Hamlet's Soliloquy

Paper Summary:

Hamlet's most famous soliloquy takes place within the first scene of Act III. The paper posits that this is the central point of the play and also sets the tone for the rest of the act. It is the first time within the play that Hamlet explores suicide and provides insight into his motivations (III.i.55-88). In this paper, the writer provides an analysis of the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia in Act III. It first explores the events that lead up to one of their most important conversations. Next, It focuses on the passage within Act III Scene i, within lines 90-160 and also how this passage relates to the play as a whole.

From the Paper:

"First, Act III opens with Hamlet's soliloquy in which he metaphorically obsesses with a personal dilemma that ponders within his mind. The scene opens with the line, "To be or not to be..." (III.i.55). Not only is this one of the most famous lines in English literature but this is the first time the audience is exposed to Hamlet's subconscious side. It causes the audience to sense that there is something mysterious about the words that speaks. Almost as if there is something hidden within his words that he never truly leave his mouth. The audience begins to get an impression that these things are going on within Hamlet's mind but he can not think about them directly. With this famous line, Hamlet may be questioning something along the lines of, "Should I kill myself or not." This could prove a connection to Ophelia seen later in the play when she is also believed to have suicidal thoughts. Starting in act 4, scene 5, line 42, Ophelia states: "Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be" (IV.v.43). It seems here that Ophelia begins to go mad herself."

More papers on Hamlet's Soliloquy:

• Comparison Essay # 52186 : "Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
• Book Review # 112827 : "Individuation and Language: Hamlet and Iago"
• Book Review # 95781 : "Shakespeare's "Hamlet"
• Analytical Essay # 6577 : "Hamlet's Voice"

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