Analysis Of Hamlet's First Soliloquy

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Throughout the play of Hamlet, the development of his character is quite prevalent. When observing each of his soliloquies and his behavior within each act, we pick up on a strong sense of maturation within him. As the story develops, Hamlet seems to progress from an attitude of mourning and pity, to one of rage and fury, and then into a conscious effort to avenge his father’s death.
In his first soliloquy (found in Act 1, Scene 2), Hamlet is revealing his grave state of mourning. He not only mourns the death of his father, but also his mother’s immediate marriage to Claudius and lack of despondency. In the opening line of this soliloquy, Hamlet states that he is so grieved by these things that he wishes he could commit suicide. Hamlet goes …show more content…

In the beginning of scene one, Hamlet is with Horatio at the gravesite of the recently deceased Ophelia. Hamlet questions the gravedigger as to who the grave belongs to, and after tussling verbally with the gravedigger, he admits that it belongs to one that was a woman, but is now dead. Immediately following this, Ophelia’s cortège arrives at the gravesite. After noticing his mother within the procession, Hamlet and Horatio observe the funeral at a distance. Hamlet is grief-stricken when it is revealed that Ophelia is the one being buried. After Laertes leaps into Ophelia’s grave in order to “hold her in his arms once more,” Hamlet is appalled and proceeds to fight with Laertes after leaping into Ophelia’s grave as well.
After this, Laertes challenges Hamlet to a fencing match, in which Laertes and the King have plotted the death of Hamlet. Hamlet accepts the challenge, and continues to wait for the proper time to exact his revenge. Hamlet seems to quite enjoy the duel, and continues to mask his intention to kill the King throughout the match. After he is made aware from Laertes that the King is responsible for the poisoned blade, and also the poisoning of his mother, Hamlet runs him through with his sword, and forces the poisoned wine down the King’s

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