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Why Is Hamlet's First Soliloquy

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“The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” Essay William Shakespeare was able to convey Hamlet’s frustration in the popular soliloquy of “The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” by utilizing infinitive phrases and iambic pentameter. The use of infinitive phrases throughout Hamlet’s soliloquy expresses Hamlet terrified of his duty to kill King Claudius, his uncle who killed his father. In his most popular quote, “To be or not to be…” (line 64), he asks the questions whether or not he should carry out his dad’s request or to end his life along with his responsibilities. Soon after his quote, he later said “To grunt and sweat under a weary life…” (line 85-91), Hamlet in this part of the soliloquy expresses his hesitation to enter the afterlife, afraid of the unknown awaiting him. To use these phrases throughout the soliloquy emphasizes Hamlet’s frustration by giving a memorable, philosophical question for the …show more content…

The use of iambic pentameter, a second stroke rhythm pattern, gives off a pattern similar to that of a heartbeat. As Hamlet’s soliloquy progresses, it gets more emotional and powerful because of the nature of technique. Imitating the sound of Hamlet’s heart, beating louder and stronger emphasizes Hamlet’s fear, doubt, and ineasiness towards his duty. Using this device not only impersonates his heartbeat, it also conveys Hamlet’s swaying emotion, At first, he want “To die: to sleep..”(line 68) but later changed his mind, which demonstrates that Hamlet’s insecurities with his situation. The heartbeat patterned structure of iambic pentameter enhances Hamlet’s currently wavering feelings with the sounds going from stressed strokes to short strokes. By implementing this technique, Shakespeare flawlessly brought Hamlet’s emotions to life, having the audience feel the weight of his burden, alongside his anger and frustration through the rhythm, structuring, and phrasing of his

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431 Words | 2 Pages

The deeply subtle music underscores the calculated nature of Hamlet’s speech. While Hamlet experience emotion to some degree, his soliloquy serves primarily as an exploration of thought. Lastly, the presence of Claudius and Polonius, who do not appear in the other two versions, provides a reminder that Hamlet has enemies and a purpose, which prevent him from merely ending his own life. In Laurence Olivier’s version of the speech, the imagery focus on turmoil and emotion. The darkness, the fog, and the crashing waves outdoors create a sense of chaos, further emphasized by the initially uproarious music.

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654 Words | 3 Pages

After this, Claudius pitches in and tells Hamlet that he is being stubborn and unmanly for grieving after three months has passed. Overall, this conversation, and the death of King Hamlet, inspire the soliloquy. Furthermore, the soliloquy presents the main ideas that Hamlet is depressed, King Hamlet was more prestigious than the inferior Claudius, and that Gertrude is weak and insensitive. In Hamlet’s first soliloquy there are a variety of mood changes

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543 Words | 3 Pages

Shakespeare’s soliloquy in Hamlet reveals Hamlet’s mental state by offering an insight on his own well being by inquiring various literary devices. He implements such tools to showcase a deeper state of mind of what Hamlet is going through with the death of his father and his quick replacement. One such example is the various allusions used throughout. Hamlet references characters from Greek mythology as parallels to the people in his life of whom he respects and despises.

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Hamlet proceeds to list the burdens one faces during their lifetime, leaning towards choosing death (70-76). He wonders why anyone would choose to live such an exhausting life instead of simply killing oneself. Towards the end of the soliloquy (78-80), he comes to terms with why ones choose life over death. They would rather face the burdens of life than to venture out to a land unknown. Throughout the soliloquy, questioning himself shows the grief he feels after losing his father, then a reflective tone in the end after realizing why he cannot take his own

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605 Words | 3 Pages

In Shakespeare’s play, “Hamlet,” he writes a long passage that is known as the “to be or not to be” soliloquy. It is famous for many reasons, beginning with the story Shakespeare tells in it. At this part in the play, Hamlet knows that Claudius has killed his uncle. Where many people believe that this soliloquy focuses on Hamlet deciding whether to commit suicide, I believe that he is rather just contemplating his existence. Hamlet is second guessing himself and his actions.

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As I read through this play, I found it very difficult to decipher Shakespeare 's writing and his choice of words. It is necessary to read the text aloud in order to comprehend Shakespeare’s language and have some sort of understanding of Hamlet’s inner feelings. To understand Hamlet’s frustration, anger, and confusion throughout the play. Hamlet’s inner feelings are expressed in his second soliloquy beginning with “O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!” (2.2.560).

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179 Words | 1 Pages

The first soliloquy that is used in this essay is “To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (Shakespeare 3.1) is one of the well-known famous scripts from the play “Hamlet.” People fail to realize the significance it has on the representation of the character Hamlet. In that soliloquy, Hamlet is opposing his fate. Hamlet is asking himself whether it is gentler, in the mind, to passively accept and suffer through all pains of life fate throws at him or is it alright to actively destroy in death these troubles that he’s going through and just ultimately end his pain.

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The play Hamlet is full of intricate and complex text. The “To Be or Not to Be” soliloquy is an example of this intricate text that is displayed throughout the play. A soliloquy is an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play. This soliloquy is one of the most famous and studied soliloquies of all time. Scholars have discussed this for piece of literature since its creation.

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1052 Words | 5 Pages

In Hamlet’s soliloquy “To be or not to be” he pours out his feelings and emotions. This makes that the most important part of the play because it explains the play as a whole. “The meaning

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In Act III, Scene I of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Hamlet performs his most famous soliloquy that starts off, “To be, or not to be….”(Shakespeare). This speech is arguably the most profound and thought provoking pieces in English literature. This speech comes right in the midst of the main action of the play. At the end of Act Two, Hamlet provided a more rational outlook and attitude to life, while this soliloquy contradicts his previous persona. In Act Three, Hamlet has reverted by to his dark times and into a contemplative state.

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800 Words | 4 Pages

Of all the trials that Hamlet had to conquer during his journey to avenge his father’s death; deciding whether life’s inevitable sufferings were worth living through topped many of his other sub-problems. “To be or not to”: the soliloquy starts the reader with the question of life or death. The motif of death plays an important role in the play because it is a tragedy and it seems as if death is a more reasonable fate than living. Once King Hamlet is murdered by his brother the prosperity of the castle in the Denmark takes a turn for the worse. Corruption and lies are the only actions that are being sought out rather than what King Hamlet has stood for.

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245 Words | 1 Pages

In the “To Be or Not To Be” soliloquy from William Shakespeare 's Hamlet, as Hamlet’s uncertainty grows, his want to commit suicide decreases. In this soliloquy, Hamlet is questioning whether his life is worth living. He is afraid to die as he is unaware what awaits him in death. This uncertainty leads to him turning away from his plan of suicide.

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93 Words | 1 Pages

To be, or not to be..." is the opening phrase of a soliloquy in the "Nunnery Scene"[1] of William Shakespeare 's play Hamlet. In the speech, a despondent Prince Hamlet contemplates death and suicide. He bemoans the pains and unfairness of life but acknowledges the alternative might be still worse. The speech functions within the play to explain Hamlet 's hesitation to directly and immediately avenge his father 's murder (discovered in Act I) on his uncle, stepfather, and new king Claudius.

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1064 Words | 5 Pages

This essay will be about Hamlet’s famous, “To be, or not to be,” soliloquy. It starts off when Hamlet walks into a trap laid by Claudius and Polonius. Deep in thought, Hamlet goes off on a rant about Life’s troubles. Throughout the Soliloquy he contrasts action versus inaction. It delves deeply into death and why a person would or wouldn’t want to experience it.

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292 Words | 2 Pages

The soliloquy “to be or not to be” expresses Hamlet 's contemplation of suicide. He is bemoaning the pain and suffering in life but at the same time acknowledges that the alternative might be even worse, as it is a complete mystery. Although he never once speaks as if he 's talking about himself the audience still gets the feeling that this speech is indeed directed towards himself, as the soliloquy poses a thought that weighs heavily on his mind. In this soliloquy Hamlet is expressing feelings of defeat and hopelessness; a feeling that life is not worth living, “For who would bear the whips and scorns of time” (III,I,71) “When he himself might his quietus make with a bare bodkin? (III,I,76-77).

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