ipl-logo

Hamlet Soliloquy

1307 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Character analysis of hamlet

What is language but a means to think? A complex tool to demonstrate ideas and concepts, to puzzle the mind in an effort to challenge one’s knowledge. Historically, language has been employed to structure deep arguments, thoughts, and stories, communicating wise messages and meanings. People use language to give form to new language, opening doors to new possibilities within society. When one masterfully deploys dramatic language, its captivation pushes people towards different goals, igniting a flame in man’s heart to bring change to the world. Yet, modern society disrespects this wonderful tool. Nigh gone are the days of deep thought, for the language has darkened into a night of banality and fandango. The process of cogitation must once …show more content…

“To be, or not to be” is not meant to be taken at face value. In the first half of the soliloquy, Hamlet describes the mundane, common troubles of society. Evil, unjust oppressors, weak-minded and greedy governments, and more. Basically, Hamlet tells the reader life may suck. With the second half, however, Hamlet strikes a balance by questioning the innate fear of death, no matter how much he seeks it. When Hamlet states that “...conscience does make cowards of us all,” he refers to his procrastination in his plan to assassinate Claudius. Thus, Hamlet decides that taking action is preferable to suffering and awaiting his demise, reinvigorating his will for …show more content…

The dual-meaning of “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” is absent. This version leans towards suicide and a fear of death, not Hamlet’s contemplation of life and will. The English language is a tool for thought, and tools are meant to build important structures, whether they be skyscrapers or mind-boggling philosophical concepts. As such, there is no purpose in writing meaningless, boring works. If a man wants a sturdy wooden chair with a fancy design, he will not settle for a plain block of

Show More
Related
1850 Words | 8 Pages

I feel like this quote is important to the plays plot because it shows that Hamlet is very controlled in what he is allowed to do, and I feel like people who are more controlled tend to rebel. This is part of his character motivation, because later in the play he rebels against everything he knows. The recurring theme in this play is revenge, and this quote sets him up perfectly for wanting revenge - his will is almost like the ghosts because it asks him to seek revenge and that’s what he does. Act 1, Scene 4: “My fate cries

Read More
700 Words | 3 Pages

Not only is he aware of the implications it has in the course of events to follow when sucessfully carrying out murder but the moral ambiguity surronding killing in the name of revenge. ' One part wisdom and three parts coward' reflects Hamlet's self-awereness surrounding his overthinking showing that he is aware his lack of action is his hamartia, being a significant component in his downfall as a tragic hero. ' I have cause and will and strength and means to do't' goes on to highlight that his procrastination is the only thing setting him apart from the archetypal Machiavellian prince who uses any means to justify his ends. His anguish at having to carry out this deed becomes central to the character's stuggle and Shakespeare utilises emotive language to present this to the reader. '

Read More
729 Words | 3 Pages

Although Hamlet is a tragic hero, he is also a pathetic coward, choosing to accept his father’s request and to avoid

Read More
1765 Words | 8 Pages

When applied correctly, soliloquies successfully allow the reader to experience characters in their most vulnerable state: within their own minds. Hamlet is no exception to this principle, as Shakespeare’s mastery of rhetoric in establishing the main character’s inner conflict provides depth and rawness to his complex character. In this well-known soliloquy, Shakespeare employs logos to acknowledge that death can be both a relief and nightmare due to natural human emotions; accordingly, Hamlet personifies a severe case of teenage depression by simultaneously wishing for an end to suffering yet remaining hesitant to act on his own thoughts due to his fear of the unknown.         Throughout this passage, Hamlet attempts to rationalize ending his life over continuing to endure the painful reality of his existence. The parallelism in this particular soliloquy serves several rhetorical purposes, including the development of an implicit contrast between Hamlet’s mental state and the actual organization of his thoughts.

Read More
565 Words | 3 Pages

In his first soliloquy, he expresses his intense grief and inner conflict of wanting to commit suicide but not wanting to be punished by God. From this the audience can infer one of Hamlet’s fatal flaws; he is indecisive. He is constantly searching for certainty, since he is unable to make decisions without it. Although Hamlet is wary of the story given to the public to explain the King’s sudden death, it is not until the ghost confirms his suspicions and he uncovers the truth that he vows to “Remember thee!”. He suspects foul play was involved, yet he never acts on this uncertainty until certainty is provided for him.

Read More
221 Words | 1 Pages

In Hamlet's soliloquy in act 1 scene 2 of Hamlet by Shakespeare, the central idea is that life is not fair. This is first shown as the central idea when Hamlet says that he wants to commit suicide, but it is against his religion (lines 129-132). To him, life seems unfair because when he wants to do something, he is not allowed to. The central idea is further shown when Hamlet says that his father loved his mother so much "that he might not [allow] the winds of heaven [to] / visit her face too roughly" (lines 141-142), and his mother "would hand on him as if [an] increase of appetite had grown / by what it fed on" (lines 143-145), and his father dies (lines 148). Soon after, she remarries.

Read More
1598 Words | 7 Pages

The main character of William Shakespeare’s tragedy is actually a confused person that’s stuck between two choices. Some may argue that he feels guilty for his father’s death and so it’s his duty to avenge it. While others may disagree and conclude that he is just a maniac who is both violent and dangerous. Hamlet passes through the lane of hesitancy, where he hesitates to kill King Claudius. As a matter of fact, the main conflict of Hamlet is that he feels both the need to solve the crime and punish the responsible.

Read More
402 Words | 2 Pages

Hamlet’s perspective causes him to stall and make excuses as to why he should wait to kill Claudius such as waiting till Claudius has sin, in order to ensure that he wouldn’t go to heaven. His perspective on life through his soliloquy “to be or not to be” allows us as readers to interpret to the development of Hamlet’s character. It reveals his inner thoughts and adds more quality to the play. In this soliloquy, Hamlet is contemplating suicide, but is haunted by the unknowns of the

Read More
1620 Words | 7 Pages

This passage highlights Hamlet's struggle to understand how to act and shows his skepticism towards the authenticity of emotions in others. Hamlet's indecision and contemplation on how to act is further demonstrated in Act 3, Scene 2, when he says "Thus conscience does make cowards of us all" (3.1.83) This passage shows how Hamlet's conscience is preventing him from taking action and how it is making him feel like a coward. He is questioning the morality of taking revenge, and the consequences of his actions.

Read More
504 Words | 3 Pages

Conscience does not make cowards of us all. Hamlet shows many examples of this throughout the play. Hamlet provides how people can go crazy and lose their minds and he shows many examples of losing conscience but he also does not let his conscience make him a coward. A better statement would be conscience makes a lot/most people cowards but definitely not of all people. A great example of hamlet not being a coward would be when he goes to talk to his mom and he ends up killing polonius.

Read More
522 Words | 3 Pages

However, Hamlet acknowledges the coming of unknown dangers of the future. Despite seeming in tune with the beliefs on “rest”, Hamlet instantly releases this idea as way of escape by stating, “Thus, conscious does make cowards of us all,” (III, I, 85). Hamlet reasoning personal failure

Read More
1267 Words | 6 Pages

Through the analysis of the soliloquy and the rest of the play, a reasonable conclusion can be made as to why Hamlet might consider himself a coward. The main reasons he might consider himself a coward are his inability to act and his excessive contemplation and

Read More
810 Words | 4 Pages

Hamlet’s hesitant nature is well presented in the play. For one, Hamlet cannot bring forth the strength to end his own life; his indecision of whether or not to commit suicide plagues him for more than half the play.

Read More
710 Words | 3 Pages

His conscience was aligned with his religious beliefs which got in the way of allowing him to act on his thoughts. This sparked an inner conflict in Hamlet about what to do. When Hamlet was first told by the ghost to kill King Claudius, Hamlet overthinks the decision on throughout the book. Hamlet knows his conscience driven mind will prevent him from acting on his instincs to kill Claudius. “Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” (3.1.87) Hamlet is angry with himself that he has let his conscience come in the way.

Read More
1198 Words | 5 Pages

As it shows in the “To be, or not to be” soliloquy (III.i.56–88), it is the most famous soliloquy among others. It is said to be the most powerful and logical examination of the moral legitimacy of suicide as it touches on not only the suicide theme but also other several themes in Hamlet. “To be, or not to be” simply means to live or not to live as Hamlet is talking about the concept of living and dying. He wonders that is it nobler to choose to suffer during life rather than commiting suicide. Hamlet continues to give use his logic mind by comparing death to sleep and thinks of the stop to the suffer and pain and to the uncertainty it might show up, “the heartache, and the thousand natural shocks /

Read More

More about Hamlet Soliloquy

Related Topics

Open Document