Hamlet Soliloquy

Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy is conceivably the most prominent soliloquy in the archive of the theatre. Even now, more than 400 years after it was originally written there is still an air of familiarity that reaches others even if they do not know the play itself in detail. In act 3, scene 1, Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” Soliloquy is critical in developing the plot because this is when Hamlet discusses his most suicidal thoughts.

After Hamlet’s depressive first soliloquy, his second is far more motivated and aggressive. Hamlet’s second soliloquy occurs right after the ghost of the dead King, Hamlet’s father, leaves, having charged Hamlet with the duty of taking the revenge upon his murderer. In this soliloquy, Hamlet

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet concerns a young boy, Hamlet, who's father, the king of Denmark, has been killed by his power-thirsty uncle who has now taken over the throne. Hamlet struggles with the idea of revenge throughout the entire play, knowing he must kill his uncle to avenge his father, while simultaneously failing to take action with every opportunity that presents itself. Throughout Hamlet’s soliloquy, “To Be or Not To Be”, Shakespeare avoids personal pronouns, while also using generalized diction and ambiguous, philosophical language in order to further his dismissal of his own situation, showing, rather, his contemplation of life and death as a whole. The beginning of Hamlet’s soliloquy is perhaps the most famous line throughout

Shakespeare's main character Hamlet is a victim of both internal and external conflict. His conflict includes a physical nature as he goes about to avenge his father's death. Shakespeare translates further the idea of internal versus external conflict by giving it a physical nature. Shakespeare also uses soliloquies to emphasise Hamlets inner thoughts and conflict. This stands in contrast to the way he acts amongst others; with the intention of highlighting the inner turmoil he is experiencing. The infamous quote, "To be or not to be: that is the question: whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer…." (Act III, scene i, 58-90). It is during this soliloquy that

The "To Be or Not To Be" speech in the play, "Hamlet," portrays Hamlet as a very confused man. He is very unsure of himself and his thoughts often waver between two extremes due to his relatively strange personality. In the monologue, he contemplates whether or not he should continue or end his own life. He also considers seeking revenge for his father’s death. Evidence of his uncertainty and over thinking is not only shown in this speech, but it also can be referenced in other important parts of the play.

This is apparent by the first few lines of the soliloquy. To Hamlet the world is just so “stale, flat, and”(I. Ii. 136) meaningless. The world is an “unweeded garden”(I. Ii. 239), where “things ranks and gross in nature”(I.ii.140) posses it, and grow out of control. The juxtaposition of life as an unweeded garden display Hamlet's thoughts of life- life is out of control like an unweeded garden which weeds, or people wreak havoc against it causing chaos and dismay. His uncle, like a weed, murdered his father, tumbling Hamlet’s world into chaos.

Hamlet’s soliloquies which, like any other soliloquy, reveal the thought processes behind his planned courses of action provide further insight into Hamlet’s emotional disposition with the usage of both specific audiovisual cues, as well as environments which emphasize the main point of each soliloquy. For example, Hamlet’s “To be” soliloquy, which focuses on both the nature of death and its aftermath, takes place within what appears to be a catacomb. Considering how Hamlet had recently accepted the task of killing Claudius (given to him by the supposed ghost of his father), it is only natural that the director (Franco Zeffirelli) would choose such a scene. Not only that, but as this soliloquy in particular is a moment of quasi-enlightenment -- since Hamlet is unable to answer the question, “To be, or not to be” at that point -- Mel Gibson shows Hamlet as a character reminiscent of a scared, wide-eyed child, and makes use of lengthy pauses in order to emphasize further that this soliloquy is Hamlet’s stream of consciousness put into words. Another example is Hamlet’s “Am I a coward” soliloquy in Act II. This soliloquy can, in one sense, simply show Hamlet as perturbed due to doubts over the truthfulness of the late king’s ghost. But Mel

Shakespeare builds and maintains the tension in Hamlet’s soliloquy through tone. The soliloquy begins in a depressing tone with the use of imagery when Hamlet contemplates on committing suicide, “Throw and resolve itself into dew” (1.2, 130). Shakespeare then shifts to a frustrated tone with the use of an exclamation point (syntax), “Seem to me all the uses of the world!” (1.2, 134), gives an idea of how angered Hamlet is with his mother’s incest. Hamlet’s soliloquy then shifts to a somber tone as he characterizes his father who was, “So excellent a king” (1.2, 139) that was so kind to Hamlet's mother, that the King would not allow, “...the winds of heaven Visit her [Gertrude’s] face too roughly.”

“To be or not to be— that is the question.” An exceptionally recognized phrase amid many centuries, cultures, places, and people. This short excerpt derives from the Shakespearean play, Hamlet: The Tragedy of the Prince of Denmark. Originally, this passage was displayed in one of the soliloquies of the play. Defined as “an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play”, a soliloquy is crucial to furthering the plot and connecting the audience with the speaker. William Shakespeare reveals the true desires and intentions of Hamlet, the main character of Hamlet: The Tragedy of the Prince of Denmark, within the protagonist’s soliloquies. Even Hamlet, one of the most complex characters in literary history, can be simplified through the use of a soliloquy.

Hamlet is the main character of the play providing him with the most lines including a number of soliloquies. During these soliloquies, the reader is able to learn about Hamlet and his feelings,

To Agree or Not to Agree In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince Hamlet has many key soliloquies that are central to the tragedy of Hamlet, but most central idea is found in the soliloquy “To be or not to be…” because it touches several other themes in the play. This soliloquy hits on how suicide is a desirable alternative to life, the difficulty of knowing truth, and how Hamlet’s intellect is furiously trying to find a cure for his endless misery. In “To be or not to be…”(3.1056-89), Hamlet believes death is a way to escape life; a “perchance[d] dream” to escape the “heartache” of life.

In a following speech Hamlet’s disposition towards the world persists, yet his attitude towards death has undergone a transformation. Previously, Hamlet was quick to proclaim his desire to die, but by the third act he’s become uncertain. This hesitation becomes apparent in Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech (3.1.56-90). With those opening words, Hamlet debates whether he should exist or not. The fact that this is still a question for him shows that he continues to be displeased with life. Hamlet asks himself, “Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them? To die to sleep.” This reveals a new concern that Hamlet has, he doesn’t ask what is best for him to do, but rather what is nobler, which makes it apparent that he’s concerned with maintaining his character. Even though he maintains the desire to escape the world and the experience in it, he still cares about the image that he leaves behind. Subsequently, Hamlet uses war-like diction, comparing life to war with “slings and arrows” which makes life intolerable. This just reaffirms the ideas Hamlet has had throughout the play, however, a shift transpires when he mulls over the idea that death is like being asleep. A problem arises when he realizes that even when you sleep you experience, “To sleep; perchance to dream: Ay, there’s the rub.” This could be easily misinterpreted as Hamlet hoping to dream, but perchance

William Shakespeare uses the literary technique of the soliloquy to allow the audience to see deeper into his characters’ thoughts in his play, Hamlet. This technique helps to reveal Hamlet’s true character, expressing emotions that the audience cannot see through his interactions with other characters. Through Hamlet’s soliloquies, one may notice that his reluctance to take actions that involve death can be attributed to his fear of the unknown and his uncertainty in regards to afterlife.

By Hamlet’s third soliloquy he still has not taken action to avenge his father’s death and hates everyone around him, including himself. He begins his soliloquy with the famous line “To be, or not to be?” With this line Hamlet is asking whether is it better to be alive or to be dead. In this soliloquy Hamlet contemplates suicide and discusses the trials of life. He wishes not to have to deal with the hardships of life, but realizes that he is not brave enough to take his own life. Not only is he, like most humans, afraid of the unknown, but he is also afraid of committing a sin and damning his soul. At the end of his third soliloquy Hamlet has yet to do as his father’s ghost told him and Hamlet is still angry with himself for being such a coward.

“To be, or not to be: That is the question”(3.1.58). This is probably the most famous quote in all of Shakespearean literature and was uttered by the main character, Hamlet, of the play “Hamlet” written by Shakespeare. It demonstrates his instability and suicidal thoughts. Throughout the play he comes off as a very unpredictable and complex character. He makes many rash decisions, but at the same time often takes a lot of time to contemplate many of his choices. Through Hamlet’s language and voice, we can examine what type of character Shakespeare created. Hamlet acts differently towards people in contrast to his actual thoughts, which are projected through his soliloquies. Due to the insanity