Hamlet's Frustration
In order to understand Hamlet, we must understand his frustration. This frustration is most clear in his famous monologue, famously beginning with the line "Oh what a rogue and peasant slave am I."
This self-condemnation is contrasted by his admiration for the actor of the previous scene, who "in a fiction" is able to "force his soul to his own conceit." The word "soul" is an example of metonymy, as the soul represents the actor's "visage," "tears," "distraction," and "voice." Thus Hamlet equates "soul" with one's actions, so by his own comparison his soul is weak, as he does not take action against the king. The second sentence is furthermore a rhetorical question, beginning with, "Is it notŠ" So clearly
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Instead of being "pregnant" Hamlet instead admits he can say "nothing." Ironically, the same word was used earlier to describe the actor's cause ("for nothing,/for Hecuba"). Hamlet thus feels completely impotent in his situation, like a "slave." He rhetorically asks himself, "Am I a coward?"
From cowardice, humiliation results, as Hamlet in his mind's eye is being taunted by Claudius, who is calling him a "villain." The word villain is especially ironic, since clearly Claudius is the villain, the murderer, and also since a villain is often meant to mean the antagonist of a play. Thus in a sense it is Hamlet who is the antagonist of the play, working against his noble instincts. Then Hamlet describes what Claudius does to him, metaphorically breaking his "pate across," and plucking out his "beard," to blow it in his "face."
These images of humiliation make one imagine a slave master belittling his slave or an abusive parent scolding his child. Then he decides he deserves this humiliation, saying "swounds, I should take it" since he is "pigeon-livered and lack[s] gall." This is in violent contrast to what Hamlet would do or "should" have done: "fatted all the region kites with the slave's offal," which is what Hamlet feels Claudius deserves. The word "slave" is ironic since this is what Hamlet feels he himself is, indicating that the roles
Another interesting thing that happens at this part of the play is that the Player King unintentionally refers to Hamlet’s inaction:
In this case, Hamlet is obsessed with yet unable to act out his revenge since he is a man of thought and reflection, not of action and impulsiveness. "Revenge, said Francis Bacon in his essay on the subject, is a kind of wild justice, and something in Hamlet is too civilized for stealthy murder," says Northrop Frye (Frye). While he knows it is his duty to avenge his father's murder, Hamlet's desire to fulfill this obligation constantly wavers. In self-pity he cries, "O cursed spite / That ever I was born to set it right!" (1.5. 188-189), and yet in rage he utters, "Now could I drink hot blood / and do such bitter business as the day / Would quake to loot on," (3.2. 397-399). Hamlet hesitates numerous times to fulfill his duty to avenge his father, and in the end he must actually convince himself to kill Claudius. "... I do not know / Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do', / Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means / To do't... / ... / O, from this time forth, / My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!" (4.4. 43-46, 65-66). This unusual flaw leads to Hamlet's inevitable demise, and is the most convincing evidence that Hamlet is, indeed, a tragedy. The protagonist, however, is not the only character in the play that experiences a want for revenge. Shakespeare uses all three of the sons seeking vengeance to reveal the complexity of the human yearning for
Throughout the play, Hamlet is dealing with conflict within himself. When Hamlet finds that he must take revenge on Claudius, he is unsure whether there is any point in having to kill, to take another human life, and whether he would be able to handle this. Hamlet fights inside himself. Is this right? Is this his duty? He considers suicide again, "To be or not to be, that is the question." Hamlet shows his philosophical nature, and talks himself out of the idea of suicide, fearing the unknown beyond. He is thoughtful and intelligent and not first a man of action.
In the light of your critical study, does this statement resonate with your own interpretation of Hamlet?
The soliloquy opens with Hamlet cursing himself as a `rogue and peasant slave'. Hamlet expresses an outburst of hatred, linking it to the actor when he describes the actor's passion.
Hamlet really wanted the revenge on Claudius but was really on the fence of what to actually do to follow through with then plan. Claudius was brave to feel so free, as Hamlet had opportunities to take advantage of him and had plenty of hate towards him for more than one reason. The action Hamlet may want and outcome of it, may be completely different as to what his father would do or like him to do.
Moreover, likening his situation to a lack of pregnancy demonstrates that Hamlet has yet to formulate a plan to achieve his goal. In fact, Hamlet does not devise a plan until the next act, and even then, he is slow to act. As King Claudius confesses his sins, Hamlet hides behind him, sword drawn. Thinking aloud, he prompts, "Now might I do it pat now a is praying/ And now I'll do't/ . . . / and so a goes to heaven,/ And so I am revenged. That would be scanned./ A villain kills my father, and for that/ I, his sole son, do this same villain send/ To heaven" (Hamlet III. iv. 71-78). Hamlet has the prime opportunity to kill his father's murderer, but he hesitates. The prince's judgment is clouded not only by his religious beliefs, but also by his own selfishness. In this verse alone, Hamlet mentions "I" four times, while he mentions his father only once. This self-centered nature further hinders the prince's plan for revenge.
Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s tragic plays, portrays the story of a young man’s quest to avenge his murdered father and his quest to find his true identity. In his soliloquies, Prince Hamlet reveals to the readers his personal perceptions of the events that take place in his homeland, Denmark, and of which are either indirectly or directly tied to his father’s murder. Many critics and scholars agree that while Hamlet’s soliloquies reveal the search of his identity and true character, his soliloquies universally illustrate man’s search for his true identity.
Hamlet continues to compare himself to this actor, and says that if he were in the actors place, he would "Make mad the guilty, and appal the free, confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed". This is a description of the goal of Hamlet's plan. If true, it would force the king into insanity and confession, disgust the important members of society who trusted and supported the king, and shock everyone at the same time. Because Hamlet is now visualizing the theatrical attack on the king, it is obvious which side of decision he is leaning towards, it also shows the hatred Hamlet has for the king and his determination to bring the king down.
Shakespeare writes in a way that is difficult to understand for anyone that speaks the modern language. His story Hamlet is understood through the emotions felt by his characters. Hamlet is the main character who is conflicted with revenge and conspiring friendships. Hamlet returns home from Germany for his father’s funeral only to find far more troubling things. Hamlet is a conflicted character but that doesn’t stop him from knowing what he wants. Revenge is the main cause of his confliction but with great reason, which is important to understand about this play because it helps explain all the betrayal and tragedy.
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 Shakespearean tragedy, Hamlet, entertains the title character's split between head and heart, and accordingly, the arduous struggle he must endure in order to reconcile the two. It is a difficult struggle that is generated by the necessity to unite the two internal counterparts of human consciousness, head (logic and reason) and heart (passions and emotions). From the very beginning of the play, Hamlet is split against himself in a state of entrapment, which is spawned by the unbearable situation with his family. Throughout much of the play, Hamlet attempts to rationally think his way through his situation. His emotions, however, are far too strong for him to adhere to reason alone. Accordingly, his
Insight to Hamlet’s identity is given through the use of soliloquies and monologues. As Hamlet progresses, his thoughts and beliefs about avenging his father’s death are shown and stated by using soliloquies, asides, and monologues, one of which being the famed “To be or not to be” speech (Shakespeare III, i, 64-95). These moments of Hamlet’s dialogue, especially that infamous soliloquy, reveal his true identity as one who is teetering between deciding whether or not to avenge his father’s death.
In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Hamlet is faced with emotional and physical hardship. The suffering that he endures causes his character to develop certain idiosyncrasies. Morality has a significant importance to Hamlet. At the beginning of the play, Hamlet possesses a strong sense of morality. A sense that is stronger than all other characters. Hamlet's actions and feelings are controlled by his morality. His morality grows weaker as the play progresses. Hamlet's opinions toward the characters within the play are determined by his moral standpoint. As the play goes on, Hamlet's tendency of thinking too much causes him to become mad. Hamlet's focal problem is his madness.
Hamlet's mother has just lost a husband, his uncle is worried and guilt-stricken over the terrible crime he committed of murdering his brother, and Ophelia, Hamlet's lover, is miserable because her half-witted father has forbidden her to see Hamlet. This soliloquy pertanes not only to Hamlet, but to virtually all the characters in the play. All the characters are "bear[ing] the whips and scorns" of their piteous lives.