Shakespeare uses language that is dark, “rank”, and “gross” which help create the sombre mood that Hamlet is in. He also uses similes, and metaphors to make it obviously clear the point he is trying to get across. Shakespeare seems to use these techniques to make the difference between the two objects as blatant as possible, as shown by the Hyperion/satyr comparison. Allusions are also used heavily throughout in order to give his ideas more backing and support, especially referring to past mythology with Hyperion, Hercules, and the satyrs.
The overall mood/tone of this soliloquy is a very personal and emotional one since it is really the first time that Hamlet has revealed his inner thoughts so openly. It accomplishes its objective of revealing the deep thoughts of Hamlet and his inner struggle with amazing proficiency, and helps the reader to understand the basis for his actions throughout the rest of the play.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
In Hamlet, Shakespeare reveals dynamics and statics in character traits mainly through soliloquies. In Soliloquy #2, Hamlet takes an adventure of self-awareness with a static, violent and depressing tone.…
- 372 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
This soliloquy is spoken by Hamlet in Act III, scene I (58–90). In Hamlets speech he forms many connections to the play’s major themes, including the idea of suicide and death, the difficulty of obtaining the truth from a spiritually ambiguous universe, and the connection between thought and performing an action. In this Hamlet makes very good argumentative points as to why suicide cannot be the answer to solve his problems. He effectively provides evidence of both options as whether to commit the act of suicide or not and the results that may possibly follow either choice. For me this creates a very interesting image of a man so intellectually conscious of his actions and the results that follow them, when the act of suicide is often determined…
- 891 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
The primary function of the first soliloquy is to reveal to the audience Hamlet's profound melancholia and the reasons for his despair. Hamlet explains, with an outpouring of disgust, anger, sorrow, and grief that everything in his world is either futile or contemptible.…
- 529 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
The opening of the soliloquy reveals Hamlet’s unstable state of mind because it begins with his inner struggle with his suicidal thoughts as shown through the line “o that this too, too sullied flesh would melt”. This line can be interpreted in two ways the first as a melodramatic response to the situations happening in his life and the line is an unusual way in which to begin because it shocks the audience with no introduction. The soliloquy also introduces the audience to a different side of Hamlet’s character as before he was shown to be quiet and sullen with a sarcastic attitude towards his uncle. Another way in which Hamlet’s instability is shown is through the structure of the soliloquy where he repeats himself as seen in his repetition of the words “month” and “O”.…
- 873 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Not only does Shakespeare utilize allusions to Greek mythology in the play, but there is also a great deal of personification. As Hamlet transitions from…
- 635 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
For the most part, this Hamlet's soliloquy is the crisis of the play. It is when Hamlet fail to kill Claudius at prayer although he has the inner certitude that he is the murderer of his father. And this is obviously due to his consciousness. This soliloquy emphasizes in one way or another the universal human thought: to act or not to act in front of a situation requiring immediate action, always ask inner questions, make difficult choices and sometimes be tugged by his or her choice. Shakespeare uses, thereby, Hamlet to reflect on situations in the current life on which people are unable to have control, or difficult events to overcome, just because consciousness pushes them to understand that every action has its consequences and leads them…
- 140 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
In the first section of this soliloquy Hamlet is considering suicide but does not follow through with his thoughts because of religious reasons. This is apparent through Hamlet's words, "or that the everlasting had not fixed his cannon 'gainst self-slaughtered!" Shakespeare's use of words such as flat, stale, and weary contributes to a tone of sorrow and sadness. The long, drawn out sentences also create a tone of distress. As an actor performing this soliloquy, I would act out this first section until "...seem to me all the uses of this world!" as a despondent tone.…
- 470 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
This soliloquy is the closing part of the second act and points out the inner feelings of the prince Hamlet being affected by the tremendous acting of the player which was full of meaning to him.…
- 1130 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Hamlet starts off with a terse statement indicating that he was given “all occasions” (32) and yet did not act upon it, which is marked by his “dull revenge” (33). Rather than to slowly ease his way to his point, he chooses to start out strongly, in turn, revealing how quick he must have came to this realization. It suggests that it must have always been at the top of his head at one point or another as its sudden appearance came at the very beginning of the soliloquy. He goes on to compare himself to that of a “beast” (35) asking the rhetorical question of “What is a man/If his chief good and market of his time/Be but to sleep and feed?” (33-35). By questioning his own worth, its shows his acceptance and admittance to the matter. He acknowledges and attempts to better himself as the first step to recovery is recognizing one’s problem. As to comparing himself to the likes of an animal, which suggests his sense of uselessness and self degradation, at the same time, confirms his feelings of guilt and thus illustrates the intense emotional impact it must have had on him upon his realization. As the soliloquy continues, Hamlet begins to become more specific, throwing out references to his previous mistakes, that is, by delaying Claudius’s…
- 1046 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In his tragic play, Hamlet, Shakespeare uses Hamlet, the main character, to portray ideas of deceit, desire, and death. A transition in Hamlet’s state of mind ultimately develops the play’s theme as the lack of decisive actions resulting from the clash between logical rationale and medieval intuition.…
- 469 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Hamlets soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 2 reveals for the first time Hamlets intimate, innermost thoughts to the audience. Hamlet has just been denied his request to study in Wittenberg, and is in a state of distress due to his fathers death, his mother's hasty marriage to his uncle Claudius, and his own inability to do anything in both occurrences. Through the use of figurative language such as allusions and comparisons, Shakespeare presents Hamlet in an emotional state of grief, bitterness, and disgust.…
- 826 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Hamlet’s soliloquy in Act I Scene 2 is the first time that the reader fully understands Hamlet’s character, his inner thoughts and opinions. The general tone of this soliloquy is very personal and emotional revealing Hamlet’s despair over the current situation and his depressing state of mind. It sets the stage for the rest of the story, being Hamlet’s hatred of Claudius and resentment of his mother.…
- 656 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
‘Hamlet’ the character, as well as, the play has, very often and rightly, been referred to as a ‘riddle’ by learned critics, and there have always been attempts to solve this riddle. But to endeavor to reach any answer, whether that answer is satisfactory or not is another issue, to the riddle of Hamlet’s character without probing into his soliloquies is a hard pill to swallow. These soliloquies give us an insight into the intentions, thoughts and feelings of Hamlet at different stages of the play, and these are very crucial to the development of his character. His seventh soliloquy is no exception.…
- 767 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) is probably the most famous English playwright and poet whose life has been open to interpretation almost as much as his works. However, interpreting his works proves to be a very complicated and time-consuming process. Many scholars have devoted their entire lives to reading and understanding Shakespeare's works and educating others as to how to decipher the 16th century writer's enigmatic style of writing. Here is an attempt to do just that, in one of Shakespeare's most infamous tragic plays, Hamlet. Five passages below will be summarized, analyzed, and explained in an attempt to further enlighten the reader as to what exactly is occurring in each scene. What each passage reveals about the character, or the overall plot, and any thematic relevance will also be explicated. The scenes and lines are given before each synopsis and analysis; it may be helpful to have a copy of the play at hand while reading this composition.…
- 2215 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Hamlet is a university student whose father has died, and this has interfered with his studies. He is exceptionally philosophical as well as contemplative, and is mainly…
- 584 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays