How Hamlet's Mental State Changes in the Soliloquies in Hamlet by Shakespeare In William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” there are four major soliloquies that reflect the character of Hamlet. In this paper I will be analyzing and discussing how these four soliloquies reflect changes in Hamlet’s mental state; his changing attitudes toward life and the other characters in the play, particularly the women; and his reflection on the task of revenge that has been assigned to him. These four soliloquies are the backbones of the play, and they offer the audience a glimpse into Hamlet’s mind and thought processes. In the first soliloquy it is very obvious that Hamlet’s sanity is in question. This is apparent in the first four lines of this soliloquy. “ O that this too solid flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew, Or that the Everlasting had not fixed, His canon ‘gainst self-slaughter, O God! God!” (42) These few lines show that Hamlet is so depressed that he wishes he could melt away into nothingness or commit suicide. It is also very apparent in this soliloquy, that Hamlet is beginning to loath his mother for marrying Claudius only one month after King Hamlet’s death. Hamlet loathes his mother and begins to loath all women, because he believes they are all weak. “Let me not think on’t! Frailty, They name is women!” (42) Hamlet seems to view Denmark as a metaphorical garden of Eden which now totally corrupt, this can be seen when Hamlet says “ Tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature”. (42) This soliloquy presents the audience a glimpse into Hamlet’s psyche, he is obviously enraged at his mother’s marriage, the state of Denmark, and he is... ... middle of paper ... ...of view. First, he was a great man of noble birth and he had a lot of responsibility in his kingdom. He is looked up to by most for leadership and guidance. Hamlet has the fatal tendency to only concentrate on only one thing, this thing was to revenge his father’s death by killing Claudius. This tendency leads him to his downfall along with his on major character flaw. This flaw is that Hamlet is a serial procrastinator. One example of this procrastination is that he had many chance to murder Claudius but he did not, he always seemed to find some excuse not to do it. I wonder if he killed Claudius the first chance he got, would he have lived a long and happy life as the King along with his Queen, instead of dying by the shear will of Claudius. Bibliography: Works Cited Shakespeare, William. “Hamlet” Shakespeare made easy. 1986
When Hamlet’s mother remarries to Claudius, her husband’s murderer, Hamlet is disgusted that she could move on so quickly. He’s also disturbed over the fact that his Uncle could kill his own brother, and then marry his brother’s widow. This “incestu...
William Shakespeare. Hamlet edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine. (New York: Washington Square Press, 1992) All future references will come from this text.
In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the question of sexuality and the role of women becomes a substantial component in analyzing Hamlet’s character and behavior. The motif of misogyny occurs intermittently throughout the play shown largely through Hamlet's relationships with both Gertrude and Ophelia. Clearly hurt by Gertrude’s marriage to Claudius so soon after his father’s death Hamlet becomes cynical of women and surmises that they are all immoral creatures. He develops a particular obsession with female sexuality and incestuous relations. Hamlet forms a connection between women and immorality, thus using his his mother’s incestous actions as a basis to surmise that all women are deemed unworthy and morally corrupt. By forming this archetype to suit all the women in his life, Hamlet allows himself a means to project his anger onto others. Therefore Hamlet’s preoccupation with adult sexualty and incest is not only the cause of his sadness and nausea, but is also a means to project his emotions and express the disgust and grief that has been caused by the women of the play and their betrayals.
To begin, the seven soliloquies serve as a strong testament to Hamlet’s sanity because they convey his coherence like no other remarks made in the play. As the story digresses, there is an apparent shift in Hamlet’s demeanor. The rivaling question is, is Hamlet...
“To be or not to be that is the question.” (III. i L 56). This soliloquy is one of the most recited piece by those who are familiar with the line. Although, not many may know the true meaning behind the line. It is significant to analyze how the use of soliloquies can enhance the message in Shakespeare’s play, Hamlet and in other literary elements. Hamlet’s soliloquy reveals that he is contemplating suicide due to complications he experienced in the play. However, soliloquies are often confused with the function of an aside, which is a comment a character directs to only the audience can hear inner thoughts by the speaker. By understanding these dramatic devices that appear in the play, it will reveal the dynamics of Hamlet’s
Hamlet to become extremely upset at his mother for her apparent lack of mourning and
Hamlet’s attachment to his mother was quickly made evident within the first act of the famous tragedy. Hamlet, who sulks around wearing black clothing to mourn the death of his father, first speaks in the play to insult his stepfather. He voices his distaste at his new relationship with his uncle by criticizing that they are, “A little more than kin and less than kind” (I.ii.65). He believes that it is unnatural for his uncle to also be his father, and eagerly jumps at an opportunity to offend Claudius. However, Hamlet acts entirely different towards his mother, despite his poor attitude....
Shakespeare’s introspective play Hamlet embodies elaborate soliloquies and asides that dispense external actions as a result of changes in consciousness, discoveries, and awakenings. Moreover, Maurice Charney claims the “continuity between the conventional speeches of soliloquy and aside and ordinary dialogue throws light retrospectively on Shakespeare and Elizabethan practice” (Charney). Even though Hamlet …”is the prince of philosophical speculators” his soliloquies and asides contribute to the vengeful plot against his uncle by proclaiming to act upon Claudius, responsible for the King’s death (Hazlitt 11).
Shakespeare uses the soliloquy to its full power, using a wide range of techniques and images. We, the audience see far more of his ‘inner soul’ than perhaps is comfortable, and by doing so, ironically we are just as confused as Hamlet is, regarding the cause of his life should take as well as the inner workings of his soul.
Throughout the play Hamlet reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings in Shakespeare's play the Tragedy of Hamlet, in his soliloquies which gives the audience insight into Hamlet's emotions that would not be otherwise known. The soliloquies appear to be ambiguous but they all have a unifying theme that signifies a change in Hamlet. Hamlet reveals in his soliloquies his overall evolution towards self awareness, complete consciousness of existence and the understanding of humanities greatest faults. Hamlets complexity is apparent in his soliloquies, not only does he reveal his thoughts and feeling on the matter at hand but it truly shows his progression and transformation within the play.
The two soliloquies are effectively commentaries against eachother, one with a Hamlet who tries to exhibit stoicism and then struggles with his own grief when he can't and another with a libertine Claudius who formulates his grief instead, having the "wisest sorrow", to please himself and
Soliloquies in a play are very important for an audience to comprehend. When a character on stage speaks their thoughts aloud by oneself, its called a soliloquy. In the play, Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet loses his father. Hamlet’s uncle, who killed the king, takes over and marries the queen, who is also Hamlet’s Mother. After the ghost of the past king visits and exposes his brother for murder, Hamlet attempts uncover his uncle. Acts one, two, and three, of Hamlet, all contain soliloquies that expose a diversity of messages.
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is centered around the dynamic protagonist, whom shares the name of the play, and his emotional struggle which is shown throughout his seven soliloquies. Hamlet is a young man whose life is interrupted by his father’s death which in turn, leads him to questions that cannot be answered with certainty. The play stems from Hamlet’s obsession with proving his uncle’s guilt of murdering his father, and his inability to execute revenge. Hamlet’s life falls to ruin due to his tragic flaw of indecisiveness.
Authors and playwrights often use many literary elements to help aid the audience in a further understanding of their play. An element used frequently in the play Hamlet is the soliloquy. Soliloquies hold a significant role in any play. A soliloquy can be defined when a character speaks to themselves, essentially the audience, revealing their thoughts. The function and purpose of these soliloquies in the play Hamlet is for the audience to develop a further understanding of a character’s thoughts, to advance the storyline and create a general mood for the play.
The perfection of Hamlet’s character has been called in question - perhaps by those who do not understand it. The character of Hamlet stands by itself. It is not a character marked by strength of will or even of passion, but by refinement of thought and sentiment. Hamlet is as little of the hero as a man can be. He is a young and princely novice, full of high enthusiasm and quick sensibility - the sport of circumstances, questioning with fortune and refining on his own feelings, and forced from his natural disposition by the strangeness of his situation.