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act 4 hamlet
Jeein Kim
Pyle
AP Literature
21 March 2013
Act 4 Journal Response- Hamlet Soliloquy Essentially, Hamlet has reached a turning point in which he diverges from a stagnant state to that of implementation of action. Hamlet becomes growingly apprehensive of the matter at hand (in exacting revenge against his uncle, the King) and decisively opts to take action. Hamlet’s new state of mind is reflected within his dialogue: “What is a man/If his chief good and market of his time/Be but to sleep and feed? 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 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.” Hamlet’s view of himself is characterized by that of self-deprecation; he feels that he has been too wary and ineffective in dealing with his plot of vengeance and refuses to further linger in idleness. The opening part of the soliloquy blatantly defines Hamlet’s incentive for revenge: “How all occasions do inform against me/ And spur my dull revenge!” Hamlet notes the manner in which Fortinbras swiftly and hastily undertakes action, which subsequently exhorts him to act in this very manner; Hamlet elucibrates, “Led by this army of such mass and charge/ Led by a delicate and tender Prince… to all that fortune, death and danger dare/ Even for an eggshell”. Essentially, Fortinbras serves as a reflective mirror to his Danish counterpart. In the closing lines of the soliloquy, Hamlet thus revolves to avenge his father’s untimely death at last, as demonstrated through his statement "O from this time forth/My thoughts be bloody or be nothing worth." The justification behind his keen blood thirst and malevolent intent toward his uncle is that the preservation of honor (his father’s and his own) is largely at stake. Hamlet is driven by the notion that revenge is exigent and eminent,

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