Hamlet's First Soliloquy

In Act 3 scene 1 of Hamlet we are faced with the soliloquy that contains one of the most famous lines from English literature: “To be, or not to be – that is the question” (III.i.57). This passage tends to show a large amount of evidence of the theme “Action vs. Contemplation”. Through poetic devices, tone, and sensory imagery we are able to analyze the theme and Hamlet’s tragic flaw: indecisiveness/inability to act.

Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” soliloquy is conceivably the most prominent soliloquy in the archive of the theatre. Even now, more than 400 years after it was originally written there is still an air of familiarity that reaches others even if they do not know the play itself in detail. In act 3, scene 1, Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” Soliloquy is critical in developing the plot because this is when Hamlet discusses his most suicidal thoughts.

One of the best known pieces of literature throughout the world, Hamlet is also granted a position of excellence as a work of art. One of the elements which makes this play one of such prestige is the manner in which the story unfolds. Throughout time, Shakespeare has been renowned for writing excellent superlative opening scenes for his plays. By reviewing Act 1, Scene 1 of Hamlet, the reader is able to establish a clear understanding of events to come. This scene effectively sets a strong mood for the events to come, gives important background information, and introduces the main characters. With the use of this information, it is simple to see how Shakespeare manages to create stories with such everlasting appeal.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question,” (3.1.64). This famous line in William Shakespeare's Hamlet perfectly encapsulates Hamlet’s internal struggle throughout the play. Hamlet tells the story of the young prince of Denmark and his desire for revenge on the uncle, Claudius, who murdered his father. As is the case in many works of literature, Hamlet changes greatly throughout the play. However, because of his attempts to act insane, it can be difficult to precisely map the changes in Hamlet’s character. By carefully investigating his seven soliloquies, where he is alone and has no need to “put on an antic disposition,” one can understand and interpret how Hamlet’s character develops throughout the play.

Hamlet, one of Shakespeare’s tragic plays, portrays the story of a young man’s quest to avenge his murdered father and his quest to find his true identity. In his soliloquies, Prince Hamlet reveals to the readers his personal perceptions of the events that take place in his homeland, Denmark, and of which are either indirectly or directly tied to his father’s murder. Many critics and scholars agree that while Hamlet’s soliloquies reveal the search of his identity and true character, his soliloquies universally illustrate man’s search for his true identity.

In the final analysis, Hamlet’s soliloquy helps the audience gain a better understanding of Hamlet’s innermost feelings, his thoughts, the plot and the overall mood. In the soliloquy, Hamlet reveals his innermost feelings such as depression, anger, sadness and amusement on the events that occurred, his thoughts on his parents and his desire to end his life. The overall mood is very dull and unhappy since Hamlet is mourning the loss of his father and through his soliloquy, Hamlet addresses the recent death of his father and the remarriage of his mother to his

Shakespeare's main character Hamlet is a victim of both internal and external conflict. His conflict includes a physical nature as he goes about to avenge his father's death. Shakespeare translates further the idea of internal versus external conflict by giving it a physical nature. Shakespeare also uses soliloquies to emphasise Hamlets inner thoughts and conflict. This stands in contrast to the way he acts amongst others; with the intention of highlighting the inner turmoil he is experiencing. The infamous quote, "To be or not to be: that is the question: whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer…." (Act III, scene i, 58-90). It is during this soliloquy that

William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a complex play regarding the kingdom of Denmark, and the unusual stage it is going through. The main focus of the play concerns Hamlet, prince of Denmark, and his feeling of ambiguity toward his recently lost father and his remarried mother. Hamlet is a complicated character who plays assorted roles in order to manipulate people. These various roles make it problematic to develop a sense of the real Hamlet. Only during the soliloquies is the reader given a chance to understand Hamlet, they allow the reader to attempt to decipher who is the real Hamlet and what is an act. The first soliloquy allows the reader to initially delve into the character of Hamlet, by showing his anger and distaste towards his

At the end of Act 1 Scene 2, we are presented with Hamlet’s first soliloquy which enlightens us with even more information about the relationships in this tragic play.

Hamlet’s character drastically develops over the first four acts of Hamlet, and his character development is most evident through the soliloquys he delivers throughout the play. The most character development can be seen from the first soliloquy, to the second, the third, the sixth, and the seventh and final soliloquy. Hamlet’s inner conflict with his thoughts and his actions are well analyzed in his soliloquys, as well as his struggles with life and death, and his very own existence. He begins the play wondering what purpose he has in life now that his father is dead and his mother has remarried to his uncle. After finding out foul play was involved in his father’s death, he is motivated by revenge. Finally, he wonders how he can enact his revenge while continuously overthinking and overanalyzing his actions.

Shakespeare begins Hamlet's struggle with recognition of Hamlet's sincere grief and anger following his father's untimely death. A taste of the conflict is expressed in the dialogue

“To be or not to be— that is the question.” An exceptionally recognized phrase amid many centuries, cultures, places, and people. This short excerpt derives from the Shakespearean play, Hamlet: The Tragedy of the Prince of Denmark. Originally, this passage was displayed in one of the soliloquies of the play. Defined as “an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play”, a soliloquy is crucial to furthering the plot and connecting the audience with the speaker. William Shakespeare reveals the true desires and intentions of Hamlet, the main character of Hamlet: The Tragedy of the Prince of Denmark, within the protagonist’s soliloquies. Even Hamlet, one of the most complex characters in literary history, can be simplified through the use of a soliloquy.

The second soliloquy is after Hamlet’s reaction after hearing the play of Hecuba and how moved the woman was when her husband had passed. He is angered that he has not been moved as much as this woman has. Hamlet is calling himself a sociopathic coward in this soliloquy because he has not given into his grief and rage to avenge his father. Later in the soliloquy, he realizes that he should think this whole situation out to see if his uncle actually did kill his father.

The soliloquy “to be or not to be” delivered by Hamlet is arguably one of the most famous soliloquies in the works of Shakespeare. This is partly because the opening words are so memorable and intriguing. The speech portrays Hamlet as a very confused man as he is very unsure of himself. In the monologue, he contemplates whether or not he should continue or end his own life, which interests the audience. The real tragedy of the play is not Hamlet's himself, but that of Polonius's family, whose deaths were a result of their own sin, as well were manipulated by Hamlet and Claudius. The themes present in this play are concentrated on two major issues: the murder of Hamlet's father and the marriage of Gertrude to Hamlet's uncle. The major themes of the soliloquy ‘to be or not to be” are whether Hamlet will proceed to kill himself, the conflict Hamlet has with himself, and if he will take revenge and vengeance for his father.

In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the main character, Hamlet, undergoes significant emotional toil as he laments his father’s death, and the marriage between his mother and his uncle. Due to these surrounding factors, Hamlet employs a more withdrawn and interior demeanor so as not to let anyone know what he specifically thinks about. As a result, Shakespeare offers soliloquies in order to help Hamlet explain his unfiltered thoughts. In his first two soliloquies, Hamlet consistently inquires about whether or not to commit suicide. He typically does this with a lot of self-loathing, but ultimately resolves his issues to a point where he can shift his attention to focus on what is happening around him, in the first soliloquy, and what he can do to “fix” his sadness in the second soliloquy. In both soliloquies, Hamlet experiences a tone shift from depression and