The To Be Or Not To Be Soliloquy Analysed Essay

Shakespeare's Hamlet is one of the most familiar works of Renaissance literature. The drama of this play concerns problems as revealed through an individual family. The problems of society at large are seen through the eyes, actions and thoughts of members of that family. A ruler is holding power, and a great deal of the action is related to questions about the nature of that power. The general theme of the play deals with a society that is, or has already gone to pieces. What will be discussed today involves one of Hamlets favorite Soliloquies and how that affects his attitudes, thoughts, feelings and the reason for them at this point in the play. Some of the points that will be used to explain this quotation and its significance are Hamlet seeing himself as a coward because he keeps prolonging his duty to his father. He sees his life is meaningless and that he has no escape from the cowardice of choosing life over death or death over life; He is disillusioned with someone he loved and that ties in to the third point because Hamlet been disillusioned causes a little bit of Chaos in his mind and his Sanity therefore is questioned so the third point been his Sanity coming into question when looking at a lot of the actions he displayed which in turn lead to the speech to be or not to be and the fact that if he is really sane then he must have mood swings. The main question that should be asked in this play is what does the soliloquy reveal about Hamlets character, motivations, and beliefs? And the reply to this question leads to the thesis of this essay which is: The soliloquy shows Hamlets character, motivations, and beliefs because the audience sees how revenge has taken over him and influenced his views on life and death.

Hamlet sees himself as a coward because he keeps prolonging his duty to his father. He sees his life is meaningless and that he has no escape from the cowardice of choosing life over death or death over life. This was be seen in so many places in the play and in some of this places were the issue of him prolonging the death of his father is due to Misinterpretation and that lead to procastination. Misinterpretation plays a huge role on the outcome of the play in so many ways. The first example being when Claudius was in the Church Acts 3 Scene 3 lines 36 to 72 where Hamlet sees him. Hamlet thinks he is praying and the first time had the intention to do it but then he stops and starts thinking about him going to heaven and how the revenge would be payment and not punishment for the deed.

Acts 3 Scene 3 Lines 73- 79

Hamlet

Now might I do it pat, nowa is a praying

And now Ill do it

Draws his sword

And soa goes to heaven

Am so Im revengd. That would be scannd

A villain kills my father, and for that

I, his sole son, do this same villain send

To heaven

Why, this is salary not revenge.

Another form of misinterpretation can be seen in Acts 3 Scene 4 lines 20-29 where he kills Polonius from the curtain thinking it was Claudius. And from therein another Act Laertes Polonius son wants to take revenge for his fathers death. If he had common sense, he should have know that Claudius being the king is never without servants and guards with him and so he wouldnt have to shout for help but he would just send the people with him to help her.

Acts 3 Scene 4 lines 20-29

Queen

What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me?

Help, ho!

Polonius

[Behind the arras] What ho! Help!