...Hamlet's Soliloquy "To be, or not to be" Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy is possibly one of the most famous soliloquy in the history of the theatre. The words of the soliloquy spark a serious debate and questions for Hamlet about the advantages and disadvantages of existence and whether one should take his or her own life. The questions Hamlet faces was “is this life, or death is where life begins”. It seems like a wall to him, and only by getting through that wall, he will know what’s on the other side. Then once he is through to the other side, he is uncertain if there is any chance of him returning to share his experience. He may have had doubts in his mind, about the life he was living, whether it is real and what happens after he dies? Hamlet asks the question of himself whether is it honorable to live life sadly or to end...
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...and when? Why is Horatio with Bernardo and Marcellus there? The play, begins in Elsinore with Francisco, who is waiting for Bernardo to relieve him of his duty right after midnight. Bernardo calls wondering who is there, to which Francisco replies that Bernardo should tell him who he is first. 2. What is Horatio's initial response to the story of the apparition? Horatio’s initial response is skepticism, as in disbelief. 3. What does Horatio first assume the appearance of the ghost means (1.1.)? He assumes it must mean that there is something wrong with the government. 4. What happens when the ghost appears for the second time (I.I)? Horatio asks the ghost why it had come in the first place and the reason behind such appearances 5. What do we know so far about the nature of the ghost? Do we know yet if it is a "good" ghost? Summarize the circumstances surrounding the first encounter with the ghost. The ghost is Hamlet’s father; one can categorize him as good because he explains to Hamlet the real reason behind his death. 6. Identify Hamlet’s first Soliloquy in Scene 2. What is it that is really bothering him about what has happened since his father's death? How would you describe the tone of his feelings? In his first soliloquy he mourns his father. It is a passionate and startling passage that strongly contrasts to the artificial dialogue and actions that he portrays to his uncle Claudius throughout the remainder of the play. This soliloquy serves to...
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...William Shakespeare. “The play, set in the Kingdom of Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering the old King Hamlet, Claudius's own brother and Prince Hamlet's father, and then succeeding to the throne and marrying Gertrude, the King Hamlet's widow and mother of Prince Hamlet ("Hamlet”).” Shakespeare’s main objective was to impress his Elizabethan audience because entertainment through theater was extremely important to everyone in the era ("Elizabethan Theater"). Shakespeare successfully captivated an Elizabethan audience with this production (“Hamlet”). This essay will explain how an Elizabethan audience was targeted by Hamlet’s final monologue (act 4, lines 32-66). This speech effectively targeted and engaged an Elizabethan audience because its format, mentions of revenge and exciting nature caused the audience to sympathise with Hamlet’s decisions and feelings, and become enthusiastic and involved in the play. The format of this speech is a key factor which explains why the Elizabethan audience is effectively targeted. This speech is written and delivered in the form of a soliloquy. This means that it is an “uninterrupted speech delivered by a single character to the audience but not to other characters” (Jaber Al-Ogaili 48). Soliloquies are a literary device that is most often used as a technique to express the character’s inner most thoughts and feelings in a realistic and personal way. The audience feels connected with the character...
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...The Impression of Last Words In the world famous play Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Shakespeare includes many ideas and themes that specifically relate to the Elizabethan era. Hamlet’s last soliloquy in the play, found in Act 4 Scene 4 lines 32-66, contains many fascinating references to the Elizabethan culture. These references to Elizabethan life helped Shakespeare’s audience gain a better understanding of the theme and true meaning of the play. Hamlet’s final soliloquy is a major turning point in the play; it presents the audience with a chance to witness Hamlet’s inner most thoughts and how they have changed since the beginning of the play. Shakespeare ensures that the Elizabethan audience will understand this shift in Hamlet by incorporating the political, religious and social beliefs of the Elizabethans into the speech. Shakespeare mimics the political situation of Hamlet’s Denmark to that of Elizabethan England in Hamlet’s speech in order for the audience to easily comprehend and relate to Hamlet’s thoughts. While Hamlet watches an army going to fight over a small, worthless piece of land, he realizes that he is “one part wisdom/and ever three parts coward” (4.4, 42-43). He is astonished that this army is willing to risk their lives for a piece of land “which is not tomb enough and continent/to hide the slain” (4.4, 64-65) simply because their king said so. During the Elizabethan era, the monarchy had complete power over their country and were respected by all (Alchin)...
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...Importance of Hamlet’s Soliloquies in Shakespeare’s Hamlet Shakespeare often has his characters speak in soliloquies during the course of his plays. Soliloquies are essential to the presentation of a story through the medium of a play because they provide the opportunity the chance to tell the audience specific pieces of information which cannot be disclosed through normal conversation. In his work, Hamlet, Shakespeare’s title character is shown to speak in seven soliloquies. Each soliloquy advances the plot, reveals Hamlet’s inner thoughts to the audience and helps to create an atmosphere in the play. The first soliloquy which Hamlet delivers gives the audience their first glimpse of him as a character. Hamlet is reflective and depicts the way he views his own position; he tells of his father’s death and then his mother’s quick remarriage. He says, “It is not, nor it cannot come to good” (I, ii, 163), when referring to the marriage of his mother. This gives the audience a hint of foreshadowing because it is the first time when Hamlet mentions the future. This speech also reveals his thoughts further when he says that his mother is frail because she is a woman, while he also admits that he knows he must hold his tongue. During the course of this speech Hamlet makes several allusions to historical figures and this demonstrates to the audience that he is an intelligent young man. One of these allusions is when he compares the love his late father had for his mother to Hyperion...
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...George Awtrey English April 16, 2011 Hamlet’s Psychological Analysis William Shakespeare was and still is one of the most renowned play writers of all time. Shakespeare had a talent like no other that allowed him to create plays that entertained viewers of his era and beyond. One of his most popular plays is Hamlet. Because this play was one of his more complex works it is also became of the most analyzed plays as well. The main character, Hamlet, has fascinated readers and audiences for centuries, and one of the first thing to point out about him is that he is indecisive (22 Newell). But even though he is thoughtful to the point of obsession, Hamlet also behaves rashly and instinctively. When he does act, it is quickly with little or no premeditation, like when he stabbed Polonius through the curtain without even checking to see who he was. He seems to step very easily into the role acting crazy, behaving erratically and upsetting the other characters with his careless speech (22 Newell). It is also important to note that Hamlet is extremely laid back and unconcerned with it comes to the state of affairs in Denmark and in his own family. He is extremely disappointed with his mother for marrying his uncle so quickly. He rejects, Ophelia, a woman he claimed to have loved once. At a number of points in the play, he contemplates his own death and even the option of suicide. But, despite all of the things with which Hamlet expresses dissatisfaction, it is remarkable that...
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...Hamlet's Soliloquy - To be, or not to be Hamlet's "To be, or not to be" soliloquy is arguably the most famous soliloquy in the history of the theatre. Even today, 400 years after it was written, most people are vaguely familiar with the soliloquy even though they may not know the play. What gives these 34 lines such universal appeal and recognition? What about Hamlet's introspection has prompted scholars and theatregoers alike to ask questions about their own existence over the centuries? In this soliloquy, Shakespeare strikes a chord with a fundamental human concern: the validity and worthiness of life. Would it not be easier for us to simply enter a never-ending sleep when we find ourselves facing the daunting problems of life than to "suffer / the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune"? However, it is perhaps because we do not know what this endless sleep entails that humans usually opt against suicide. "For in that sleep of death what dreams may come / When we have shuffled off this mortal coil / Must give us pause." Shakespeare seems to understand this dilemma through his character Hamlet, and thus the phrase "To be, or not to be" has been immortalized; indeed, it has pervaded our culture to such a remarkable extent that it has been referenced countless times in movies, television, and the media. Popular movies such as Billy Madison quote the famous phrase, and www.tobeornottobe.com serves as an online archive of Shakespeare's works. Today, a Shakespeare stereotype...
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...notices a shift in Hamlet’s personality. He along with Hamlet’s mother, tries to uncover the meaning of Hamlet’s melancholy behavior. In Hamlet’s notorious “to be or not to be” soliloquy, Hamlet contemplates two extremes: life and death. For the first time in the play, Hamlet acknowledges his own feelings about avenging his father’s murder. Hamlet’s emotions are raw. He is stripped from being the Prince of Denmark and turns into a grieving son. It shows Hamlet in a humane light. Hamlet is conflicted as he wants to do right by his father and also do right by his own moral code.We can all relate in some aspect of wanting to do right by ourselves and also wanting to do right by others. Although Hamlet wants to kill Claudius, Hamlet is terrified...
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...lines 31-65, in which the titular character Hamlet decides that the time for revenge is at hand in an insightful soliloquy. The audience would have been attracted to the scene because they would receive a moral insight into Hamlet’s mind, revealing his true thoughts. It also would have expanded on the theme of revenge, and how this theme would affect the final scene of the play. Finally, by focusing on the theme of morality, the soliloquy would have provided audiences with a thought-provoking look into their own consciences. In Shakespeare’s original version of Hamlet, Hamlet’s speech from Act IV, scene iv effectively targets the Elizabethan Era audience. Through the soliloquy, the audience is able to clearly see Hamlet’s thoughts, and this discerning look behind his motif effectively catches the audience’s attention. At the beginning of Hamlet’s speech, the audience becomes aware that Hamlet regrets his hesitation to avenge his father, and he decides the time for vengeance is upon him. The prince admits this when he thinks to himself, “How all occasions do inform against me,/ And spur my dull revenge” (IV. iv. 31-32). It is apparent to the audience what Hamlet is thinking, and allows them to predict how these thoughts will affect his actions. Thus, the audience is interested to hear what else he thinks to further understand his future plans. It is as if Hamlet’s thought pattern is a puzzle; thought by thought, the audience is able to piece together the way his mind works until...
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...Unit 3 activity 7 FINAL The soliloquy in act 4 scene 4 that starts with “how all occasions do inform against me” echoes a monologue recited to Hamlet’s two friends, Rozencratz and Guildenstern. The monologue earlier in the story paints the picture that Hamlet is still struggling with his thoughts of all the events that are happening and he is still unsure of what to do. He is adamant that murdering his uncle is against his character so he finds himself in a dilemma. Following the soliloquy in act 4, the Elizabethan audience is left with a favourable scenario. The lords would favor his philosophical thought process and the lower classes would favor the anticipation of bloody mess end of the act brings. The main reason for this is Hamlet’s soliloquy. This soliloquy serves as a continuation of the monologue to show the audience that Hamlet is getting over all that and is finally set on his mission. It also serves to show the audience how Hamlet came to those final decisions and gives the audience something to be excited for. As Hamlet approaches his destination England, he comes across Fortinbras marching with his army to Poland to fight a way for merely nothing. Hamlet in shock claims that man will fight and act so violently for something of little gain. This encounter reminds Hamlet of what he has to gain from his plan of murdering the king. Following this encounter is when Hamlet recites the soliloquy mentioned before. It is at this point that Hamlet realizes that his duty...
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...William Shakespeare. “The play, set in the Kingdom of Denmark, recounts how Prince Hamlet exacts revenge on his uncle Claudius for murdering the old King Hamlet, Claudius's own brother and Prince Hamlet's father, and then succeeding to the throne and marrying Gertrude, the King Hamlet's widow and mother of Prince Hamlet ("Hamlet”).” Shakespeare’s main objective was to impress his Elizabethan audience because entertainment through theater was extremely important to everyone in the era ("Elizabethan Theater"). Shakespeare successfully captivated an Elizabethan audience with this production (“Hamlet”). This essay will explain how an Elizabethan audience was targeted by Hamlet’s final monologue (act 4, lines 32-66). This speech effectively targeted and engaged an Elizabethan audience because its format, mentions of revenge and exciting nature caused the audience to sympathise with Hamlet’s decisions and feelings, and become enthusiastic and involved in the play. The format of this speech is a key factor which explains why the Elizabethan audience is effectively targeted. This speech is written and delivered in the form of a soliloquy. This means that it is an “uninterrupted speech delivered by a single character to the audience but not to other characters” (Jaber Al-Ogaili 48). Soliloquies are a literary device that is most often used as a technique to express the character’s inner most thoughts and feelings in a realistic and personal way. The audience feels connected with the character...
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...the would have been an offset to nature in Denmark. There was a transfer of power post the death of the king that led some to believe that the future of Denmark was in trouble. It is proven by the later appearance of the ghost that there would be a Denmark tragedy. What is a soliloquy? A Soliloquy defined is the disregard of the people around while speaking to themselves about in-depth thoughts, usually in a play or drama. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, n.d). In dramas and play, when this is used, the people or characters are not mindful of things that person speaking is speaking about. When realism was introduced in the late 1800’s, soliloquies was not as prevalent. In the play, “Hamlet” soliloquies were used throughout to disclose his most in depth feelings to the viewers. William Shakespeare uses soliloquies in not only “Hamlet” in other pieces that he was afforded the opportunity to write The Question: To Be or Not to Be? Hamlet, In Act Three Scene 1, presents the well-known soliloquy, “to be or not to be; that is the question”. During the course of the play, there are several soliloquies that Hamlet used that was centered around his sentiments. Nevertheless, not like other soliloquies in the play that seem to...
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...Scene IV, lines 30-66, and it causes its target audience to have an effect on all three of these values. This field of study is important because it shows the reader that there is a relationship between the dramatic works and their target audience. The first, second, and third points will discuss Hamlet’s soliloquy’s and how the speech causes its target audience to have an effect on the social, cultural, and economic values, as they are all crucial evidence to this thesis. Firstly, there is one reason why the speech causes its target audience to have an effect on the social value. Hamlet’s soliloquy indicates his failure to act when he has so much reason to do so. “How all occasions do inform against me, / and spur my dull revenge! What is a man, / If his chief good and market of his time / be but to sleep and feed? A beast, no more. / Sure he that made us with such large discourse, / Looking before and after, gave us not / that capability and godlike reason / to fust in us unused. Now whether it be / Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple / of thinking too precisely on th' event -- / A thought which, quartered, hath but one part wisdom / and ever three parts coward -- I do not know / Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do', / Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means, / To do't” (IV, IV, 32-46). This quote shows the aspect of Hamlet and his well-being, such as his ability to participate in making decisions that have affected himself. Hamlet, with his very apparent...
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...Outline Hamlet Essay Politics, hatred, envy, incest, love, and most importantly revenge. These are all themes that boldly occur in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Literature is made to be understood and related to by the audience and throughout Hamlet; Shakespeare presents his audience with many soliloquies. As a matter of fact, the most famous of words in English literature "To be or not to be" (III, i, 58) is in a soliloquy said by Hamlet. Like all speeches in Shakespearean pieces, Hamlet's soliloquy captures the audience's eyes, ears, and hearts with relation to the economic, social, and political aspects of life. Through the common social tendencies of humans and Body Paragraph 1 Death is all around, whether caused through nature or by another man it will always haunt the world. Many people tremble upon the subject of death and it even haunts many to think of dying, this is why and how Shakespeare found a way to captivate his audience. This is evident when Hamlet says "while, to my shame, I see the imminent death of twenty thousand men, that for a fantasy and trick of fame, Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot whereon the numbers cannot try the cause, which is not tomb enough and continent to hide the slain?" (IV, iv, 59-65). Here Hamlet expresses the great number of people that are being slaughtered in comparison to the one man who he is destined to kill to avenge his father. The audience analyzes this and now understands what it means to take a life. Shakespeare shows...
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...tragedy Hamlet has one outstanding character, namely the protagonist Hamlet. His character is so complex that this essay will scarcely present an adequate portrayal of his character. John Russell Brown in “Soliloquies and Other Wordplay Let the Audience Share Some of Hamlet’s Thoughts” explains the interplay of dialogue, soliloquies and narrative in Hamlet’s role: By any reckoning Hamlet is one of the most complex of Shakespeare’s characters, and a series of soliloquies is only one of the means which encourage the audience to enter imaginatively into his very personal and frightening predicament. The play’s narrative is handled so that a prolonged two-way chase is sustained between him and the king, during which the audience knows more than either one of them and so thinks ahead and anticipates events. In interplay with Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Polonius, and perhaps with Claudius, Gertrude and Ophelia, Hamlet has asides to draw attention to what dialogue cannot express(55-56). Marchette Chute describes the opening scene of the drama: “For two nights in succession, just as the bell strikes the hour of one, a ghost has appeared on the battlements, a figure dressed in complete armor and with a face like that of the dead king of Denmark, Hamlet’s father. [. . .] The hour comes, and the ghost walks” (35). Horatio and Marcellus exit the ramparts of Elsinore intending to enlist the aid of Hamlet. There is a social gathering of the court, where Claudius pays...
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