Hamlet Major Essay
Hamlet Argument Essay
Hamlet represents the nature of mankind; the notion of love, hate, sadness and the thirst for vengeance. The play, written by William Shakespeare, focuses on Hamlet’s thirst to avenge the death of his father. However, throughout the play, Shakespeare also highlights Hamlet’s flaw to act because he over analyzes situations that lead him to delay his actions. Samuel Taylor Coleridge expresses his view about Hamlet stating that Hamlet is slow to act which results the play to end tragically. Coleridge’s view is evident throughout the play because Hamlet’s intelligence proved not to be valuable but led to his death.
The soliloquy in Act 3 scene 1 by Hamlet serves as an archetype of the notion that Hamlet cannot decide if he should act. In this soliloquy, Hamlet starts with “to be or not to be” (3.1.64) which can be translated into “to act or not to act”. The choice between avenging his father and doing nothing is a constant battle in Hamlet’s mind because he is a coward. Hamlet shows his desire to take revenge but he does nothing. Coleridge states that Hamlet has all the quality of nature combined which is excellent but with one flaw; he cannot act. Hamlet constantly ponders over his decision. At the beginning he showed signs of motivation to avenge his father’s death but as the play progresses he starts to waver about what to do. Not only is he asking himself if he should act or not but his very existence is questioned by the statement, “To be or not to be”. Hamlet’s soliloquy portrays him as confused and unsure of whether to continue on with his quest for revenge or end his own life. It would be easier to accept things for what they are but doing so would make him a coward. So he cannot end his own life because he needs to take revenge. Hamlet meditates about this instead of accomplishing his responsibilities entrusted to him by his father. He is, as Coleridge stated, “repugnant to action”. He thinks of doing but never does it. Even until the
Hamlet represents the nature of mankind; the notion of love, hate, sadness and the thirst for vengeance. The play, written by William Shakespeare, focuses on Hamlet’s thirst to avenge the death of his father. However, throughout the play, Shakespeare also highlights Hamlet’s flaw to act because he over analyzes situations that lead him to delay his actions. Samuel Taylor Coleridge expresses his view about Hamlet stating that Hamlet is slow to act which results the play to end tragically. Coleridge’s view is evident throughout the play because Hamlet’s intelligence proved not to be valuable but led to his death.
The soliloquy in Act 3 scene 1 by Hamlet serves as an archetype of the notion that Hamlet cannot decide if he should act. In this soliloquy, Hamlet starts with “to be or not to be” (3.1.64) which can be translated into “to act or not to act”. The choice between avenging his father and doing nothing is a constant battle in Hamlet’s mind because he is a coward. Hamlet shows his desire to take revenge but he does nothing. Coleridge states that Hamlet has all the quality of nature combined which is excellent but with one flaw; he cannot act. Hamlet constantly ponders over his decision. At the beginning he showed signs of motivation to avenge his father’s death but as the play progresses he starts to waver about what to do. Not only is he asking himself if he should act or not but his very existence is questioned by the statement, “To be or not to be”. Hamlet’s soliloquy portrays him as confused and unsure of whether to continue on with his quest for revenge or end his own life. It would be easier to accept things for what they are but doing so would make him a coward. So he cannot end his own life because he needs to take revenge. Hamlet meditates about this instead of accomplishing his responsibilities entrusted to him by his father. He is, as Coleridge stated, “repugnant to action”. He thinks of doing but never does it. Even until the
Cited: Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Mowat, Barbara A., Werstine, Paul. New York, NY: Washington Square Press, 1992. Print.