Analysis of Hamlet Shakespeare – Soliloquy

Resource Description

Opening Scene:

The opening scene establishes the tone of the play and the politically tense situation of Denmark as well as bringing light to the themes and characters. The ghost’s visitation triggers internal strife in line with Marcellus’ diction, ‘something is rotten in the state of Denmark’ (1.4). This reveals how something evil and vile is afoot, foreshadowing the impending struggles, corruption and deaths.  

The clear problem of discerning between appearance and reality become clear, with the Ghost and will continuously challenging Hamlet. Every character is constantly trying to spy upon each other and determine the mindset of other characters through deception. Not only does Hamlet investigate others, but he also engages in introspection and attempts to determine existentialism and eschatology. This search for perceived reality begins to affect Hamlet’s personality where he develops an inability to act. Furthermore, his search for reality ironically leads him to become caught behind a veil of ‘appearance’ of madness, in which he descends into himself eventually. 

A set of foils are established for Hamlet through Fortinbras, whose father has been defeated by a foe and is obliged to avenge his father’s death. It presents an important thematic thread where the passing of the old to the young inevitably carry is the duty of living up to their elders’ expectations, where the son must obey their father. Horatio’s _____ illustrates how young Fortinbra is bent on avenging his father’s defeat as Denmark prepares for war, later mirroring Hamlet’s own dilemma. Old Fortinbras and Young Fortinbras, Old Hamlet and Young Hamlet and Old Polonius and Young Laertes continually exemplify Shakespeare’s preoccupation with filial duty and devotion. 

The conflict between medieval Christianity and renaissance humanism is also established when Marcellus notes, ‘our savior’s birth’ in reference to Jesus, clearly defining the religious influence on characters in the play. 

It also establishes Elsinore are a prison through bleak and dying imagery, ‘unweeded garden’, suggesting that impending war and disaster are inevitable. 

Soliloquy 1:

The first soliloquy in Act 1, Scene 2 explores the futility of life, loyalty and moral corruption. Hamlet refers to the world as an ‘unweeded garden’ possessing rank and gross things, in reference to the moral corruption and disloyalty of human beings. He bemoans the fact that it is against Christianity to commit suicide in his TECHNIQUE, ‘O that this too too solid flesh would melt’. 

This nihilistic attitude results from the moral corruption and disloyalty of Gertrude, scorning his mother, ‘Frailty, thy name is woman!’. Furthermore, he utilises anthropomorphism, ‘a beast that wants discourse of reason would have mourned longer’, considering the marriage to be an incestuous affair. Gertrude’s disloyalty is further highlighted by Hamlet’s description, ‘wicked speed, to post with such dexterity to incestuous sheets!’, illustrating her disloyalty through her quickness to engage in an incestuous relationship and women’s dependence upon male dominance. Hamlet realises the possibility of Gertrude’s pretense affections towards his father, rather for satisfying her own lust as described by ‘unrighteous tears’ suggesting her tears were insincere, belied by her reprehensible conduct. 

Soliloquy 2:

Hamlet’s second soliloquy in Act 1 Scene 5 delves into determinism and reality vs appearance. When Hamlet is informed of the murder of his father, the ghost describes it as ‘foul and most unnatural murder’, connoting to the perverse disruption to the natural order. Hamlet characterises his mother as the, ‘most pernicious woman’ and Claudius as a ‘smiling damned villain’, presenting the apparent difference between appearance and reality. Hamlet becomes despaired at his burden of seeking revenge, ‘O cursed spite! That ever I was born to set it right!’ which reveals a conflict between Christian virtues and renaissance humanism where he is able to choose his own nature and destiny.