A soliloquy is a literacy device that is used to reveal the innermost thoughts of a character. Shakespeare uses soliloquies to expose fascinating insights into the thoughts and actions of Hamlet and in doing so: the readers can grasp his character. The first soliloquy of the play, introduces the main theme for the rest of hamlet’s thoughts and actions, this soliloquy allows the audience to understand hamlets inner thoughts that are repetitive throughout the play. Secondly, Hamlet’s famous soliloquy “to be or not to be” portrays him as a perplexed man, who is unsure of himself and often fluctuates between two extreme endings. In this soliloquy Hamlet reveals to the audience he is both ...view middle of the document...
The audience can infer this characteristic of misogyny through the lines “Frailty, thy name is women” (1.2.146). By this quote Hamlet expresses that he believes all women are weak and he will never be able to have a loving relationship with a women again. In Hamlet’s first expression of emotion he compares this Father to his Uncle, confirming his dislike of Claudius. Hamlet is unaware that Claudius is the murder of his father but it is still evident that he is not fond of him. Hamlet confesses that Claudius will never be as great as his father through the passage “My Father’s brother, but no more like my father than I to Hercules” (1.2.154-155). Hamlets love for his father is undeniable as he speaks nothing but praises and he refuses to associate Claudius with similarities of his father. The audience is able to recognize the grief hamlet his experiencing from the death of his father and the hatred that is developing towards Claudius. Throughout Hamlet’s first soliloquy he states his inner thoughts and life crisis, revealing his character to his audience.
In Hamlet’s soliloquy “to be or not to be?” the audience views a philosophical side of Hamlet, who contemplates death and life. This soliloquys is based off of Hamlets internal debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence and in doing so; the audience as an insight into Hamlets depression and inability to make a decision. Throughout this soliloquy Hamlet does not personally direct these ideas to himself but a generalization of everyone who is experiencing a similar dilemma or situation. Famous Shakespeare critic Harold Jenkins supports Hamlet’s speech as internal debate on whether it is right to take your own life or not. "Yet nothing anywhere in the speech relates it to Hamlet's individual case. He uses the pronouns we and us, the indefinite who, the impersonal infinitive. He speaks explicitly of us all, of what flesh is heir to, of what we suffer at the hands of time or fortune - which serves incidentally to indicate what for Hamlet is meant by to be" (Jenkins 489). Throughout this soliloquy the readers are brought to awareness of Hamlets indecisiveness. In this quote Hamlet wonders if it is right to live with will all of the nasty things life throws at you or to put an end to it by dying.
Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them (3.1.58-61)
Hamlet states that if death was like a dreamless sleep then he would want to end his life, but he fears that the after death will be dreadful nightmare. Hamlet spends his time comparing the positive and negatives that it prevents him from moving forward in his life. This soliloquy develops the character of Hamlet...
