Hamlet's Soliloquies - I

The peculiar feature of William Shakespeare's ‘Hamlet’ as a play is that it is characterized by five soliloquies, each one of them being spoken by Hamlet on different occasions. They lend to the character of Hamlet a different hue and make the play a philosophical one rather than a mere revenge play. Some critics like T.S. Eliot have pointed out that the soliloquies are a serious drawback of the play and manifest an excess of emotion improper to action.

D.H.Lawrence in his essay, ‘On Drama’ points out that Hamlet’s personality is in a state of disintegration, that is, his head, heart and hand do not work in unison but reflect Hamlet’s nature. Apart from this, we cannot conceive of his character.

The first soliloquy of Hamlet from Act I, scene ii is:

O, that this too too solid flesh would melt
Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,
Seem to me all the uses of this world!
Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,
That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature
Possess it merely. That it should come to this!
But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:
So excellent a king; that was, to this,
Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite had grown
By what it fed on: and yet, within a month--
Let me not think on't--Frailty, thy name is woman!--
A little month, or ere those shoes were old
With which she follow'd my poor father's body,
Like Niobe, all tears:--why she, even she--
O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,
Would have mourn'd longer--married with my uncle,
My father's brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules: within a month:
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
She married. O, most wicked speed, to post
With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
It is not nor it cannot come to good:
But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.

This soliloquy is a remarkable indication of the state of mind Hamlet is in. we have before us a simultaneous presentation of the present chaos and the past orderly conditions. The death of his father and over-hasty marriage of his mother creates a terror in his mind and he begins to contemplate committing suicide. But then as a true Christian he remembers he ought not to follow that urge and instead wishes that the Almighty had not made any law forbidding suicide. So we come to know that Hamlet is a true Christian at heart inspite of his education.

Hamlet is not able to reconcile himself to the hasty marriage of his mother; it had only been a month since his father died. Hamlet’s statement, “Frailty, thy name is woman!” sums up his views about women in general, to be analyzed in context of his shock experienced at his mother’s behaviour.

This soliloquy is a beginning of Hamlet’s journey towards self-understanding. He says “I must hold my tongue”, he clearly sees through the urgency of keeping quiet and maintaining his silence at this point of time. He needs to watch the situation to unfold itself, a deeper analysis would be required before coming to any conclusion as far as fixing the blame for his father’s murder on his uncle Claudius (whom now Hamlet’s mother has married) is concerned.

Grave Diggers Scene in 'Hamlet'

The Grave diggers scene (Act V, sc. i) in ‘Hamlet’ has been frequently called as a definitive final scene in Hamlet’s journey. According to F.T. Prince, it is the scene in which Hamlet finds his way after stumbling through a jungle of emotions.
The grave digger scene is divided into two parts; in the first part, Hamlet contemplates the morality of man as he watches the human skull being tossed from their sleepy graves by the grave diggers. The entry of Hamlet marks the second part of the scene. He exits his feigned madness when he is stared into the face by the reality of the death of Ophelia.
Having escaped death at the hands of robbers and from the King’s conspiracy to eliminate him Hamlet comes back an enlightened man. Part of his enlightenment comes from the fact that Hamlet is not bothered about his delay any more. He has understood that time past and time future are but the manifestations of the time present. He has realized the ultimate meaning of his destiny. The scene reveals a calm acceptance of his destiny on the part of Hamlet, hence, delays no longer matter to him. It is in this scene that it dawns upon him that he has lost his best loved person, Ophelia, when he had gone away.
When Hamlet comes to know that the grave of his friend Yorrick is being dug up to make place for his beloved, Hamlet’s behavior immediately reveals that a man of action has taken the place of a man of thoughts, contemplation and reflection.

Importance of Opening Scene of 'Hamlet'

As always, Shakespeare opens his tragedy with minor characters, who supply information about – the prevailing situation and the characters.
It is revealed that the state of Denmark is in a state of chaos and disorder. This disorder has been prevailing due to the political event of the death of elder Hamlet and also the preparations that are going on in the state against Norway. Then there is a private event – the disturbed state of mind of the Prince because of political and personal reasons. This sets the stage for the unfolding of the events.
The scene also brings the audience face to face with the supernatural. The audience gets curious to know about the ‘why’ of the ghost and reason for the political chaos.
It becomes apparent that Horatio is deeply attached to the Prince and would go to any lengths to protect him. Horatio appears before us as a man who has been torn apart by the sorrow of the Prince.

Hamlet's Madness

Hamlet’s madness has been one of the most discussed topics among critics. The groundlings of Elizabethan stage were demanding. They wanted to see something new being performed on the stage. During the Elizabethan age the society at such a stage that they were experiencing the after-effects of Renaissance. They were still in the process of realizing the immense potentialities of a human being. The abnormal conditions portrayed on stage were like the inner processes being unfolded in the front of their eyes. Another reason was the desire of the human beings to see something dramatic in front of them.
Hamlet’s feigned madness was like an outlet for his pent up emotions. I feel it is the crux of the play. He uses an abnormal condition to verify what a supernatural thing (ghost of his father) told him. He uses it as a tool and his aid. Hamlet’s ‘crafty madness’ provides him with a chance of observing other normal human beings.
Hamlet at one place comments:

“The time is out of joint . O cursed spite,
That I was ever born to set it right.”

This hints at the probability that Hamlet will be using his madness to set things right. But he doesn’t make an effort. According to Samuel Johnson, ‘Hamlet’ is, through the whole play, rather an instrument than an agent.” He doesn’t make an effort to kill his Uncle even after making sure of his guilt. Hamlet’s Uncle dies in circumstances which are not created by Hamlet himself.

Hamlet - "Had I but time...."

"Had I but time, -as this fell sergeant, death,
Is strict in his arrest, - O! I could tell you -
But let it be.."

The Shakespearean tragedy carves out the poignant and dramatic transformation of the character involved, the so-called protagonist. Hamlet had understood the truth of life but 'he didn't have time' to proclaim it to the world, so engrossed in committing the same blunders that he had. This realization of the truth of life dawns upon a human being when he has lived his life and death approaches, so he doesn't have the time to express.
But the unsaid words have a much deeper, long lasting and perpetual sort of impact on the reader. We, after reading the drama, emerge out as more refined human beings - refined in our sensibilities, refined in our outlook on life, refined in character and last but not the least refined in our minds.