Hamlet's First Soliloquy

Throughout the play, Hamlet is driven to avenge his father’s death and expose the lies of Polonius, Gertrude, Ophelia, and Claudius who attempted to deceive him. In order to be successful Hamlet puts on his own act and even a play to reveal the truth. There is an obvious change between his personality in private and public. His public persona is over exaggerated and childish at times but it’s revealed to the reader that it’s only an act. He puts on a show in order to get the characters around him to perceive him as crazy. Yet his private persona contrasts his actions in public. Through Hamlet’s soliloquies, he give the readers insight into he is truly feelings. In the play there is a distinct yet intentional difference in Hamlet’s personality,
in public he acts rude and erratic but in the end it is only an act to get justice for the death of his father. when in private he is characterized as emotional and reveals every bit of himself.
Hamlet is very thoughtful and analytical whenever he was able to think on his own.
His soliloquies reveal the most about him as the reader is given an inside look into his state of mind. Hamlet is distraught and angered by the death of his father and the manipulation by the people he most cared about. Hamlet was not crazy, he was extremely intelligent. Instead of letting it get in his way he puts on the perfect act in front of the rest of the characters. Hamlet’s second soliloquy is one of the most important ones of them all. Although his intended audience can be interpreted in different ways, it seems as though he was talking directly to himself in this particular soliloquy. Hamlet is reacting to seeing his dead father for the first time and finally learning the truth about what happened. In the beginning of his speech Hamlet can be described as extremely emotional and dramatics. “O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell? Oh, fie! Hold, hold, my heart” (1.5, ) . He screams into the skies, Heaven, and Hell asking for answers into his problems. Hamlet repeats “O villain, villain, smiling, damnèd villain!” in an erratic and angered way. He uses as his soliloquies as a way to let out his frustration and anger before he
does on anyone else. In a quick second, Hamlet comes to a realization. Hamlet sets aside his anger for Claudius and uses it as will power to carry out his plan. “Meet it is I set it down, So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word.” (1.5, 108-111), the last thing he says now after talking it through I must set aside my feelings and keep the promise I made to my dead father. In Act 3, Scene 3 Hamlet is presented the opportunity to kill Claudius and must quickly make the decision. Within this particular soliloquy Hamlet fights with himself, going back and forth in order to come to a decision. It shows a very indecisive side of Hamlet. He has spent for most of the play claiming that he was going to get revenge the second he had the opportunity but when time came to it he made excuses. It shows the reader that Hamlet is a strong character with intelligence. He was able to will himself to wait for the perfect moment where no sin would be committed. Hamlet puts a lot of thought into the words and actions he chooses to use around the other characters. The readers can see how he plans out every word in order to figure out what he wants. There is a method to the madness just as Polonius states. Polonius: What do you read, my lord? Hamlet: Words, words, words. Polonius: What is the matter, my lord? Hamlet: Between who? Polonius: I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. Hamlet: Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards that their faces are wrinkled; together with most weak hams… Polonius: [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t. In this particular conversation with Polonius, whatever Hamlet had said didn’t necessarily mean anything or make any sense whatsoever. But he was able to show the reader the true intentions behind his words. Hamlet is able to convince Claudius that his is going mad only to achieve exactly what he hoped. He has wrapped around his finger and making Claudius believe he knows everything about Hamlet. Hamlet knows exactly what to say and how to say it so that it causes a reaction.
For example he is aware that Ophelia is acting as a spy for her father and for that reason he feels betrayed by someone he trusted the most. "If thou dost marry, I’ll give thee this plague for thy dowry. Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go. Farewell. Heavenly powers, restore him!" (3.1, 146-149) He wants to make her feel helpless in defending herself and responsible for his craziness. Depending on the character he is around, he adjusts his persona to each character. Hamlet uses her as part of the plan in tricking Polonius, Gertrude, and Claudius but all the while he is hurting. His rude remarks and outbursts are not only directed to Ophelia but Claudius and Polonius as well in that way he hurts her the most. This is one of the few times that Hamlet lets his emotions get the better of him and potentially ruin his
plan.