The context of each soliloquy is different as in the Act 3 Scene 1 soliloquy he is talking to himself as he thinks he is alone. This is where his true feelings emerge, in Act 3 Scene 2 he is preparing himself to commit murder and hurt his mother but only with words, ‘I will speak daggers to her but use none,’ this demonstrates Hamlet’s ability to use language in ways which make others feel inadequate. He knows that his flaw of thinking too much has stopped him from doing this in the past has made him refrain and he now feels sure that Claudius is guilty for his father’s death. This is the main reason for the vast difference between the two soliloquies as his frame of mind affects the way he thinks and what actions he takes. In the soliloquy of Act 3 Scene 1 we see private Hamlet, he acts very different to when he is in public as he is able to shows his feelings more, ‘take arms against a sea of troubles’, Hamlet is clearly depressed however it is only through his soliloquies that the audience are aware of this. In Act 3 Scene 2 the Hamlet takes on the role of avenger. His purpose is different and he wants to be able to things that he would not normally do, ‘Let me be cruel, not unnatural.’
In each soliloquy Hamlet uses imagery to help express himself. In Act 3 Scene 1 he uses imagery to express his troubles, ‘thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to’, he says that the many problems he faces are ‘eating away’ at him. There is similar imagery in Act 3 Scene Act 3 Scene 2, ‘when churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out’; this imagery has a different purpose to the soliloquy of Act 3 Scene 1 as he uses it to describe the deed he wishes to carry out. Hamlet also says, ‘I will speak daggers but use none,’ which is particularly effective as adds connotations to his words which imply that his words will hurt her in a similar way to weapons. The dark imagery used by Hamlet helps to add to his mood and his intentions in each soliloquy.
The Act 3 Scene 1 soliloquy is faster and longer than the Act 3 Scene 2 soliloquy as this gives the effect that Hamlet is rambling and weighing up all of his options, he is clearly thinking as he is talking as he repeats himself, which shows that he has a lot on his mind and he is trying to think rationally. In Act 3 Scene 2 he is able to think more clearly, which makes his speech more fluent and to the point. This is because his purpose is clearer which makes him more rational and single-minded, ‘give them seals never my soul consent.’ The language he uses is also more precise, he is now thinking what he will do, and not what he could or might do, which makes the speech more definite. He is now instructing himself whereas in Act 3 Scene 1 he is asking himself questions in order to he try to deal with his problems.
