Analysis Of To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy

868 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: How is morality presented in Hamlet

It has been said that the “To be or not to be” soliloquy gives us a picture of Hamlet the scholar, the intellectual, pondering a problem of moral philosophy. Discuss. Oftentimes, holding societal values and ideals about religion creates ambiguity which prompts an individual to encounter an internal struggle of either taking action to restore honor and certainty, or be stagnant and not act upon it because of the fear of the unknown. In the play, Hamlet, “To be or not to be” soliloquy exemplifies Hamlet’s contemplation of committing suicide, the calamity he faced, finding out his father was murdered by his uncle, Claudius and his mother, Gertrude committing incest inflicted Hamlet’s sorrowful and vengeful nature. Hamlet being a Protestant is aware that suicide and commiting murder is a mortal sin and that the church teachings state that justice would be in the hands of God and one should allow the universe to take its own course of action and punish individuals who engage in …show more content…

However, Hamlet does not act hastily, his intellectual qualities are displayed when he gingerly conceives a plan to witness Claudius confessing for the death of his father. Hamlet unlike Macbeth does not allow supernatural beings to deceive him, Hamlet is not clouded by what he wants to hear, but seeks the truth. If Hamlet witnesses Claudius confessing to his guilty conscience Hamlet will not hesitate and he will assassinate whoever is responsible for the death of his father. Hamlet’s moral philosophy is gradually deteriorating, as he no longer believes that justice should be in the hand’s of god or the universe. He finds a new sense of purpose in life that he must intervene to discover the truth of his father’s death, where his mentality finds nothing left to question and evoke motivation to undertake revenge in order to restore honor and

Show More
Related

  • Hamlet's Relationship With His Parents

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    King Hamlet loved his son like any father does. Hamlet looked up to his father like all children do and his life was greatly changed when he learned of his fathers death. After hearing the news of his father’s death, Hamlet felt as if a part of his life was ripped away from him, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. During an encounter with his father’s ghost, King Hamlet, Hamlet learns that his father was murdered. It was not the news that his father was murdered that shocked Hamlet into reality, it was the fact that the one who murdered him, was in fact his own loving brother, Claudius. After killing his own brother, Claudius believes that he can go on with life like nothing has happened. Hamlet does not understand how someone can murder somebody, who is not only the King, but their own brother, and go on with life like he did nothing wrong.

    Read More

  • Madness and Insanity in Shakespeare's Hamlet - Madness and Hamlet

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet's display of mental illness allows him to prove to himself that Claudius did, in fact, murder his father. After seeing the ghost of his father, Hamlet vows to avenge his death and decides that feigning lunacy will provide him with the means to prove Claudius' guilt. Following his initial encounter with the ghost of his father, Hamlet is very excitedly speaking with Marcellus and Horatio and tells them:

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Immaturity in Shakespeare's Hamlet

    744 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet is given reason to believe that his Father was murdered. A ghost bearing the “…same figure like the king that’s dead.” (Bernardo 1:1) informed him that the old King’s death was “Murder most foul…” (Ghost 1:5). When Hamlet eagerly inquires as to the meaning of the Ghost’s words he is told that “The serpent that did sting thy father’s life/ Now wears his crown.” Upon hearing this Hamlet immediately knows that his Uncle Claudius, the new king and his new step-father, is the guilty party. A mature person upon hearing news like this would, most likely, also have gone slightly insane with anger. How ever a mature person, upon regaining some control of his or her faculties, would have taken steps to punish the murderer in a just fashion. These steps would have included informing to populace and the Queen of the New King’s treachery against the old. Hamlet does not do this, instead he schemes and plots ways to kill his Uncle as opposed to giving him the opportunity to exculpate himself. Had Hamlet acted with maturity and expressed his concerns about his uncle the lives of many people would have been spared.

    Read More

  • Close Reading In Hamlet

    776 Words  | 2 Pages

    As well as Hamlet is giving clues to Claudius, that Hamlet knows who killed his father. Hamlet asks for a play that gives the same story line to scare his uncle. This is a tactic to send not only Hamlet into insanity but also Claudius. The tactic of the play works Claudius is fearful of what Hamlet knows about the murder of King Hamlet. Prince Hamlet is now fearful of everyone that is proximate to him. Hamlet cerebrates that everyone is out to get him. Hamlet even endeavors to verbalize to his mother to convince her that Claudius killed King Hamlet. Even when Hamlet tells Gertrude, it is as though she thinks Hamlet is making it up. Claudius is victualing into Hamlet 's suspicion by sending people to Hamlet and ascertain what he knows. This makes Hamlet not trust anyone that he knows.

    Read More

  • Hamlet's Flaws and Sanity

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” is a classic revenge tale. “Hamlet” is well known for the famous soliloquy “To be, or not to be” which I find best to describe Hamlet’s character. Hamlet was given the task to avenge his father’s death. As the story progress Hamlet begins to question his worthiness, questioning his very existence. Hamlet’s emotions influence his every action throughout the story. Hamlet is not the typical hero that readers label; he has many imperfections and displays his own manner of heroism. I will talk about Hamlet’s flaws and his sanity in this essay, and with them opinions of others as well as my own. I will also include my thoughts about the central theme and symbols in the story.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On The Tragedy Of Hamlet

    1041 Words  | 3 Pages

    You would think that having the ghost of his father tell him that Claudius was guilty would be all that is needed in order for Hamlet to take revenge instantly. But it is a breath of fresh air and an act of stupidity all at once that he continues to look for more evidence of his uncle’s guilt.

    Read More

  • Hamlet: The Dionysian Character

    1368 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet's inability to think rationally plagues him through the entire play. If Hamlet had not sworn to his father's ghost to avenge his death, he could have instead confronted Claudius about the matter instead of thinking irrationally by plotting and testing his uncle for guilt (1.5, 94-114). Earlier in the play, Hamlet has the first player "speak the speech" that he has told him to speak in "The Mouse-trap," which he uses to determine Claudius's guilt in his father's death. Hamlet believes that this modification to the play will incite a reaction from King Claudius, which it in fact does, but the king's words of "Give me some light: away!" is not adequate evidence to prove Claudius's guilt of his father's death nor does it appear to anyone, besides Hamlet, as a rational method for testing his guilt (3.2, 256). Shortly after the play in Hamlet, Hamlet proc...

    Read More

  • The Importance of Self-image in Hamlet

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hamlet based a lot of his actions on his religious moral standards. Although Hamlet had high morals, he still had many impulses that were against his moral standards that he wanted to carry out; such as the murder of his father and his thoughts on suicide. "His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God, God, how weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of this world!" (I, ii, 36-138) Hamlet is saying that if it wasn't against his religion to commit suicide, he would do it. In his fourth soliloquy, Hamlet says, "Thus, conscience does make coward of us all." (III, i, 91) Hamlet blames his inability to act out his impulses on these moral standards that have been ingrained into his conscience. He finds the restrictions in his world unbearable because it is confined within religious and social class barriers.

    Read More

  • Hamlets Obsession with Death

    1081 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Hamlet, William Shakespeare presents the main character Hamlet as a man who is fixated on death. Shakespeare uses this obsession to explore both Hamlet's desire for revenge and his need for assurance. In the process, Shakespeare directs Hamlet to reflect on basic principles such as justice and truth by offering many examples of Hamlet's compulsive behavior; as thoughts of death are never far from his mind. It is apparent that Hamlet is haunted by his father's death. When Hamlet encounters the ghost of his father, their conversation raises all kinds of unthinkable questions, for example murder by a brother, unfaithful mother, that triggers Hamlet's obsession. He feels compelled to determine the reliability of the ghost's statements so that he can determine how he must act. Ultimately, it is his obsession with death that leads to Hamlet avenging the death of his father by killing Claudius.

    Read More

  • Social and Psychological Influences on Hamlet

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the influence of Hamlet’s psychological and social states display his dread of death as well as his need to avenge his father’s death.  In turn, these influences illuminate the meaning of the play by revealing Hamlet’s innermost thoughts on life, death and the effect of religion.  Despite the fact that Hamlet’s first instincts were reluctance and hesitation, he knows that he must avenge his father’s death.  While Hamlet is conscious of avenging his father’s death, he is contemplating all the aspects of death itself.  Hamlet’s decision to avenge his father is affected by social, psychological and religious influences.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Ambiguity In Hamlet

    1130 Words  | 3 Pages

    William Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet, possesses some key themes of betrayal, allegiance, and revenge. A pivotal moment of the play is in Act One Scene Five, when the ghost of Hamlet’s father comes to Hamlet. This scene is most well-known for the line “murder most foul” (I,v,27). The ghost of the deceased king tells Hamlet that he has been murdered by his own brother, Claudius. The ghost implores one thing unto Hamlet: ¬¬¬¬¬¬to seek vengeance for the mortal sin committed against him. This scene is crucial because it sets up the motivation for Hamlet to try to kill Claudius, the new King and his own uncle. Hamlet seeking vengeance for his father being killed is the main plot of the entire play. Hamlet’s actions to pursue his murderous

    Read More

  • Hamlet: Fate vs Free Will

    1003 Words  | 3 Pages

    ... His desire to obey his dead father’s request and exact revenge on Claudius warred against his qualms and doubts of killing another human being. When he finally accepted the role Fate plays in the lives of mankind, Hamlet could proceed to “accept the necessity of killing Claudius. [because] he would simply be acting as the instrument of divine justice at work in the world.” (Ahlman)

    Read More

  • Hamlet Acts Morally, Harms Others by his Actions, and Realizes his Tragic Limits

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    As shown through textual evidence, Hamlet attempts to act morally. That he does not take action unless he is assured that it will accomplish what he desires. Additionally, during the delay to gain revenge for his father, he not only deceives himself, but also the people around him. Hamlet is a man of many discoveries. The tragic hero in Shakespeare's Hamlet undergoes many changes throughout the play. His mindset is set deep and far away from the physical world that both helps him and hinders him in his plight for revenge against his uncle, Claudius.

    Read More

  • Free Hamlet Essays: Hamlet's Inability to Take Action

    593 Words  | 2 Pages

    As illustrated through his speeches and soliloquies Hamlet has the mind of a true thinker. Reinacting the death of his father in front of Claudius was in itself a wonderful idea. Although he may have conceived shcemes such as this, his mind was holding him back at the same time. His need to analyze and prove everythin certain drew his time of action farther and farther away. Hamlet continuously doubted himself and whether or not the action that he wanted to take was justifiable. The visit that Hamlet recieves from his dead father makes the reader think that it is Hamlet's time to go and seek revenge. This is notthe case. Hamlet does seem eager to try and take the life of Claudius in the name of his father, but before he can do so he has a notion, what if that was not my father, but an evil apparition sending me on the wrong path? This shows that even with substantial evidence of Claudius' deeds, Hamlet's mind is not content.

    Read More

  • Hamlet as the Tragic Hero

    828 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hamlet’s tragic flaw was shown to him in a dream by the ghost of his father. His father tells him that he was murdered by his uncle, Claudius. In this scene, the tragic flaw was transferred and manifested itself in Hamlet’s actions. His obsession with revenge and death is all he can think about. He needs to act quickly and decisively but finds himself procrastinating about what to do. In Act III, Hamlet holds the knife over the head of his uncle, Claudius, but cannot strike the fatal blow. Instead, he writes a play about the same scenario to study the reaction of Claudius as to a clue of his guilt. After he decides Claudius is guilty of murdering his father, he still relents from taking his revenge. He says, “Haste me to know ‘t, that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thought of love May sweep to my revenge.

    Read More

More about Analysis Of To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy

Open Document