Explore the Significance of Shakespeare’s Use of Soliloquies in Hamlet.
Explore the significance of Shakespeare’s use of soliloquies in Hamlet. Referring to two soliloquies, explain how they contribute to our understanding of the tragedy.
The definition of a tragedy is any event with a “sad and unfortunate outcome”. Throughout the play we see constant hints of a tragedy, until the ending finally convinces us that this is definitely a tragic play. Tragedy can be represented through many different features: from structure to language and form. The use of soliloquies though, is the most effective feature used in Hamlet. It not only shows what Hamlet is really thinking, but also reveals the absolute truth and makes the audience understand why Hamlet acts to specific situations the way he does.
The soliloquy Hamlet performs in Act 2 scene 2 is a crucial one and shows the audience how hard it is for Hamlet to decide whether to kill Claudius or not. However it also shows one of Hamlet’s main downfalls, which is the fact that he is procrastinating. He comes up with a plan to ‘play something like the murder on his father’, which can initially seem to the audience like a good plan, although he might just be doing it to put off the actual murder of Claudius, as he is clearly petrified of what the consequences of this will be. Also in Hamlet’s most famous speech ‘to be or not to be’ there is a constant repetition of ‘to’: ‘to die’, ‘to sleep’ suggesting that Hamlet is again trying extremely hard to come up with anything else to do, apart from what he is supposed to or what was planned in the first place. It clearly shows a reversal or power and dignity, as Hamlet used to be a contented prince, but is now slowly being destroyed by the terrifying decision that keeps haunting him. This links to Aristotle’s idea of a tragedy because he defines it as a ‘from of drama that is characterized by seriousness and dignity and involving a great person who experiences a reversal of fortune in some shape or form’. Which is exactly what is happening to
The definition of a tragedy is any event with a “sad and unfortunate outcome”. Throughout the play we see constant hints of a tragedy, until the ending finally convinces us that this is definitely a tragic play. Tragedy can be represented through many different features: from structure to language and form. The use of soliloquies though, is the most effective feature used in Hamlet. It not only shows what Hamlet is really thinking, but also reveals the absolute truth and makes the audience understand why Hamlet acts to specific situations the way he does.
The soliloquy Hamlet performs in Act 2 scene 2 is a crucial one and shows the audience how hard it is for Hamlet to decide whether to kill Claudius or not. However it also shows one of Hamlet’s main downfalls, which is the fact that he is procrastinating. He comes up with a plan to ‘play something like the murder on his father’, which can initially seem to the audience like a good plan, although he might just be doing it to put off the actual murder of Claudius, as he is clearly petrified of what the consequences of this will be. Also in Hamlet’s most famous speech ‘to be or not to be’ there is a constant repetition of ‘to’: ‘to die’, ‘to sleep’ suggesting that Hamlet is again trying extremely hard to come up with anything else to do, apart from what he is supposed to or what was planned in the first place. It clearly shows a reversal or power and dignity, as Hamlet used to be a contented prince, but is now slowly being destroyed by the terrifying decision that keeps haunting him. This links to Aristotle’s idea of a tragedy because he defines it as a ‘from of drama that is characterized by seriousness and dignity and involving a great person who experiences a reversal of fortune in some shape or form’. Which is exactly what is happening to