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Rhetorical Devices In Act 3 Scene 1 Of Hamlet's First Soliloquy

757 Words4 Pages

In Act 3, Scene 1 of Hamlet, Hamlet is left alone on stage to commence a soliloquy. His speech portrays Hamlet as a confused character. He is unsure of himself and contemplates whether or not he should end his life. Hamlet has realized the uncertainty of the afterlife. William Shakespeare uses diction, metaphors, imagery and symbols to portray Hamlets feeling of self doubt. Diction is used in this soliloquy to portray Hamlet’s struggle for death over life. Throughout Hamlet's speech, Shakespeare uses words that can be associated with a battle or fight, to show Hamlet’s negativity towards life. When Hamlet discusses death, he describes it as peaceful and relieving. Hamlet's fear of the afterlife is shown when he says “But that the dread of something after death” (), he contemplates choosing death over his exhausting life. “To die, to sleep; To sleep perchance to dream” (64-65) uses diction that allows the audience to compare death to …show more content…

The metaphor “The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune” (57-58) is a reference to weapons that are used in battle. Hamlet feels he has an endless war against life. This metaphor illustrates his scornfulness for society and his curiosity of the murder of his father. Hamlet feels his life is “a sea of troubles” (59) where no pleasure or purpose is found. Hamlet has no means to fight back against problems that are thrown at him. The metaphor “The pangs of despised love, the law’s of delay” () describes the pain of unreciprocated love and the law not acting in one's favour. Hamlet feels no love from the world or his mother and his wish of suicide is looked down upon by the law. Hamlet wonders if he should be scared of death “no traveller has returned” (), how is one supposed to know what the afterlife is like if no one can tell them what it's like. He continues to bear the evils of earth because there are no answers of the

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