Hamlet Soliloquy Analysis

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This soliloquy by Hamlet is where he first devises the plan of the “Mouse Trap” (Act III, scene 2). It begins with Hamlet describing how he has heard that people can be overcome with guilt and remorse of their “malefactions” that they openly proclaim them, when viewing a scene of a play similar to that of their crime. As a result of this Hamlet resolves to set a trap for Claudius, in which he will watch a play that has a scene closely resembling the murder of Old King Hamlet. Hamlet reasons that upon viewing this scene, if Claudius is indeed guilty of Old King Hamlets murder, he will surely show some visible sign. And so Hamlet will “observe his looks … tent him to the quick”. The meaning of these two lines is that Hamlet will watch his uncle closely, and probe his conscious to see if he flinches. By gauging Claudius’ reaction, Hamlet will be able to determine whether or not he is guilty, if this is the case Hamlet states “I know my course.” Hamlet will avenge the murder of his father by killing Claudius. Hamlet then proceeds to describe how the spirit he has seen may be the devil trying to trick him into doing its work. Hamlet concludes that he will “have grounds more relative than this [the spirit]” and that “The play’s the thing” that he will use to “catch the conscience of the king.”

This section is integral to the play as a whole for two reasons: (1) it describes the beginning of the play’s climax, and (2) it is a key example proving that Hamlet’s “madness” is indeed a conscious ploy. It is generally agreed upon that the play-within-a-play is the climax of this play. Claudius Evidence for this includes the play beginning to resolve itself with Hamlet finally deciding that is indeed guilty of the murder ...

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...the meaning of the play as there are several new elements added. Hence, Hamlet, as with all plays, can be interpreted in various ways. The Cambridge University Press audio version fits into a Aristotelian Tragedy or Revenge Tragedy, and provides a classic interpretation of the play. The movie Hamlet directed by Kenneth Baranagh also fits into these two interpretations however the omission of Fortinbras, results in the Denouement and the restoration of order is not addressed. This affects the meaning of the play as it portrays the sense that the play hasn’t quite finished as not everything has been resolved. A Freudian interpretation will dramatically alter several relationships affecting the meaning of the play as other changes are needed to be made to compensate these relationship changes.

Works Cited

Hamlet, Shakespeare

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