What Are the Significance of Hamlet's Soliloquies?

What Are the Significance of Hamlet's Soliloquies?

  • Submitted By: Cozmo
  • Date Submitted: 03/02/2009 9:47 AM
  • Category: English
  • Words: 447
  • Page: 2
  • Views: 900

Hamlet, up until this point has consistently failed to act against his uncle due to his fatal flaw of procrastinating . He buys time up until this point by finding small flaws in his most effective courses of action which often are of a religious nature. For example, when Hamlet comes across Claudius in prayer he does not take the opportunity to kill him as he does not want Claudius to die as a martyr and go to heaven. In Act 3 scene 1 soliloquy Hamlet refers back to his depressed and almost suicidal state of mind. This is clear to see when he says “ Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous troubles, And by opposing end them” in which he talks of whether it is better to suffer in life or die. There are countless other quotations in this soliloquy that support the view that Hamlet is in a very negative state of mind, a quick summary of it being “living is suffering”. However, apart from Hamlet’s negative state of mind he shows that his conscience has played a big part of his hesitation in avenging his father when he says “ thus conscience does make cowards of us all” showing that he also mocks himself in an act of self loathing when he says “And lose the name of action” . which shows he is aware of his procrastination to avenge his father after he admits his conscience plays a part in his hesitation to act.

Throughout Hamlet, it is clear to see that he is constantly in a very negative state of mind and constantly troubled by countless problems in life brought about by his procrastination to act upon what he see’s should be done. This in turn gives question to whether Hamlet is mad in his decisions, his “antic disposition”, coming from countless actions in which he is perceived mad. This is clearly defined by Shakespeare’s brilliant use of Hamlet’s soliloquies as it gives the audience opportune moments in which to analyse Hamlet and gain a better perspective of the play in general. I believe that Hamlet’s soliloquies are...

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