Shakespeare's Hamlet: Analyzing Soliloquies and Character Insights

This essay offers a comprehensive analysis of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, focusing on the pivotal role of soliloquies in revealing the inner thoughts and motivations of the characters, particularly Prince Hamlet. The essay begins by examining the famous "To be, or not to be" soliloquy, dissecting its philosophical depth and its significance in portraying Hamlet's contemplation of life, death, and the burdens of existence. It explores how Shakespeare uses soliloquies to externalize Hamlet's internal struggles, allowing the audience to understand his psychological state and the complexities of his moral dilemmas. The essay further extends its analysis by creating a soliloquy for the character of Claudius, providing a glimpse into his perspective and inner turmoil. Additionally, a soliloquy is crafted for the reader, emphasizing the dramatic impact and the personal connection the audience experiences with the play. Overall, the essay effectively demonstrates the power of soliloquies in shaping character development, advancing the narrative, and exploring the profound themes of revenge, morality, and the human condition within Shakespeare's timeless tragedy.

Running head: SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
Hamlet is one of the well-known tragedies which was written by English author and
playwright William Shakespeare. It tells the readers the story of Prince Hamlet of Denmark,
who wants to avenge his father King Hamlet by killing his uncle Claudius for murdering his
father and his marrying his mother. It is often considered to be the longest of the tragedies
written by William Shakespeare.
The play is known for having a number of soliloquies by Hamlet which is considered
to be the most important of all soliloquies to be said in the play. These soliloquies form one
of the basic ways in which the audience gets to know about the evets of the play itself.
Hence, this forms an important element of the tragedy in the play itself. That is why
the soliloquies are considered are an essential part of the play.
The purpose of this essay is to analyse one of the soliloquies of Hamlet in the play
and also to create a soliloquy for one of the characters of the play as well as a soliloquy
for the reader in the play.
The tragedy Hamlet is known to be one of the best tragedies written by William
Shakespeare. The main character in the play Hamlet, is said to be one of the best characters to
be created by William Shakespeare.
This is because of the psychologically astute characterization of the protagonist which
makes the character enjoyable to the readers themselves (Shakespeare, 2018).
In the play, it can be said that the character of Hamlet is said to have a number of
important soliloquies which enables the readers to understand the way the character feels and
sees the things around him/her.

2SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
The readers are well-aware about the personal loss which the character of Hamlet has
encountered in his life. In this case, it is therefore important for the readers to accept the
character of Hamlet as one of the most well-known creations of William Shakespeare.
“To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them?” (Act 3, Scene 1)
Most of the experts agree the fact that this is considered to be the most important of
all soliloquies to be stated by Hamlet himself. This is also the most famous of all the
quotations to be used by the character of Hamlet in the play.
What makes the quote important for the readers is the fact that the opening lines of
the tragedy is important, interesting, memorable and intriguing.
Another reason for the importance of the article is the fact that the playwright William
Shakespeare has used several ways to deal with the soliloquy and the various ways it reflects
the character situations as it being faced by the character of Hamlet in the tragedy.
Shakespeare has also dealt with more profound concepts and have put the
philosophical ideas into the tragedy by putting these ideas into the mouth of the characters on
the stage.
This exactly has been the same case with the character of Hamlet in the tragedy
(Shakespeare, 2018). The readers are of the opinion that the first six words of the soliloquy
are said to create a balance in the tragedy.

3SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
In the opening lines of the soliloquy, it is seen by the readers that Hamlet is seen to be
thinking about the subject matters of life and death and at the same time is shown to be
pondering about the concept of the state of being and also a state of nor being, which in his
terms, amounts to the concepts of being alive or being dead.
What the character wants to convey to the readers in these lines is the fact that there is
a balance between the concepts of life and death in the world. The readers are said that life
means a lack of power as the living persons are considered to be at the mercy of the fortunes
which they acquire in their lives themselves (Shakespeare, 2018).
In comparison to this, the concept of death in these lines is shown to be of
empowering nature to the audiences themselves. This is evidenced by the soliloquy made by
Hamlet himself makes as he believes the fact that killing of a person is a method of taking up
weapons against those who deserve to be killed.
However, here Hamlet also questions the role of fortune in the lives of the human
beings because it is well known by the humans themselves that killing an individual is like
going against the wishes of the fortune.
The soliloquy the shifts to a line which makes the audience think about a decision
regarding a final end of the lines. It is seen from this fact itself that Hamlet lets his mind
wonder on the subject matter of voyages that has the intention of discovering and the
expeditions of an exploratory nature which is seen by the audiences of the tragedy.
The lines of the soliloquy also direct the audience to the final decision which is taken
by Hamlet in the course of the tragedy. Hamlet is said to make a profound judgement on the
decisions which is taken by Hamlet himself in the tragedy. The readers get to know the fact
that there is more to death than is normally expected by the audience.

4SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
This is evidenced by the Hamlet says that it is not about killing or murdering but it
also depends on the mission which the character himself is on.
This is revealed in more details to the audiences when the protagonist says that he
wants to kill Claudius, but at the same time, he is also aware of the fact that the killing or
murdering is a sin and the fact that he will be the considered to be a sinner if he murders
Claudius in the tragedy (Shakespeare, 2018).
It is at this scene that this soliloquy of Hamlet comes to an end itself. In the end of the
soliloquy itself, the audience sees the character of Hamlet pulling himself out of his reflective
nature.
This is evidenced by the way in which Hamlet says that too much thinking of the
event itself will lead to the prevention of the even itself and that Hamlet will be unable to kill
Claudius and avenge his father himself.
The soliloquy finally ends with Hamlet presenting a list of things to the audience
themselves about the things which annoy him out of his life.
Hamlet presents the various reasons why he should kill his uncle and at the same time
also explains to the audience the various reasons why murdering his uncle would also make
him a sinner itself.
Thus, it can be said by the readers that the soliloquy is important because it presents a
crucial moment in the life of Hamlet in the decisions which he is about to make in the
remaining of the tragedy itself.
That is why it is said by the readers that this soliloquy is the most important part of
the tragedy written by William Shakespeare himself (Shakespeare, 2018).

5SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
In order to create a soliloquy for the character in the play of Hamlet by the playwright
William Shakespeare himself, I would choose to create a soliloquy for the character of
Claudius in the tragedy Hamlet.
The setting of the scene is when Claudius first gets to know about the fact that Hamlet
is trying to kill him for avenging his father. The scenario would involve the King pacing his
room all tensed up after getting to know about this piece of information himself.
Claudius
(Pacing around in his room)
“I knew this day would come; I had anticipated this day for a long time. Young Hamlet
plans to murder me to avenge my late brother. Oh!! (stares out the window), how I wish I
could have killed him when he was still helpless. The nuisance pretends to be mad but I…I
King Claudius of Denmark know for sure that he is not, (punches the wall with anger),
how he makes me mad!! He is as righteous and noble as my late brother was…. speaking
of my brother (turns to a portrait of late King Hamlet and him in his room) why brother?
Tell me why did you have to create another version of yourself? That same righteousness,
that same nobility, (clenching his teeth), it all makes me so mad.”
This is the soliloquy which I have decided to crate for the character of Claudius in the
tragedy of Hamlet itself. I have decided to add this statement in Act 3 Scene 3 of the tragedy
itself.
Soliloquy of Life
Me
(appearing before the audience)

6SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
“I have been training for this job for so long. For years, I have prepared myself for this
day, and when the day is finally here, (frowning), why do I feel such unease within myself?
(Stares up at the house in front of him) People claim that this house is haunted. I have
taken a bet that I will prove that ghosts and demons do not exist. I know I have always held
interest in the afterlife since I was very young. I always had a curiosity about what
happens to the human body after they die, where do they go? For many years, I have
visited several places considered to be haunted by the locals themselves, but I have not
found any proper evidence to confirm the existence of ghosts and spirits itself. I am sure
that this has turned me into a sceptic itself. (Frowns) but now…. everything is different.
This…house (stares up at the desolate building in front) used to be a mental asylum itself.
Many atrocities had been committed here at one time. This place is enough to give bad
vibes to the individuals who come to the place itself. (Shivers) I can feel it myself……this
place is terribly evil itself. I must say that I am lucky enough to have come here myself.
Tonight, I will have all my questions answered. But now…. when the time is here, why do I
feel so scared. It is as if someone is forbidding me to go there.
However, I have made up my mind. I will go inside and find out who or what is scaring
people so much inside this house itself. (Sees the clock strike twelve) It is time…time to get
all my answers. (Takes a step towards the house and thinks for a second) I know that the
task that I am going to do might cost me myself, so I would like to take this time to address
my friends and loved ones not to worry about myself. I will come back… (sighs) and if I do
not……. please do not think too much about it. Just think about it as one of my normal
activities which had cost me my life. But (stares with a determined expression) let’s not
waste any more time. Time of action is at hand!! (Opens the door of the house and walks
inside).”

7SHAKESPEARE’S HAMLET
Reference List
Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Vol. 8. Ediciones Brontes, 2019.