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Example research essay topic: Act Iii Scene Scene Ii Lines - 1,963 words

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Shakespeare's Hamlet, simply stated, is a story in which the main character, young Hamlet, is on a mission to avenge the death of his father, which he realizes was caused by the hand of his uncle. The majority of the play is centered around Hamlets vengeance and the pain and suffering caused by it. From the moment Hamlet learns of his fathers untimely demise he puts on an air of insanity as a clever device used to secretly execute his revenge. This plan works great in the story, but unfortunately it creates a few clouds of doubt for the reader when trying to decipher Hamlets true feelings from those he is feigning.

When Shakespeare crafted this masterpiece he certainly understood that Hamlets ruse would evoke some confusion in the reader, so as a remedy he included a few important soliloquies that are able to cast away some of the clouds and reveal Hamlets inner conflicts and introspective attitude. The purpose of a soliloquy is to outline the thoughts and feelings of a certain character at a point in the play. It reveals the innermost beliefs of the character and offers an unbiased perspective, as it is merely the character talking to the audience, though not directly, and most often not to any other characters who may cause the character to withhold their true opinions. Only through the use of soliloquy is the reader is able to delve into Hamlet's hidden psyche and fully understand the feelings and motives behind Hamlets masked intent. Each of Hamlets soliloquies included in the play is slightly different, but at the same time are quite similar in that they all greatly enhance the play through wonderful use of vivid imagery and language. Three of these soliloquies in particular greatly aid the reader in understanding the emotions tucked beneath Hamlets face at crucial points in the story.

The first of Hamlets revealing soliloquies in the play can be found in Scene II of Act I and basically sets the stage for the rest of Hamlet's thoughts, feelings, and actions throughout the rest of the play. The primary function of this soliloquy is to reveal to the reader Hamlet's deep sadness and the reasons for his despair. This catharsis allows Hamlet to finally confront the reasons behind his sorrow by revealing his hatred of his mother's incestuous marriage to his uncle, Claudius, his low self-image, and his great respect and love for his father. Hamlet explains that everything in his world is either futile or contemptible.

The reader is able to see that Hamlet both hates Claudius and immensely idolizes his father at the same time, all the while being plagued by low self-image, which prevents him from taking action and contributes even more to his existing problems. In the beginning lines of this soliloquy Hamlet is even considering suicide: O that this too too supplied flesh would melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not find His canon 'gains self-slaughter! O God!

O God! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable, Seem to me all the uses of this world! (Act I, Scene II, Lines 129 - 134) Through these lines it becomes clear that Hamlet suffers from deep depression and has no control over the uses of the world. Hamlet later goes on to compare Denmark to an unneeded garden as a way to symbolize the corruption within his country that is rooted within Claudius and his incestuous marriage to Gertrude. Hamlet continues further and compares his father to Claudius and comments on the relationship between King Hamlet and Gertrude: So excellent a King that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother That he might not between the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth! (Act I, Scene II, Lines 139 - 142) It is important to note Hamlets use of the words Hyperion and satyr to denote his father and his uncle, respectively. Hyperion, the Titan god of light, represents honor, virtue, and regality all traits belonging to Hamlets father.

Satyrs, the half-human and half-beast companions of the wine-god Dionysus, represent lasciviousness and overindulgence all traits Hamlet believes are characteristic of Claudius. In Hamlet's eyes Claudius is a beast in comparison to the god-like features of his father. It comes as no surprise then that Hamlet develops a flavor of disgust for Claudius. Essentially this lays the foundation for Hamlet's vengeful intentions that are elaborated on in further detail later in the story. Hamlets speech continues and he comments on the loving relationship enjoyed by his parents, in disbelief of Gertrude's actions. He does not understand why his mother married Claudius in such haste, causing him a great amount of internal torment.

This leads Hamlet to make a generalization about all women when he screams, Frailty, thy name is woman! (146) The reader can see at this point that Hamlet is unable to separate his emotions from his rational being. Hamlet ends this soliloquy by resolving to do nothing for the time being. He has laid the foundation for the rest of the play, but he has also made a decision that will cause him more pain. The second revealing soliloquy in the play is found in Scene I of Act III and is quite possibly the most famous soliloquy from the play. This particular passage is extremely important because it is here that Hamlet reverts back to the depressed mood of the first soliloquy. Slightly earlier in the play Hamlet had made a plan of action, however, at the present point in the play, the reader is able to see that his thoughts have regressed.

Unlike the first of Hamlets soliloquies, this one seems to be guided more by reason and less by irrational, frenzied emotion. Unable to do little but wait for completion of his plan to catch the conscience of the king, Hamlet sparks an internal debate on the advantages and disadvantages of existence, and whether it is one's right to end his or her own life: Whether 'tis noble in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them? (Act III, Scene I, Lines 57 - 60) Hamlet asks the question for all souls -- is it nobler to live miserably or to end one's sorrows? The slings and arrows in the speech are the conflicts faced by Hamlet and the rest of the world, and he wonders whether one should suffer the burdens of society or take action against it. As the passage continues, Hamlet's thoughts continue to be about the contemplation of suicide as a solution to his problems: To die, to sleep; To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; For in that sleep what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, (Act III, Scene I, Lines 64 - 67) The rub or obstacle Hamlet faces is the fear of what dreams may come or more specifically the dread of something after death (78). Hamlet would like to die only if he can enter a state of oblivion in which he would not be able to dream. The mystery of what comes after death is what keeps Hamlet from committing suicide and what makes other go through life with all of its problems.

At the conclusion of this speech it seems that Hamlet is torn by his morals and his desire for revenge: Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sickle o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pitch and moment With this regard their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action (Act III, Scene I, Lines 83 - 88). With this passage in mind it is made clear to the reader why Hamlet has been incapable of action so far - he is still struggling with the righteousness of revenge. Hamlet's conscience is making him a coward by not allowing him to kill Claudius without knowing that his actions are completely justified. It is evident that his pale cast of thought has resulted in his inaction, and this is why Hamlet still finds himself in deeply troubled.

It is at this point in the play where Hamlet comes across as very noble. His inaction, for which he considers himself a coward, is seen by the reader as coming from a deeper source of morality and goodness. The third and final of Hamlets revealing soliloquies is located in Scene IV of Act IV and plays a very crucial role in the understanding of Hamlets character and basically concentrates further on the act of revenge that Hamlet must commit. First, Hamlet accuses himself of thinking too much, resulting with no action. He wishes to cast aside his bestial oblivion, yet he thinks his problem could be thinking to precisely on the event meaning that he doesnt know why he has yet to take advantage of the opportunity he has had to kill Claudius.

There is irony in that he continues to ponder why he has not done anything, as he concludes that he ponders too much. Hamlet finds himself envying the prince, even referring to him as a divine prince because he respects what Fortinbras is doing to honor his father and the drastically different approach he takes to avenge his death. Hamlet convinces himself that Fortinbras is fighting to protect his honor, although Hamlet has had basically no contact with Fortinbras and knows nothing of his true motives for going to war. Hamlet finds comfort in the idea of such conviction, however illogical, and so he focuses on the image of Fortinbras courageously leading his troupes. Even so, Hamlet also exhibits self-loathing in the process: Rightly to be great Is not to stir without great argument, But greatly to find quarrel in a straw When honour's at the stake. (Act IV, Scene IV, Lines 53 - 56) Hamlet despises the fact that he has not defended his family's honor. Thus, he decides to have only bloody thoughts, but, yet again, he comes back to his thoughts.

Throughout this last soliloquy he concentrated on action, but in the end his resolution is nothing more than to think. Hamlet reveals, again, that his subconscious conscience has not yet concluded that revenge is the answer, while he externally wishes for the bravery to commit to some action. In each of his soliloquies, Hamlet laments on his inability to act in response to his father's death. When he finally does take action, it is because he is forced to, as a result of plans that Claudius has made. From this speech the reader is able to infer that Hamlet is more of a scholar than a soldier.

He would much rather ponder the questions of life than fight for anything. However, he is still able to retain honor. As he compares himself to Fortinbras, he invokes pity from the reader because of his deep self-loathing and his innate goodness, which the reader realizes is why he takes so long to take action. The significance of the soliloquy for means of character development in Shakespeare's Hamlet is now clear and the genius on Shakespeare's part in making them so rich and detailed. Although not completely lost without them, his inclusion of the many soliloquies the found throughout the play allows the reader to learn a great deal about innermost thoughts and feelings of a character, possibly found no where else. Without the use of soliloquies in Hamlet, such as the timeless To be, or not to be speech, character development would have most likely suffered, and these speeches may not have stood the test of time.


Free research essays on topics related to: act iii scene, point in the play, scene i lines, scene ii lines, act i scene ii

Research essay sample on Act Iii Scene Scene Ii Lines

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