changes in Hamlet's mental state; his

changing attitudes toward life and the other characters in the play, particularly the

women; and his reflection on the

task of revenge that has been assigned to him. These four soliloquies are the backbones

of the play, and they offer the

audience a glimpse into Hamlet's mind and thought processes.

In the first soliloquy it is very obvious that Hamlet's sanity is in question. This is

apparent in the first four

lines of this soliloquy. " O that this too solid flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve

itself into a dew, Or that the

Everlasting had not fixed, His canon 'gainst self-slaughter, O God! God!" (42) These few

lines show that Hamlet is so

depressed that he wishes he could melt away into nothingness or commit suicide. It is

also very apparent in this

soliloquy, that Hamlet is beginning to loath his mother for marrying Claudius only one

month after King Hamlet's

death. Hamlet loathes his mother and begins to loath all women, because he believes they

are all weak. "Let me not

think on't! Frailty, They name is women!" (42) Hamlet seems to view Denmark as a

metaphorical garden of Eden

which now totally corrupt, this can be seen when Hamlet says " Tis an unweeded garden,

That grows to seed; things

rank and gross in nature". (42) This soliloquy presents the audience a glimpse into

Hamlet's psyche, he is obviously

enraged at his mother's marriage, the state of Denmark, and he is still mourning his

father's death.

The second soliloquy is very intriguing and it helps to set up many events that happen

during the play.

Hamlet is first wondering how an actor, who has no true emotional connection to the play

was performing can seem

to have such deep emotions; while he in reality is feeling unfathomable pain and anguish

and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    After he expresses this he begins to fill with rage as he speaks on his mother and Cladius’ marriage. “But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two: / So excellent a king: that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr;” (I.ii.130-142) Here, Hamlet begins to compare the great God that was his father, to the half man, half goat that is his uncle. Hamlet is filled with rage that his mother could possibly pick such a foul beast over his father. Hamlet exclaims, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” (I.ii.148) In this quote Hamlet not only curses his mother, but all women. This soliloquy introduces the feelings of hatred towards women that Hamlet expresses throughout the entire play.…

    • 635 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    2. “Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, / That late thou gavest me; for…

    • 1761 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Soliloquy Analysis

    • 372 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The player is the direct drive for Hamlet to undergo this morphing reflection. The player acts with “[t]ears in his eyes, distraction in’s aspect/[a] broken voice, and his whole function suiting” (II, ii, 550-551). He immerses himself into the play so deeply that after witnessing the player’s passionate act, Hamlet anticipates him to “drown the stage with tears” (II, ii, 557) if he has the same experience with Hamlet. Hamlet envisions the player broadcasting his story and fully expresses himself, suggesting his own desire of exposing his mind and experiences. Hence he loathes himself for his inaction. However, after some reasoning, Hamlet decides to “unpack [his] heart with words” (II, ii, 583). He is now determined to take his revenge, while facing the downfall of humanity. To ensure he has a genuine reason to commit this crime, Hamlet has the players “play something…

    • 372 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Denmark's failing state is described as a poisoned, corrupted, and diseased under Claudius' rule. This comparison is important because it is as if the poison Claudius put into King Hamlet's ear is making its way through the kingdom. Hamlet is so obsessed with death and decay that he finds comfort in these dark aspects of his life as he has the upmost respect for his deceased father, only professes his love for Ophelia once she dies, and handles Yorick's skull with gentle care.…

    • 508 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Ghost In Hamlet

    • 1324 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Hamlet was considered to be wallowing in self-pity over everything that had recently transpired. His father’s death, his mother’s marriage to his uncle as well as he had been stripped of his rightful place as King of Denmark. Hamlet was of high morals and religious background. He was raised within the Lutheran Christian Faith and was appalled by everyone’s behavior. Resentment now raised its ugly head towards his mother in her “incestuous” union when Hamlet during his soliloquy, proclaims “Frailty, thy name is Woman!” to reflect his disgust of her weakness. But due to the love for his mother Hamlet keeps his resentment and disappointment to himself at this time. Faced with the realization of the murder of his father, who he had idolized and compared to a Greek sun-god and whose ghost has demanded revenge in order to leave purgatory, Hamlet is further torn between his moral values and his Christian faith, as his faith does not allow murder (“Thou shall not…

    • 1324 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Questions

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1. No, Gertrude does not tell Claudius the entire truth about what happened between her and Hamlet. She tells him that Hamlet killed Polonius and that Hamlet is going insane. Hamlet advised her to tell Claudius that he is crazy and not tell him that she knows that he is faking it.…

    • 794 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Often times life will present one with a situation where the best decision is to take action. In William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”, Hamlet’s second soliloquy reveals Hamlet’s initial inability to take action due to his lack of courage.…

    • 255 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Unable to understand what your feelings and emotions are and unable to take charge of them.…

    • 998 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Hamlet's Paranoia

    • 2158 Words
    • 9 Pages

    Hamlet once saw his mother as the epitome of virtue. This image is dashed against the rocks when he finds her married, incestuously, to his uncle less than two months following his father’s death. Having only seen his mother with his father, Hamlet perceives that he has lost her after she marries Claudius. Hamlet has, “All his life he has believed in her, we may be sure, as such a son would” (Bradley, 98). Hamlet looks down upon his mother’s second marriage as disrespect to the memory of his father. Hamlet cries out “O, most wicked speed to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets!” (I. 2. 161-62). Now alone save for Horatio, Hamlet’s madness is left to grow unchecked.…

    • 2158 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Mind and Hamlet

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Hamlet 's soliloquy at the end of Act 2 is a conveyance of the emotional journey of Hamlet and its exploration of the theme of revenge provides extensive evidence possibilities of constant reinterpretation as it demonstrates a character to understand and relate to. The soliloquy provides a chance for change in the audience 's perception of Hamlet, and allows for a more intensive insight into Hamlet 's persona. The characterisation of Hamlet suggests he is self-deprecating and insecure, evident in the statement “oh, what a rogue slave am I!”, and in this the audience relates to Hamlet in his inability to decide how to fulfil his immense responsibility. The idea of Renaissance Humanism is evident in Hamlet 's conclusion to “catch the conscience of the king” through the production of a play that is emulative of his father 's murder in order to see Claudius ' guilty reaction. This notion is supported by Salter, 1988, who declares Hamlet is of a philosophical nature that is aware of the…

    • 1116 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlets Tragic Flaw

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout the play Hamlet is deeply hurt by his mother’s decision to remarry his uncle. As Hamlet so boldly states “Frailty thy name is woman” the reader realizes her actions cause Hamlet to curse women all together (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 146). In the first Act, Claudius and Gertrude question Hamlet’s depression. They push Hamlet to accept his…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hamlet Questions

    • 320 Words
    • 2 Pages

    On the discussion board post your answer to the questions: "What is Hamlet 'about'?" and "What are its enduring themes and messages?”. Your response does not have to be governed by the Values and Worldviews (Dialectic) approach taken through this unit. Substantiate your own ideas with evidence from the play. Don't research. Build on or refute with reason the responses of two others.…

    • 320 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Sane or Insane

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages

    This obviously has bothered Hamlet and has put him in a not so stable mind set, which can…

    • 1235 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Is Hamlet A Good Father

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Throughout Hamlet, a play created by William Shakespeare himself and directed by many other people, some of the characters within it aren't really who they appear to be. For example, Hamlet may seem as if he likes his mother, but really he despises her. Or, how Claudius acts innocent by wanting to help Danemark as their ruler but really he is the one who murdered the king to become the king. Even when it comes to Polonius looking like a good father when really he doesn't even trust in his own children who happen to be adults. These are just some examples in Act I of Hamlet that prove the point.…

    • 649 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Hamlet Madness

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages

    4. Hamlet realises himself that he is not mad, but that there is that within which hides show”…

    • 347 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays