Hamlet

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Appearing seven times, the soliloquies given by Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” are a crucial part of understanding what is happening throughout the story. They give readers insight to the plans of revenge of Hamlet, as well as showing his emotions and state of mind. As author Thomas MacCary puts it, “Hamlet as a character must reveal what is hidden, so the plot of Hamlet is a gradual revelation of what is rotten in the state of Denmark, and the soliloquies tell us how Hamlet thinks and feels about this” (MacCary 65).Without the soliloquies, readers would not understand what exactly drives Hamlet to take the actions that he does.
Hamlets first soliloquy, which takes place in act one scene two, shows readers how deeply Hamlet cared for his father, and how grief stricken he has been since his fathers death. Part of the reason for his emotional state in this soliloquy is the fact that his mother has remarried after such a short period after his fathers death. Hamlet says “Why, she would hang on him… Within a month… She married.” (Shakespeare 1.2. 142-156). Hamlet is very angry with the actions of his mother. He does not feel that she mourned the death of his father long enough, and married again so soon, to his uncle none the less. This soliloquy shows the angry state of mind that becomes Hamlets driving force throughout the play. Hamlets second soliloquy comes shortly after the ghost of his father reveals how he was murdered. It shows the dark and angry state of mind Hamlet has entered. In this soliloquy, Hamlet vows to remember his father, and seek revenge on his murder.
Hamlets third soliloquy, which takes place in Act 2 Scene 2, shows a Hamlet who is very self critical and angry at himse...

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...mlet is delivered in Act 3 Scene 3. This speech shows the inner struggle Hamlet is facing when he finds his uncle kneeling on the ground praying. On the one hand, it would be very easy for Hamlet to kill Claudius while he is in such a vulnerable position, but mere death is not good enough for Hamlet. He believes that to properly get revenge on Claudius, he must catch him while committing a sin. Hamlet must catch Claudius “Drunk asleep, or in his rage, or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed, at gaming, swearing or about some act that has no relish of salvation in it.” (Shakespeare 3. 3. 89-92). By this, Hamlet means he does not only want Claudius dead, he wants him to be locked out of heaven in the same way his father was, so he must catch him doing something sinful, and not kill him while he is in mid prayer, because that would cause him to go straight to heaven.

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