Bestial Oblivion Essay, Research Paper

Throughout Shakespeare s tragic story of Hamlet the manner in which Hamlet speaks allows a glimpse of his conniving personality. His soliloquies are no different in showing his scholastic qualities. These characteristics are present in many of Hamlet s sentences and actions. The method he uses to verify the Ghosts story and to find blame in the king is well thought out and pre-planned. In Act IV, Scene IV, Hamlet emotions are well conveyed by the style in which he speaks out on his disappointment in himself for not taking action against his uncle and his decision to hide behind madness as well as his admiration for Fortinbras in his engagement to honor Old Fortinbras.

In the beginning of Hamlet s soliloquy he is analyzing the reasons why he has not yet imparted action behind his intentions to avenge his fathers foul and most unnatural murder (Act I, Scene V, Line 30). Whether he is being beastly and consuming his time sleeping and feeding (Act IV, Scene IV, Line 37) or he is thinking too intently on his course of action, destiny is not being fulfilled. His manner of speech shows his drawn out thought process which leads to the belief that the latter of the two reasons is more likely the cause of his lack of action. Hamlet s sentences are lengthy and full of scholastic thought and reason.

Now whether it be bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple of thinking too precisely on th event a thought which quarter d hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward 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. (Lines 41-48)

In this sentence alone Hamlet uses math, one part wisdom and ever three parts coward, and words of a scholar such as scruple , bestial oblivion , and sith . Along with demonstrating his educated deliberation, this syntax gives the appearance of a mind frustrated with the situation.

This choice of words also shows Hamlet s emotions towards himself and others. He refers to Fortenbras as a delicate and tender prince, whose spirit with divine ambition puff d makes mouths at the invisible event. (Lines 51-52) Through his words he is expressing his admiration for Fortenbras. He continues to comment on Fortenbras will to avenge his father without hiding or worrying about the dangers and opinions of others. He is even willing to put the lives of twenty thousand men at risk for an egg-shell (Line 56) cause. Fortinbras is fighting for a piece of land that hath in it no profit but the name. (Line 20) Hamlet has countless reasons to speak against the King of Denmark who killed his father, took his birth right, married incestuously with Hamlet s mother, and sent Hamlet to England to be murdered, yet he says nothing. Instead Hamlet is hiding behind the mask of insanity. The frustration he has toward his lack of decision for action. Hamlet s comparison of himself to Fortinbras brings to light Hamlet s aggravation as he asks himself How stand I then ? (Line 58) that he is allowing the King to live on with out his reputation being damaged while keeping all the possessions he killed for when Hamlet is known as mad and has lost everything in his effort to avenge his father. Hamlet s disappointment with himself also lies in the fact that despite all he has given up and lost he has not gained any advantage over the King. This argument is supported within Hamlet s diction toward Fortinbras and his cause, delicate and tender prince versus death, and danger dare, even for an egg-shell . (Lines 54-55)

Hamlet s words and sentences also paint emotions and pictures to support his thoughts. Fortinbras cause is painted as a quarrel in a straw when honor s at the stake. (Lines 57-58) Fortinbras is making an effort at a less drastic cause than Hamlet. Hamlet also speaks of the imminent death of twenty thousand men (Line 62) that are fighting for Fortenbras and his cause as though the entire scene is played out right before his eyes. The words imminent death bring to mind a firing squad where all at once all twenty thousand men will go down in disgrace over a patch of land not worth five ducats to farm. Compared to Hamlet s woes the incentive that Fortinbras and his men are fighting for seems worthless, yet Fortinbras is achieving his objective while Hamlet torments himself with the thought of engagement but does not follow through.

Throughout Hamlet s soliloquy in Act IV, Scene IV, his syntax consists of long, well thought out, and emotional sentences. The scholastic diction that appears consistently throughout his contemplation brings into view his emotions through emphasized words and sensory appeal to show images. Though his entire soliloquy makes up thirty-four lines it consists of only eight sentences that eventually lead Hamlet to the decision that from this time forth my thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth! (Lines 67-68)