hakespeare’s presentation of Hamlet Essay Example

lacks someone to confide in, Hamlet delivers his first soliloquy. Consequently, Shakespeare relies on soliloquy instead of dialogue to portray the increasing burden that weighs heavily on Hamlet.

In this soliloquy, Hamlet's emotions rapidly shift. Shakespeare illustrates Hamlet as a highly secluded individual, standing alone in a corner, donned in black attire. The soliloquy is utilized instead of a conversation with the other characters on stage. One line from the soliloquy reads "...Or that the Everlasting had not fixedHis canon 'gainst self-slaughter."

In the soliloquy, Shakespeare portrays a despondent and suicidal Hamlet, whom one might call "Hamlet on the edge." The phrase "'gainst self-slaughter" suggests that Hamlet contemplates suicide but ultimately dismisses the idea. Additionally, his depiction of the world as "weary, stale, flat and unprofitable" illustrates his depressed and weary state, perceiving a valueless world. The lethargic cadence of his words conveys his weariness, while the disjointed rhythm and fragmented progression of Hamlet's thoughts throughout the soliloquy reveal his inner turmoil to the audience.

Throughout the soliloquy, Hamlet becomes increasingly angry. He expresses his anger towards his mother for marrying so quickly after his father's death and for marrying his uncle. Shakespeare effectively communicates this intense anger through phrases like "frailty, thy name is woman" and "gall'd eyes," allowing the audience to sense Hamlet's deep disgust for his mother. However, his anger soon turns to revulsion as he cannot bear to contemplate his mother's sexual activities in the "incestuous sheets."

The soliloquy both begins and concludes with an illustration of solitude, as indicated by the closing phrase "But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue." Shakespeare employs this line to communicate Hamlet's conviction that he must

endure his anguish silently. Nevertheless, the spectators perceive the irony in these words due to their knowledge of Old Hamlet's ghost appearing in the castle during the preceding scene. This realization prompts the audience to comprehend that Hamlet will not merely suffer quietly. Consequently, Hamlet's soliloquy offers understanding into recent incidents and his emotional reaction towards them.

In Act II Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Hamlet, the character is portrayed as a multifaceted individual. He experiences a range of emotions such as melancholy, disgust, despair, anger, and loathing. This soliloquy showcases Hamlet's changing mood and highlights his rational thinking abilities. Shakespeare also reveals that Hamlet has received education at Wittenberg University.

In his plan to catch the King with the actors' play, Hamlet's ability to feel emotions like anger and rage is revealed in the Act II Scene 2 soliloquy. This soliloquy allows Hamlet to release a lot of emotion and transforms him into the cunning and intelligent character that devises the plan to expose his uncle. The audience witnesses Hamlet questioning his own bravery and being insulted by others. This moment highlights that Hamlet, despite his intellect, tends to overthink, which leads to his procrastination. Shakespeare uses this portrayal of Hamlet to convey his suffering, both emotionally and mentally, in regards to the task he has been given.

Hamlet's hesitation in committing murder during the time when the play is set indicates that he is considering the potential consequences, as killing a monarch or anyone else was punishable by death. This suggests that Hamlet does not easily resort to violence and prompts the audience to contemplate their own reactions in his situation. It is this relatability that establishes

Hamlet as one of, if not the most, relatable characters in English Literature. As his soliloquy concludes, Hamlet expresses doubt regarding the veracity of the ghost.

Despite Hamlet's concern that the Ghost could be a deceitful devil leading him towards damnation by urging him to kill Claudius, he ends the soliloquy with excitement about exposing his uncle's guilt. His plan is to present a play portraying his father's murder to validate the Ghost's claims. Hamlet believes that this performance will serve as evidence of the Ghost's honesty and potentially force Claudius into confessing his misdeeds.

The completion of the speech in Act II Scene 2 not only informs the audience about upcoming events but also provides insight into Hamlet's character. Shakespeare utilizes this scene to depict Hamlet in various ways, showcasing his complexity. While the soliloquy at the scene's end portrays Hamlet as a deep thinker, his pondering often hinders his actions. However, the remainder of the scene is equally valuable. Hamlet's multifaceted personality is effectively presented to the audience here. It is hard to envision another vengeful tragic hero who would take the time to casually converse with actors about their careers and the art of drama with such ease and knowledge. This displays that Hamlet is undeniably a complex character, not driven solely by one emotion or event. He is someone grappling with conflicting emotions yet capable of setting them aside to exhibit politeness towards strangers and ponder over the artistic aspects of drama. Act III Scene 1 further reinforces Hamlet's thoughtful nature.

Within this scene, Hamlet contemplates suicide and the afterlife, engaging in another soliloquy. Often regarded as Shakespeare's most famous soliloquy, Hamlet's 'To be

or not to be' speech technically does not qualify as one. Notably, Ophelia also shares the stage during this particular moment.

When Hamlet first sees Ophelia at line 88, it becomes evident that this speech reflects his genuine thoughts and should be categorized as a soliloquy. In this soliloquy, Hamlet contemplates the choice between life and death, enduring suffering or fighting against it. The initial metaphor of "taking arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing end them" (lines 59-60) intentionally creates confusion, symbolizing Hamlet's feeling overwhelmed by the immense task ahead. He believes that attempting to solve the world's problems would be similar to committing suicide. However, he seems to have forgotten about his recent encounter with his deceased father's ghost who spoke of the horrors of Purgatory. This particular soliloquy stands out among Shakespeare's other speeches given to Hamlet.

Despite lacking the usual passionate agitation associated with someone struggling with complex emotions, there is a consistent tone and tempo in Hamlet's speech. The audience will comprehend his words as he discusses topics that are universally relatable to all humans. The fact that no one has ever come back from death and therefore, nobody knows what it's truly like, further emphasizes the commonality of these issues. An Elizabethan audience, upon hearing this part of the soliloquy, may interpret Hamlet as cowardly. This perception may arise due to Hamlet contemplating suicide, making some believe that he views suicide as a preferable choice compared to carrying out his revenge task.

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