Soliloques In Hamlet Essay, Research Paper

It is common for people to experience conflicts in their own lives, and these conflicts are usually hidden, not seen or heard of by others. There are many who wonder about the significance of Shakespeare s many soliloquies, which can be found throughout Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The soliloquies of Hamlet isolate how Hamlet thinks. Suppose a reader is reading Hamlet for the first time, except they were given a text with no soliloquies. What would they think? How would one s opinions change if they then examined the standard text? Shakespeare uses these soliloquies as a device to allow the audience to explore Hamlet s most secret internal and external conflicts. For each of the soliloquies, consider the following: dramatic context, the intention of the speaker, the meaning, and the style and themes in the soliloquies. Can you determine the way Hamlet thinks?

Throughout the play, it is one s assumption that Prince Hamlet is mentally unstable. His seven soliloquies reinforce one s preconceived ideas about Hamlet s instability. The soliloquies allow the reader to determine important information about Hamlet s character, which other characters in the play are unaware of. O, that this too, too-sullied flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! or that the Everlasting had not fix d His canon gainstself-slaughter! (I, ii, 133)

Hamlet indicates hope that his internal problems would just melt away, allowing him to dissolve into nothing, or as Shakespeare wrote, into a dew. Hamlet continues by saying that his decision would be much easier, if suicide were not such an unlawful and immoral act in society. This soliloquy not only demonstrates to the reader the reality of Hamlet s internal conflict, but also shows the reality of his external conflict with the society he lives in. This soliloquy plays an important part because it establishes Hamlet s sense of isolation that lasts throughout the entire play. It also reflects the themes of loneliness and lack of trust, and the theme of appearance verse reality. This soliloquy establishes a theme of social class and that earth is an “unweeded garden”. Hamlet s use of imagery informs the reader of the corruption in Denmark. It is therefore evident, that through the soliloquies which the reader has access to, Hamlet is experiencing a different form of external conflict as to the corruption of Denmark, something which other characters in the play are not aware of.

In soliloquy two, Hamlet seems to be confused; he asks a lot of questions. The first question that he asks is whether heaven and hell are real, and whether good and evil exists in his world. Hamlet is confident that this ghost is his father because he notices his face, which looks exactly like his fathers; therefore he believes his father is on a special mission from heaven. Most of all in this soliloquy, he seals a vow to get even with Claudius. Here is where more of Hamlet is revealed. He is not only a prince, with an overdue heritage but also a scholar who has studied philosophy. During his analysis of what is happening he takes everything and puts it in a sequence of questions. All of his questions lead to other questions. The questioning gives the dialogue its intensity and brings intervals of suspense.

The unknown corruption in Denmark, leads Hamlet to avenging his fathers death. Hamlet is troubled by the current predicament between himself and his uncle, but he is very unsure of whether he has the courage to kill him. In the soliloquy O What a Rogue (II, ii, 577), the reader is informed of Hamlet s internal struggle over whether or not to avenge his father s death. But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit [ .] Swounds, I Should take it! For it cannot be But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall [ ] Bloody, bawdy villain! (II, ii, 580-607). Throughout this soliloquy the imagery is important. Hamlet fantasizes about killing his uncle, but is worried about the effects in doing so. He refers himself to being nothing but a pigeon-livered person, symbolizing his lack of courage. Hamlet s internal conflict or struggle, becomes clearer, and is made obvious through his reluctance to kill, and his cowardice at the very idea.

The major question in ‘To be or not to be’ cannot be suicide. If it were, as many have noted, it would be dramatically irrelevant. Hamlet is no longer sunk in the depths of depression, as he was in his first soliloquy. He has been roused to action and has just discovered how to test the Ghost’s words. When we last saw him he was anticipating the night’s performance, and we shall see him eagerly instructing the players and excitedly telling Horatio of his plan. To have him enter at this point debating whether or not to kill himself would indeed be wholly inconsistent with both the character and the movement of the plot. The metaphors all suggest that Hamlet’s choice is between suffering the ills of this world and taking resolute action against them, not between enduring evil and evading it. A further objection to the suicide theory is the form of the question Hamlet puts to himself. He states his dilemma as “to be or not to be”- not as “to live or not to live” the issue, as he sees it is not between mere existence and non-existence, but between “being” and “non-being.” In other words, he is struggling with an issue: not the narrow personal question of whether he, an individual man, should kill himself, but the wider philosophical question of man’s essence. “To be”- what? To be a man? In the full literal sense of “being” it is what a thing is. “Or not to be.” There is no middle position. A thing is or it is not. The first line of the soliloquy should be spoken as an insistent, emphatic, even passionate demand. The whole moral question is focused in this challenge.(The English Zone)

The sixth soliloquy occurs after Claudius informs Rosencrantz and Guildenstern that since it is unsafe to let Hamlet’s madness range, they are to take Hamlet to England as soon as possible. It occurs after Claudius is alone and reveals his thoughts. In despair and torment he cries out and expresses eager hope as he kneels in an attempt to pray. Hamlet’s soliloquy occurs when Hamlet walks in with his sword drawn and sees Claudius praying. Now that the Ghost’s words have been verified, Hamlet can go ahead and finish his job. But before that he has to be aware of his mother, and in his brief and impatient fifth soliloquy, he resolves to be strict with her; but before he can he comes across Claudius and his prayers. This is the perfect moment to finish his feud, or is it? It is uncharacteristic of Claudius to be concerned with himself with his salvation. The only way to get even with Claudius is to see him damned to hell. Thus, Hamlet delays, waiting for some more sinful moment to send him to hell.

The final soliloquy appears after Hamlet has met with Claudius and is ordered to go to England. Here, Hamlet’s passion for revenge finally seems to overcome his reasons. Without the soliloquy, Hamlet’s renewed interest to complete the revenge would not take place. If the purpose of the soliloquies is to show Hamlet s developments, then the soliloquy is required. “A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom and ever three parts coward.” (IV, iv, 44-46) Shows the precise accuracy and judgment in what he is saying, something deep and innocent.

Shakespeare s soliloquies enable the reader to see the conflicts that arise in the plot of the play. All of his soliloquies have a purpose and are dependent on one another. If one soliloquy is missed, the play would not make sense. Without Shakespeare s use of soliloquies the reader would not be informed of Hamlet s internal and external conflicts. The soliloquies provide Hamlet with a way of imparting his conflicts, both internal and external, to the reader, something that would be nearly impossible to achieve without the soliloquies.

Works Cited

1. To be or not to be: What is the question. October 10 2000.

2. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

3. The English Zone. 27 Oct. 2000. .