Hamlet
William Shakespeare, a famous playwright of the English language, wrote the play Hamlet, where one finds the quote "to be or not to be." In this quote, Hamlet questions himself on life or death. His fear of death is an existing theme throughout most of his soliloquies, delaying him to act. Shakespeare's plays are timeless studies of the human character as one will clearly see through the seven soliloquies that are interpreted below. A soliloquy is a dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself, or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener. Hamlet's isolated speeches play a vital role in the progression of the play. Throughout the seven soliloquies in Shakespeare's Hamlet, the reader witnesses Hamlet's fear of death, delaying him to act and causing him to go insane. Whether he is in a state of mourning, going through a case of madness, or ultimately able to retaliate, each soliloquy reveals his fear of the beyond, which puts off most of his decisions, directing him towards his downfall. In both the first and second soliloquy, there is the existing theme of death and suicide. In Hamlet's first soliloquy, he appears very sad and depressed, ready to
He just asks himself about death beyond consideration as he says, "For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause" (Act 3, Scene 1, Lines 66-68). In his final soliloquy of the play, Hamlet asks himself why he cannot carry out the necessary act of vengeance as he says, "Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do; sith I have cause and will and strength and means to do't (Act 4, Scene 4, Lines 44-46). This is clear as he says, "But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two: So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother that he might not beteem the winds of heaven" (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 138-141). Hamlet's ultimate ability to avenge his father's death comes much too late. His words are replaced by his actions. He says, "I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, all saws of books, all forms, all pressures past that youth and observation copied there, and thy commandment all alone shall live within the book and volume of my brain" (Act 1, Scene 5, Lines 100-103). As stated previously, the theme of death is present throughout most of his soliloquies. By the time he is able to realize what is right and what is wrong, it is too late. Here, he describes in detail how upset he is at his mother because while he is mourning King Hamlet's death, she is already getting remarried and moving on with her life. Not once does Hamlet mention he is actually going to kill himself. Remember thee! Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat in this distracted globe. He says, "O all you host of heaven! O earth! What else? And shall I couple hell? O fie! Hold, hold, my heart, and you, my sinews, grow not instant old, but bear me stiffly up. His inability to act causes him serious problems throughout the play. Hamlet matures on his adventures to England. In Hamlet's last two soliloquies of the play, one sees his ultimate ability to act and avenge his father's death, although his fear of the consequences are present.
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