O that this too too solid flesh would melt,...
Or that the Everlasting had not fixed
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God!
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable
Seem to me all the uses of this world (I, ii, 135-140).
Through these lines it is obvious that Hamlet is in the midst of a deep depression. He
has no control over the uses of the world. Hamlet compares Denmark to an unweeded garden to symbolize the corruption within his country, that is seeded within Claudius and his incestuous marriage to Gertrude.
Hamlet goes on to compare his father to Claudius and comment on the relationship between King Hamlet and Gertrude.
So excellent a King that was to this
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly (I, ii, 145-148).
In Hamlet's eyes Claudius is a beast in comparison to the god-like features of his
father. The scene has very graphic imagery using murderous words such as, ‘self-slaughter,’ ‘rank,’ and ‘gross.’
This lays the foundation for Hamlet's vengeful intentions. Hamlet's also comments on how he does not understand why his mother married Claudius in such haste, this deeply affected Hamlet and lead Hamlet to make a generalization about all women. Frailty, thy name is woman(I, ii, 146)! Hamlet displays his inability to separate his emotions
from his rational being.
Hamlet ends this soliloquy by resolving to do nothing for the time being. He has laid the foundation for the rest of the play, but he has also made a decision that will cause him more pain. His resolution to do nothing this will be the source of his problems in following speeches.
The second soliloquy concerns Hamlet's delay of action. He feels ashamed that he has not taken revenge on Claudius for his father's death with the speed and expression exhibited by the actors in the
play. Hamlet compares his inaction to the dramatic expression the actor exhibits for the
death of his character's father. What would he do, / Had he the motive and cue for
passion/ That I have. Hamlet is amazed that the actor can conjure such emotions, while he has delayed the doing anything in response to his father's murder.
Hamlet then calls himself a coward for his not being able to say anything in defense of his father. Am I a coward. This is ironic because he is concentrating on the actor's expression of grief, not a proactive response, which will only inhibit one's action. Hamlet never discusses the act of vengeance, only the actor's ability to cleave the general ear with horrid speech(II, ii, 569).
Hamlet also displays his low self-esteem in this soliloquy as he sarcastically describes
his inaction. This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must unpack my heart with words, And fall a-cursing like a very drab...Hamlet is his own worst critic throughout the play. Through this statement, Hamlet incites himself to the point that he plans some action. The play's the thing/ Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. He plans to put on a play that will mirror his father's murder in order to see Claudius' guilty reaction.
