Comment on the use of soliloquies in Hamlet. Discuss Hamlet's first soliloquy and show how it reveals certain aspects of Hamlet's character.
Comment on the use of soliloquies in Hamlet. Discuss Hamlet’s first soliloquy and show how it reveals certain aspects of Hamlet’s character
Soliloquies are defined as “the act of talking to oneself”. This dramatic monologue gives the illusion of series of unspoken thoughts. It is used by a character to reveal thoughts to the audience. They will either be alone on the stage, or believe themselves to be alone. The use of soliloquies was popular in Shakespeare’s time.
A few of the characters in Hamlet use soliloquies, Hamlet frequently uses them when he questions things that are going on, he speaks to himself unaware people are listening in and they think he has gone ‘mad.’ Claudius also uses soliloquies throughout the play when he needs to question himself what is going on.
Hamlet has many soliloquies throughout the play, one or more per act. In act one scene ii, Hamlet reveals his death wish through a soliloquy, “How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all the uses of the world!” He then protests against the sudden death of his father and his mother’s hasty marriage to his uncle in the same soliloquy. His next major soliloquy is act one scene v where the ghost of Hamlet tells of the regicide. The tale of the ghost Hamlet evokes dramatic reaction within Hamlet’s character. Knowing the murderer of his father, Hamlet discharges the turbulent state of his mind in a soliloquy. In act three scene iii Hamlet spares Claudius from his blade because he is offering a prayer, and that Hamlet wishes Claudius to die in a state of sin. His righteous yet procrastinating means is justified in his soliloquy.
