How the seven soliloquies reveal Hamlets character

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How the Seven Soliloquies Reveal Hamlets Character
William Shakespeare is unlike other play actors in his style of writing and the revelation of critical character details in his tragedies. He uses soliloquies to foster an understanding of the characters to his audience. In the Tragedy of Hamlet, Shakespeare documents the characters of Hamlet in an expert way through seven timely soliloquies. In the play, Hamlet uses the stories to mention the things that would be impossible to mention in regular conversation with the other characters. Through them, the audience is aware of his character, something that the other characters do not know. The strategy makes the audience feel special an integral part of the play as they already learn more about Hamlet that the people he is interacting with in the play. Through the soliloquies, Shakespeare reveals the character of Hamlet as principled and intelligent. The essay delves into Hamlet’s character through the revelations of the soliloquies.
Hamlet points to his principles on the first soliloquy when he questions his mother’s morals when she marries his father’s brother. He questions why her mother would marry the brother when even her shoes that she used to escort her husband’s body had not grown old yet (1.2 lines 147-148). Through this query, Hamlet wonders why his mother would be so fast in replacing his father who apparently was no better than any man including Hamlet himself (Davies 159).

He terms the month that Gertrude takes to remarry as “wicked speed” as she does not take her time to mourn the fallen hero (1.2 line 156). Further, he shows intelligence in the Soliloquy as he declares that the act requires revenge, but he must not say anything first before he hatches a plan. In his words, he states that “But break my heart, but I must hold my tongue” (1.2 line 159). As young as he is, Hamlet has realized that his father death and the union between his uncle and mother must have a connection and thus he must revenge his father death.
In the second Soliloquy, Hamlet learns of his uncle’s role in his father’s death and resolves that the wisest thing to do is not to let the uncle enjoy the reign after shedding his father’s blood. In this instance, the ghost has already revealed to Hamlet that he was killed by his brother. He swears not to forget the ghost thereby insinuating that he will have to do what is necessary to avenge his father (1.5 lines 95-98). The assertions that Hamlet makes further emphasize the principles he holds. During the period, revenge was acceptable as a way of repaying evil. Therefore, Hamlet must avenge his father death no matter what comes his way as he swears in the subsequent lines of the soliloquy (Kinney 162). His words to his father’s ghost are also characterized by intelligence as he tells it that he will keep the volumes of what he should do (revenge) in his head. He further realizes that he is not the only one that requires the revenge but the entire Denmark (1.5 line 109). The realization that his uncle killed his father sparks a spark of realization in his brain. He reckons that he must revenge not only for his sake but for the dilapidated state of the country, which was doing good before his father was killed. The soliloquy, just like the first one shows that Hamlet is not only principled but is also wise and could be trusted to carry out the revenge for the death of one of the best kings of Denmark. It is no longer his journey but that of the entire citizenry. However, he remains the custodian of the truth and thus the disseminator of what to be done.
In the next soliloquy, Hamlet plots on how to find out whether his uncle killed his father before taking any action. He already feels that his uncle killed the King but had to be sure since he does not believe in punishment without a course. He blames himself for doubting the ghost, but he must prove that indeed, his uncle had a role in killing the uncle. By plotting to catch his uncle through the play, Hamlet portrays his intelligence (2.2 lines 597-600). He knows that it is better to prove that his uncle killed his father before killing him than killing him and realizing that it is a mistake. Moreover, this soliloquy shows that Hamlet is blaming himself for many things that have happened to him. He calls himself names such as slave, ass, and whore as he becomes confused about the relationship between his uncle and his mother (2.2 line 586). However, he does not want his friends, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, who also couple up as his uncle’s confidants that he is confused. He knows that there are on the other side and therefore cannot trust them with any of his plans. He thus lies to them that he is pretending to be confused so that he can confuse them on what to report when they get back to his uncle (Kinney 165). The part shows that despite the confusion, Hamlet still retains his intelligence and cannot blow away his plans by letting his uncle’s aides know about his plan.
The fourth soliloquy is also important in relaying the character Hamlet to the audience especially since it shows the internal turmoil he is going through. Here, Hamlet has assessed the situation and determined that he might die to try to avenge his father death. He asks the main question, “To be or not to be” as he ponders on the worth of dying when you are protecting what you believe is true (3.1 line 56). Hamlet has realized that his principles might lead to his demise and thus, he is contemplating his actions before anything else. The soliloquy shows that he is intelligent enough to know that he cannot kill his uncle, the king, that easily and that he is bound to face some consequences (Rama 157). He also knows that his uncle is in a powerful position and has people all over trying to look into his affairs. Moreover, in the soliloquy, he makes the critical decision of seeking revenge. He says, “Be all my sins remembered” to show that he chooses to stick to his principle of revenge irrespective of what consequences the decision might bring (3.1. line 90). The part shows that he does not make the decision blindly, after analyzing the speed through which his mother married his uncles, the revelation by his father’s ghost and the impending confirmation of his uncle’s guilt he will have all he requires to orchestrate a payback to his uncle and his mother.
Moreover, the fifth soliloquy fosters the audience’s understanding of Hamlet’s intelligence. His trap for his uncle works. When Claudius is haunted by the details of the play, he rushes out confirming that he kicked Hamlet’s father (Davies 170). Now, Hamlet only has to finalize his plans and carry out his plan as he promised his father’s ghost. His mother is irate about the plot that the son had sent for her husband. She sends for him, seeking an audience with him immediately. Before going, he continues with his soliloquy where he beckons the spirit of Nero to enter him (3.3 line 413). Nero in this instance represents a Roman empire famous for a series of executions including that of his mother (Cox 53). However, Hamlet does not intend to kill his mother. His range with the uncle spreads to the mother, but he swears that he will not kill her but only speak harshly to her (3.3 line 415). The beckoning of Nero’s spirit shows that he would like the courage to kill his mother but his intelligence and principles warn him against such. However, his inability to kill her at the moment does not abscond her from the role she played in the murder of her husband so that she could enjoy the throne with his brother.
The sixth soliloquy shows Hamlet’s on stage with his uncle but the situation does not allow him to carry out the revenge. Hamlet engages the audience in the soliloquy as his uncle bends down in prayer (3.3 line 73). He expresses his concern that killing the uncle at the moment would not be appropriate as he would end up in heaven. Hamlet’s knows that he does not want his uncle to go to heaven as that would not amount to revenge, and therefore, he makes the wise decision of postponing the revenge. He further labels his uncle’s souls as black as hell, showing that nothing could come from him (3.3 lines 93 & 94). In fact, he perceives his uncle as the demon himself. The soliloquy shows an angry Hamlet who is almost getting impatient with his revenge. However, he realizes that the constructs of revenge involve seeing the uncle suffer and thus, he cannot kill him in the current situation. While the trait of anger is manifested in character, his principles are also emphasized. He is bent on revenge and therefore, he must administer revenge and not a direct ticket to heaven. He thus decides to take his time to carry out his revenge amidst a flaring temper.
Finally, the seventh soliloquy expresses his principles in both human purpose and the purpose of God in creation. He states that every man must live for a purpose, without which such man he may only be equated to an animal. He also reckons that God created each human with a purpose, which must be completed. Moreover, God bestowed great potential on each and therefore, he will strive to achieve his (Cornillon 35). Moreover, Hamlet considers Fortinbras army and admire its courage. While he is there wondering how his revenge will go and whether he will come out alive, the Army is forging forward to possible death without the batting of the eye. As the intelligent being he is, Hamlet decides to borrow from this example and carry out his revenge immediately. Waiting does not guarantee him an opportune time, and therefore he must act or else he will always live in cowardice. Towards the end of the soliloquy, he makes the resolve to make his revenge bloody regardless of what he faces (4.4 lines 68 & 69). He will fear no more for even when he dies; he will still have disseminated the revenge that he has been long yearning. As the soliloquy comes to an end, the audience sees an intelligent and principled Hamlet harboring great energy towards his imminent undertaking. The soliloquy has a way of making the audience believe that indeed it is about time that the revenge took place.
Conclusively, the various representations of Hamlet’s ideas in the seven Soliloquies in the tragedy lead to a better understanding of his character. They portray him as a principled and intelligent man who does not engage in any activity without think about it deeply. Further, it shows that the character is intent on making his principles on revenge and punishment count as he vows to revenge his father death when a ghost reveals the murderer as his uncle. From questioning his mother’s speed of moving on after his father’s death, conversing with the Ghost, setting the plot for his uncle, contemplating on to ‘be or not to be,’ all the way to the resolve to take actions, Hamlet’s decisions are full of wisdom and principles. The audience sees that the character rarely makes uninformed decisions hence his inherent characteristics as an intelligent and a principled leader. The use of the seven soliloquies by Shakespeare is not just to develop the plot of the tragedy but for ensuring that the audience understands the main character Hamlet and subsequently, understand his decision through the play.
Works Cited
Cornillon, Claire, William Shakespeare, and Carli Probet. Hamlet By William Shakespeare (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis And Reading Guide. [France]: BrightSummaries.com, 2015. Discovery eBooks. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Cox, Marian. Hamlet, William Shakespeare. Deddington: Hodder Education, 2011. Discovery eBooks. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Davies, Michael. Hamlet: Character Studies. A&C Black, 2008. Print.
Kinney, Arthur F. Hamlet: Critical Essays. Vol. 23. Routledge, 2013. Print.
Rana, Seema. “Hamlet’s ‘To be or not to be’ and Haider’s ‘Main rahoon ki main nahi’ an analysis.” Language In India 2016: 157. Literature Resource Center. Web. 8 Dec. 2016.
Shakespeare, William. “The Tragedy of Hamlet.” THE WARBURG INSTITUTE: Home, Methuen and Co., 1899, warburg-archive.sas.ac.uk/pdf/emh81b2456902.pdf.