Hamlet’s character is filled out and further clarified through his soliloquies, and hence the interpretation of our hero very much depends on them. These intimate revelations permit the audience to examine and discern Hamlet’s true emotions. On scrutiny by the entire kingdom, it is necessary to constrain or disguise real feeling in the presence of others. One palpable impression that is portrayed via his ‘to be or not to be’ soliloquy is his fixation and yearning for death, and conversely his disgust at the banality of life. Melancholy has completely percolated his character, until existence seems nothing but a ‘mortal coil’- something which ropes him down brutally to humanity in a useless fleshy package. While Hamlet reveals this repugnance earlier during his conversation with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, his already pessimistic attitude has exacerbated since then, so that he teeters near the brink of suicide. A release from the ‘whips’ ‘scorns’ ‘insolence’ and ‘pangs’ annexed to a ‘weary life’ has become something ‘devoutly to be wished’. His sensitivity to the injustice in the world marks his idealistic desire for a moral world. Integrity is especially important to him, and he agonises over which is ‘nobler’; to endure life’s ills with patience, or to ‘take arms’ against them in intrepid defiance. This value also links to his struggle to define ‘truth’. While some regard Hamlet as enigmatic and profound, others interpret Hamlet’s soliloquies as little more than another example of extreme introversion. Indeed, his mind lapses into disconsolate philosophizing whenever he is alone, complaining unremittently. We also realise how prone he is to making sweeping statements, using the pronouns ‘we’ and ‘us’, when his observations on human sociology appertain mainly to himself. This links to the next passage, when he remarks to Ophelia that men are “arrant knaves, all of us”. Furthermore, Hamlet states death is “the undiscovered country /from whose bourn no traveller returns.” Depending on how one interprets this line, it may reveal that Hamlet is prone to indulging in grandiose and melodramatic axioms, without consulting memory first. For his father ‘returns’, at least in spirit, to the mortal realm- he has witnessed the spectre himself. This tendency to give in to his dramatic side links to his rash conflict with Laertes in the graveyard scene. Soliloquies are just as important to play action as other sections because they illustrate crucial character features.
Hamlet’s soliloquies are vital in establishing the mood and themes of the play. Without the soliloquies, Hamlet would remain an entertaining revenge drama. But that enigmatic and sordid quality which suffuses the tragedy would be significantly diminished. The soliloquies, triggered by self-doubt and distress at the corruption of Denmark, explore the dimensions of the human character through Hamlet’s sordid contemplation. The play becomes a dense examination of how external difficulties (the incestuous marriage between Hamlet’s mother and uncle, the ‘unweeded garden’ of the Kingdom, the onus of forced revenge) affect man psychologically. We see the self-directed anger and torment in his second soliloquy- “I,/ a dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak/ like a John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,/ and can say nothing- no, not for a king”. A heart-wrenching hopelessness is also established. Hamlet knows that he has all the motive in the world to kill Claudius- the man murdered his father, married his mother, and usurped his rightful position on the throne. The spectre of his father’s spirit demanded revenge. And yet, he cannot act, and he doesn’t know why. “Fie upon’it! Foh!” he explodes, when he realises that all his ranting on the “remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindles villain” mean nothing in the end, because it achieves nothing. Even through remarking on his procrastination, he is still procrastinating. The third soliloquy is structured similarly to a scholar’s argument; but the subject of this contention is weighty- ‘to be, or not to be’. To live, or to die. He desires the latter, but, a ‘coward’, fearful of ‘what dreams may come’ after death, he resigns himself to life. This theme of death hangs over the entire play; we see Hamlet’s ideas develop on it later during the graveyard scene. Soliloquies affect the mood of the entire play, and are thus part of the action.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Hamlet’s second soliloquy of the play is very interesting because it is full of a raging spirit and the object of Hamlet’s ire is himself. Hamlet’s speech is fueled by his own rage of thinking on the ghost of his father and its missive. It (the speech) is also furthered by his impression of the player who just recently before gave his impassioned speech. Hamlet is livid with himself and it truly shows in his second soliloquy.…
- 734 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
The purpose of this experiment is to verify the independence of X and Y motion for a projection. We watch the professor perform this experiment. The equipment used in this experiment was a projectile launcher (ME-6800), a drop shoot accessory (ME-9859), one photogate (ME-9204A), white paper, carbon paper, two time-of-flight timing pad (ME-6810), two balls (ball 1 and ball 2), and an interface computer. Ball 1 is dropped from rest (free fall), and ball 2 is simultaneously projected horizontally (projectile motion); successive positions of these two balls are separated by equal time intervals. At any given time, both balls have the same y-position, y-velocity, and y-acceleration (g= 9.8 m/s2), despite having different x-positions and x-velocities.…
- 609 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, Hamlet himself is a difficult character to figure out. With his elegant intensity and reckless but cautious attitude, he is able to keep his readers entertained as the play progresses. Through his irrational decisions, emotional madness and admirable qualities, Hamlet becomes a character with whom readers will continuously empathize. Our first impression of Hamlet sets the tone for the entire play. We are brought to one of the beginning scenes where Hamlet is…
- 2842 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays -
For many readers, hamlet remains an imaginative work which has been called a “great poetical puzzle”. Hamlet has caused more discussion than any other character in fiction, dramatic or non-dramatic. Many have been disturbed by what have been called: the two Hamlet in the play”. 1- The true sensitive young intellectual and idealist; the sweet prince, who expresses himself in unforgettable poetry. 2- The other, a barbaric who treats Ophelia cruelty and kills Polonius. Hamlet, a tragic hero who has a clear and sacred obligation to kill Claudius and to do so without delay; the basic question then is: why does so much time elapse before revenge?…
- 10144 Words
- 41 Pages
Good Essays -
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark has remained the most perplexing, as well as the most popular, of William Shakespeare’s tragedies. Whether considered as literature, philosophy, or drama, its artistic stature is universally admitted. To explain the reasons for its excellence in a few words, however, is a daunting task. Apart from the matchless artistry of its language, the play’s appeal rests in large measure on the character of Hamlet himself. Called upon to avenge his father’s murder, he is compelled to face problems of duty, morality, and ethics that have been human concerns through the ages. The play has tantalized critics with what has become known as the Hamlet mystery, that of Hamlet’s complex behavior, most notably his indecision and his reluctance to act.…
- 1773 Words
- 8 Pages
Best Essays -
Hamlet claims “there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so”, his delay or inaction is a central and ambiguous concern throughout the play. This key theme becomes prevalent in his soliloquies. The soliloquies are a dramatic technique, which provides an insight into the characters frame of mind, in this case giving reasons for Hamlet’s delay. The “O what a rogue and peasant slave am I” and “How all occasions do inform against me” soliloquies highlight the ways in which cowardice can prevent action. Hamlet reproaches himself for his apparent weakness and lack of action claiming that he has “but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward.” However the notion of Hamlet’s cowardice, made famous by G. Wilson Night who claims Hamlet is a “sick soul” who “infects the state”, is questionable. Hamlet shows considerable courage: when first informed of the ghosts existence he claims that he will “speak to it though hell itself should gape”, this courage also re emerges when Hamlet calmly confronts Laertes, his existential questions “to be or not to be” turns into the accepting “Let be”. Additional theories relative to the cause of Hamlet’s inaction include an attempt to prevent contamination: his delay results from an attempt to convert the Ghost’s injunction into action without being stained by the corruption of Denmark. Coleridge also approaches the notion of Hamlet’s delay stating that Hamlet knows what is expected of him, but he is constitutionally averse to action, his energy evaporates in self-reproach- “Hence great, enormous, intellectual activity, and a consequent proportionate aversion to real action.” The 1948, Laurence Olivier film echoes this statement, it’s opening title stating “This is the tragedy of a man who could not make up his mind”. This sentiment however is not supported in the text. Hamlet shows that he is capable of making up his mind, often in rash and unthinking ways, such as the murders of Polonius, Rosencrantz and…
- 1987 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Throughout the play Hamlet, William Shakespeare presents many soliloquies. The character Hamlet for example has a few soliloquies in which he contemplates whether to take vengeance on his uncle or not. Shakespeare is constantly calling attention to Hamlet’s worries and delays. He repeatedly raises the issue of delay in decision making. Even though as the reader, an individual may think it is something he/she imposes on the play, but the play raises the issue itself. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy, Shakespeare shows the first true insight into Hamlet’s contemplative nature and his suppression of the passionate feelings towards Gertrude and Claudius. Hamlet agonizes over his hopelessness in carrying out the deed to avenge his father and is always searching for reasons why he is acting the way he is. No matter how much he…
- 995 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
‘Hamlet’ the character, as well as, the play has, very often and rightly, been referred to as a ‘riddle’ by learned critics, and there have always been attempts to solve this riddle. But to endeavor to reach any answer, whether that answer is satisfactory or not is another issue, to the riddle of Hamlet’s character without probing into his soliloquies is a hard pill to swallow. These soliloquies give us an insight into the intentions, thoughts and feelings of Hamlet at different stages of the play, and these are very crucial to the development of his character. His seventh soliloquy is no exception.…
- 767 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the sixth soliloquy of Hamlet, written by Shakespeare, Hamlet finally begins to realize his procrastination. In this soliloquy we discover how Hamlet is purely a follower; he needs to compare himself to another person in order to realize his own flaws. This constitutes his madness as he is seemingly an intelligent man, as suggested by some of his previous soliloquies, but yet is unable to see his own wrongdoings until after it becomes too late. In his sudden realization, he confesses his procrastination and it all becomes clear that he was aware of it the whole time. It thus can be concluded that Hamlet has been fooling us, as all of his wise choices seem to come after some unusual circumstances and not solely from his intellect.…
- 1046 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
We see them every day on the street in squad cars, fire engines, and ambulances. They are always on watch, being the first to respond to any emergency that falls on the general public. The first responders such as fire fighters, law enforcement, medical personnel, and utility workers each have a key role to play and often work in support of one another during terrorist attacks, attempting to suppress the disruption and widespread fear. In this essay, I will discuss the risks that first responders encounter while responding to terrorist attacks.…
- 736 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Hamlet is generally regarded as Shakespeare’s magnum opus, sometimes it is even referred as the highest literary product of human genius. Critics have always been argued on the interpretation of Hamlet and even after more than 400 years, yet these argues still going strong. One of the most controversial that topic for critics since the beginning is the interpretation of the third act of Hamlet, where many critics themselves baffle because normal interpretations will make Hamlet subsequent actions irrational and impossible to explain. Many will use insanity to explain Hamlet actions. However, we will presume that Hamlet is staying sane throughout the course of the story. This paper is an attempt at interpreting the purpose and significant of…
- 1409 Words
- 6 Pages
Better Essays -
father to so a blest son, a son who is the theme of honour tounge.” With this statement…
- 1222 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Opioid are derived from opium or synthetic drugs that have similar properties. These drugs possess the ability to reduce pain. Using opioids for extended periods of time causes the body to become adapted to them. As a result, the body becomes physically dependent on the drug (Paulozzi, 287). According to the Pennsylvania Medical Society, Americans consume 80% of the world’s opioid supply (“More White, Middle-aged Women Overdose on Opioids, Study Says.”). This number is should be shocking and should signal a red flag. Having such easy access to opioids in the United States explains why drug overdoses have increased so drastically. Opioids are not the only drugs that have caused an increase in drug overdose rates. Heroin overdose rates have almost…
- 241 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Hamlet’s mind at first glance is not all it appears to be. One would believe Hamlet to be completely insane with everything that had transpired against him. The loss of his father and his mother’s hasty marriage should have driven his mind to utter desolation and insanity, but on the contrary these events only enhanced the fortitude of his mind and intellect. Hamlet’s ability to form coherent thoughts and his clear use of diction express his sanity; the weight of avenging his father’s death and woes over his mother’s betrayal have affected his emotions, but have not corrupted his mind.…
- 1066 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
A philosophical rendering of the everyday leads to a tension between reflection and action. In Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy play Hamlet, this is highlighted through the characterisation of Hamlet himself, and his engagement with the philosophical and academic concerns of Elizabethan England through his interactions with Horatio. By drawing on elements of this, and contrasting them with contextual concerns about religion and spirituality, Hamlet is constructed as a deeply meditative play, which finds itself continuously delayed and stunted in its attempts to reach fruition.…
- 1023 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays