The play Hamlet written by William Shakespeare is arguably one of the most well-known plays of all time. Written in the 1600’s, Shakespeare chooses Hamlet, a prince, as the protagonist and main character of the play. Hamlet experiences many emotionally life changing events from the opening scene until the culmination of the play. Hamlet’s transformation from a helpless man in despair into a determined, confident gentleman is revealed in his soliloquies, which are reflections of his multiple experiences. There is a drastic transformation from the initial soliloquy to the seventh soliloquy by Hamlet’s character. His growth is seen best through these soliloquies, being the only medium where he can truly open up and let out his inner thoughts and …show more content…
At the beginning of act 3, scene 1 however, Hamlet begins to play mind games with himself which sparks an internal philosophical debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence, and whether it is right to end his or her own life. He contemplates whether it is fair to end his life so he could be free from his misery, troubles and heartaches. This is considerably the most famous soliloquy in all English literature. It starts off with the renowned lines of “To be or not to be, that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” (3.1.57-58). Hamlet is not necessarily talking about himself, but more of the ideology behind the existence of humanity. Nevertheless, he is terrified of the thought of death and the after-life that awaits him. A song that would relate well to the way Hamlet’s feeling is the song “Into the ocean” – Blue October. The lyrics “Wish I was much more masculine…I want to swim away but don’t know how… let the waves up take me down,” describe how hard life may be and I felt like Hamlet would completely relate to this song in his struggle of “to be, or not to be” (3.1.57). The dread of the afterlife, Hamlet concludes, leads to excessive moral sensitivity that makes action impossible: “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought.” (3.1.84-86). Considering all said and done, Hamlet has lost hope and is in a state of despair, just as the song states “I'm sinking to the bottom of my, everything that freaks me
Shakespeare's dramatic treatment of struggle is clear through Hamlet's inability to take action and carry out his duty to his father. Before avenging his father's death, Hamlet first puts on a play "to hold...the mirror up to nature," in an attempt to reinact the events of his fathers death and "catch the conscience of the king" to ensure that what the ghost has told him is true. While by arranging this play, Hamlet is in a sense taking some action by trying to ascertain the truth, Hamlet reproaches himself in a soliloquy for his lack of decisive action. Shakespeare's use of a soliloquy allows Hamlet to reveal his feelings and innermost thoughts to the audience and he admires one of the players' passion and emotion. Hamlet marvels at the
Shakespeare’s employment of dramatic struggle and disillusionment through his character Hamlet, contributes to the continued engagement of modern audiences. The employment of the soliloquy demonstrates Shakespeare’s approach to the dramatic treatment of these emotions. The soliloquy brings a compensating intimacy, and becomes the means by which Shakespeare brings the audience not only to a knowledge of secret thoughts of characters, but into the closest emotional touch with them too. Through this, the audiences therefore gain a closer relationship with Hamlet, and are absorbed by him because they are able to resonate with his circumstances, as he is faced with enduring truths of the human condition. Through these, the struggle and
In the first scene of Act III, lines 56 to 89, Hamlet is talking towards himself in the famous “to be or not to be” speech. In his speech, he begins to ask whether is better to live or to be dead. He then starts different types of metaphors to help discuss through the pros and cons about living. This makes Hamlet’s character overall going through anxiety, because he is going through about finding the truth about his father’s murder as well as going through with the revenge plan. He starts to ask himself more questions about the fear of dying and the struggle of living. This makes Hamlet more worried about what will be the outcome of death and the reason to live. In lines 66 to 70, he states, “To sleep, perchance to dream-ay, there’s the rub,
In act 3 scene 1 of William Shakespeare “Hamlet” the main protagonist, Hamlet, recites a soliloquy “To be, or not to be.” Throughout his lines Hamlet explains the concept of suicide and why people choose to live long lives instead of ending their suffering. The main point he speaks on is the mystery of one’s afterlife, they never know for sure what happens when they die. For this reason, his speech does a good job highlighting the plays underlying themes of pervasiveness of death, and tragic dilemma, and tragic flaws.
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 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,
Hamlet’s character drastically develops over the first four acts of Hamlet, and his character development is most evident through the soliloquys he delivers throughout the play. The most character development can be seen from the first soliloquy, to the second, the third, the sixth, and the seventh and final soliloquy. Hamlet’s inner conflict with his thoughts and his actions are well analyzed in his soliloquys, as well as his struggles with life and death, and his very own existence. He begins the play wondering what purpose he has in life now that his father is dead and his mother has remarried to his uncle. After finding out foul play was involved in his father’s death, he is motivated by revenge. Finally, he wonders how he can enact his revenge while continuously overthinking and overanalyzing his actions.
William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, is a timeless play which continues to remain relevant across all generations due to its presentation of ideas that are fundamental to humanity. The play highlights aspects that relate to the society of not only Elizabethan England but also that of our modern society. Hamlet, as a character, considers ideas from outside his time and is somewhat relatable to modern day man. By drawing from ideas of archetypes and the human psyche, it reveals that Hamlet relates deeply to the elements of humanity.
Writing can often reveal hidden messages. William Shakespeare's Hamlet takes place in an era of ruling kings and queens. When the king of this time frame dies and comes back to inform Hamlet, who is this king’s son, of his death and seek revenge. Spinning into a stage of insanity, Hamlet himself writes seven soliloquies that unravel his character through his perception of death and suicide, violence, and revenge.
Hamlet feels the constant need to reassure himself that his beliefs are correct, especially in his soliloquies about death. It is stated, “O that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew!...” (Act 1, Sn 2, 129-1559). Hamlet discusses how things were not good and he was just in mourning and despair in this soliloquy. In the noted to be or not be soliloquy he continues the decisions on death, “To be, or not to be: that is the question: 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?...” (Act 3, Sn 1, 56-89). As Hamlet continues through the play he gives up in a sense because of everything happening to the people he was close to and to him in general. He lost the people he cared about due to his uncle’s careless actions and his mother playing along with it. When he actually got emotion from his uncle things were only proven to be more complicated because his father’s ghost was correct. His soliloquies prove how Hamlet was overly depressed and wanted to die, although depression during this time period is completely different compared to now.
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.
The play Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most psychological plays. There is a lot that goes into understanding the characters and the reasoning for their actions. The soliloquies in Hamlet are crucial to understanding the meaning of this play. There are so many soliloquies that once you can decipher what they are saying, you can find the deeper meaning and reason for the play. Hamlet is depressed throughout the whole play, always dressed in black, sulking around the castle. He is mourning the death of his father. “That Shakespeare was profoundly influenced by such a play in the structural part of Hamlet there can be no doubt, and modern students find the explanation of many difficulties, inconsistencies, and discrepancies.” (Carroll) The most popular soliloquy in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, maybe even the most
In Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 3, scene 1, he presents his most rational and dominating scrutiny of the moral authority to take one's own life. He presents the dilemma of whether to commit suicide and escape one's frustrations in life, or to live because of fear of the after life. "To be or not to be-that is the question:/ Whether it is nobler in the mind to suffer/ The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, / Or to take arms against a sea of troubles" (3.1. 64-7). He decides that the only reason people choose to live is because they fear the afterlife and it's consequences. "When he himself might his quietus make/With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, / To grunt and sweat under a weary life, / But the dread of something after
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.
Hamlet, the titled character of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, William Shakespeare’s most prominent play, is arguably the most complex, relatable, and deep character created by Shakespeare. His actions and thoughts throughout the play show the audience how fully developed and unpredictable he is with his mixed personalities. What Hamlet goes through in the play defines the adventures encountered by a tragic hero. In this timeless tragedy, despite Hamlet’s great nobility and knowledge, he has a tragic flaw that ultimately leads to his ironic death.