Hamlet: Analyzing Soliloquies and Character Development

This essay provides a comprehensive analysis of soliloquies in Shakespeare's Hamlet, focusing on the psychological insights into human nature and character development. The essay examines two key soliloquies: Hamlet's 'To Be or Not to Be' speech and Claudius's confession, revealing the inner turmoil and motivations of the characters. It explores how Shakespeare uses soliloquies to advance the plot, convey themes of revenge, morality, and guilt, and create a reflective atmosphere. The essay also includes a fictional soliloquy, showcasing the impact of God's presence. Through this analysis, the essay highlights the timeless relevance of Shakespeare's work and its exploration of the human condition.

Running Head: ENGLISH 1
Hamlet - Literature Analysis
Author's Name
Institutional Affiliation
Introduction

EDUCATION 2
The works by William Shakespeare are seen to be timeless and still appeal to the society
even after centuries and are still relevant. Hamlet was written in 1601 or 1602 and is the longest
play written by Shakespeare (The Tragedy of Hamlet, 2016). The play is based in the Denmark
kingdom and is about how Prince Hamlet takes revenge on his uncle, Claudius for murdering his
father, who is the King of Denmark. The play offers a psychological insight into human nature as
it portrays moral corruption, revenge, and treachery. Many of the characters speak in soliloquies
during the play.
Soliloquies are essential as they tell the audience specific information that cannot be
included in the normal conversation. Shakespearean characters speak in soliloquies for the
presentation of a story (Verma, 2016). They advance the plot as well as reveal the inner thoughts
of the characters to the audience. Those emotional outbursts within the soliloquies help to create
an atmosphere and are reflective and thoughtful. Hamlet’s reflective and thoughtful nature is
revealed through his soliloquies. Hamlet talks about himself and his mind to the audience and
justifies his actions through the soliloquies. Shakespeare’s powerful imagery in the Soliloquies
shows the inner flight and emotions of the characters clearly. His characters reveal a lot about
themselves and their inner emotions through the soliloquies and convey their views to the
audience without the need to speak to another character. In a way, the soliloquies are direct
revelations to the audience. Shakespeare has inserted the soliloquies just at the right places
within the play so that the character can express himself freely and the audience is able to know
what he is going through and can understand the different shades of his character.
Hamlet soliloquy - Act 3, Scene 1

EDUCATION 3
There are several soliloquies in Hamlet and the one chosen for discussion is “To Be Or
Not To Be” that takes place during Act 3, Scene 1. Hamlet questions life in his famous speech”
"to be or not to be” (BookRags, 2007). The man question Hamlet puts to himself is whether to
exist or die. He ponders if the miseries of lie are worth dying for, or he should take the risks of
unknown miseries that might exist after death. This soliloquy reveals a new side of Hamlet to the
audience as it shows the softer and emotional side of him. One can understand the inner turmoil
going on inside him as Hamlet tries to focus whether to fight and die for what you believe is
right. The audience can relate to him as he discussed mortality and reveals his fears of death. He
questions if it is braver to put up with all the hardships of life or fight against those troubles. He
suggests that one may even die in the fight to oppose them”. To die—to sleep.” He wonders if all
that is worth dying for and to enter a sleep that ends all that heartache. He compares death to a
sleep from which one never awakens and a sleep like situation where we are away from the
miseries of life. Still, he sees problems in sleep because of the kind of dreams he may encounter.
However, he also wonders that “what dreams may come” from that “sleep of death.” His
thoughts point out the catch in the situation here as 0ne does not know what kind of dreams one
may have in death’s sleep. Even after putting all that troubles of life to rest, the dreams after
death may still worry us and stretch out the sufferings. He thinks aloud and conveys that this is
certainly something to worry about. Through the soliloquy, Hamlet conveys that it is difficult to
bear “bear the whips and scorns of time” and the humiliations of life which include the insults
and abuse from the superiors. He finds injustice everywhere, in life, in love, in the legal system
and this is what makes him feel the burden of life. Hamlet tells his audience that he has no faith
in the corrupted world. He is not willing to go through this exhausting journey of life as he says”
To grunt and sweat under a weary life.” However, at the same time, he is unsure of what lies

EDUCATION 4
after the death and the” undiscovered country whose bourn No traveler returns.” His mind is
torn between the two possibilities he has to face, either to put up with the known evils or life or
to die and face those unknown dreams.
Moreover, great and important plans are diluted to the point where we don’t do anything.
“One can see that it is the fear of death within him that make him vulnerable and more humane.
He conveys clearly that at least he knows the ills of life but he does not know what lies ahead for
him on his journey after death- “Than fly to others that we know not of?” It leaves him
wondering if he should stick to life and bear with its known evils rather than die opposing them
and bear the unknown. The soliloquy ends with “be all my sins remembered” and those words
make the audience pause and absorb that Hamlet has decided to take revenge. Now he feels
justified of his decision and finds his noble deed justifiable. The soliloquy creates a somber
atmosphere for the audience and prepares them for the actions that Hamlet is getting ready for in
the future. Hamlet’s questions put one in a state of dilemma and make one question that even if
one throws away his life to conquer the evils of the world, would they really go away? While
one has control over the situations in life and can take conscious decisions, they have little
control over their dreams or what lies after death. Hamlet suffers not form the fear of dying but
what lies behind the death and after being dead. He pounders overs the unknown and
unknowable.
Claudius soliloquy - Act III, scene III
Shakespeare illustrates the inner turmoil going through Claudius in Act III, scene III after
murdering his brother. He wants Guildenstern and Rosencrantz take Hamlet to England and the
two leave to fulfill the political mission. Claudius, believing he is alone, confesses his crime and
through his soliloquy, he conveys the torment he is going through (BookRags, 2007). He speaks”

EDUCATION 5
My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,” and those words show that now that his intentions
are done and over with, the guilt within him is stronger to conquer. He looks at his hands like
cursed hands that are soaked with his brother’s blood. He wonders if there are rains in heaven
that can wash the blood away and make them as “white as snow.” He wonders if there is a prayer
that can ask for his forgiveness and is he can be forgiven his “foul murder”. Although,
Claudius’s confesses to his crime, his words that he is “possessed” by the “crown”, “ambition”,
and “queen” shows that he is giving a reason behind and is not regretful. He speaks his mind as
he says that the wicked can do injustice in the world and still enjoy the fruits of their crime but
this is not so in the heavens as he says” But ’tis not so above. “Now that he has committed the
crime, he says, - What then? What rests? He wonders if there is anything that can be done to
offer repentance for his crime. Now that he has a “bosom black as death,” he finds his souls
burdened with the guilt and “struggling to be free.” Those words show the helpless situation he is
in and how he longs to get free of that turmoil going on within his mind. He knees down as he
calls the angels for help and asks them to make his “stubborn knees” and “heart with strings of
steel” soft and make them bend in prayer and humility, just like a “newborn babe.” He just wants
to pray so that everything will turn out to be okay.
Through Claudius soliloquy, Shakespeare reveals the character of Claudius and the
turmoil he is going through after committing the crime. Shakespeare exposes a sharp change to
Claudius’s character through his confession. Now, he is struggling to get free from the burden of
his sin. Claudius personifies his soul in the process, and his words show that the more it struggles
to get free the more it clings to sin he committed. Although he is not regretful for his brother’s
death he is not able to take the guilt; he experiences later.

EDUCATION 6
This additional speech can be inserted into the Act V when just before when Hamlet
attacks Claudius. Perhaps Claudius can show Hamlet the kind of guilt he is going through with
the help of his soliloquy.
A soliloquy for yourself
I saw him from the distance and was excited; I could not believe my eyes when I saw
God walk towards me! I was excited; I rubbed my eyes!
Was it a dream or was I praying?
I pinched myself to wake me from my dreamlike state.
This was the moment; this was the minute I had always envisioned,
Face to face with God,
I always wondered what he would be like, fair or pale in complexion or darker in skin
tone
What would his features be like – the ones I had grown up seeing in those images or the
sculptures within the church,
I felt myself turn into a statue, what had made God descend from the heavens and walk
towards me? Was it my devout prayers for him or my intense longing or simply his love
that forced him to come?
Well, I was too excited as I was going to meet God today,
And finally, all my troubles were going to end.

EDUCATION 7
I walked hurriedly, towards Him. To my joy, I saw Him coming towards me,
And with hurried steps,
Perhaps He has realized the urgency of my situation, and so I thought,
“Hurry!” he said, as he came towards me. “I need your help to help this man out.”
I realized in an instant there and then. There are more who need His help more than me,
In a situation perhaps worse than me. And, He needs my help to help them.
I walked in complete obedience and silence behind him. It really didn’t matter if God
came to meet me or was here for someone else.
I was happy as long as He was with me.

EDUCATION 8
References
BookRags (2007). Hamlet William Shakespeare. BookRags' Hamlet Premium Study Guide,,
1(1), 1–300.
The Tragedy of Hamlet. (2016). ucm.es. Retrieved from https://www.ucm.es/data/cont/docs/119-
2014-02-19-5.%20Hamlet%20(summary).pdf
Verma, A. (2016). Hamlet: Shakespeare’s Masterpiece in Our Times. Language in India, 16(7),
73–80.