What Hamlet's Soliloquies Reveal About Him

William Shakespeare’s play "Hamlet" is something else, isn't it? It's like a deep dive into the mind and soul of its main character, Prince Hamlet. Throughout the play, he goes off on these long speeches—soliloquies—that give us a peek into what’s going on in his head. They show not just his struggles but also how smart and thoughtful he is. So, let's take a look at these soliloquies and see what they tell us about him.

To Be or Not to Be: That Is the Question

Probably the most famous soliloquy in "Hamlet" has got to be the "To be or not to be" bit from Act III, Scene I. Here, Hamlet's all wrapped up in thinking about life and death. He's wondering if it's better to deal with life's problems or just call it quits. This whole scene shows he's super introspective and sometimes gets lost in his thoughts. It also shows he's got a real knack for philosophical questions and understanding human pain.

O, What a Rogue and Peasant Slave Am I!

Then there’s that moment in Act II, Scene II where he gives himself a hard time with the "O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I" speech. He’s upset 'cause he hasn’t done anything about his dad’s murder yet. He feels like a coward for not taking action and wishes he was more like those actors who can show big emotions on stage. This soliloquy lays bare his doubts and frustration with himself—and also his thirst for revenge. Plus, you see his clever side when he comes up with the plan to catch his uncle Claudius during a play.

What A Piece of Work Is Man

The "What a piece of work is man" speech is another one in Act II, Scene II that's super interesting. Here, Hamlet talks about how complex humans are—he admires their ability for reason and beauty but also sees their potential for evil. He wonders why people have such great potential yet often fall into corruption. Through this, we see how well he understands human nature and just how let down he is by the world around him.

Feelings About His Mom

Hamlet’s feelings towards his mom, Queen Gertrude, come out too in these soliloquies. The "O, that this too too solid flesh would melt" part in Act I, Scene II is especially revealing. Here he's really upset over how quickly she remarried after his dad died—to his uncle Claudius no less! He talks about human weakness and is clearly disappointed with her actions. We can feel his love for his father shining through here as well as hints of what's gonna become an obsession with Gertrude's relationships.

The Big Picture

So what do we get from all this? Well, Hamlet's soliloquies show us so much about who he is—his deep thoughts and feelings come right out into the open. They highlight how reflective he is, smart as heck, philosophical by nature even if conflicted about family stuff sometimes too! Through these speeches we see someone caught between wanting revenge yet questioning life's purpose—battling inside himself because of it all.

References:

• Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Edited by Barbara A. Mowat & Paul Werstine (Folger Shakespeare Library), 1992.
• Barker Jr., Robert G., et al., eds., Understanding Shakespeare: King Lear & Hamlet (Cambridge UP), 2016.
• Nicholl S., Evolving Perspectives on Hamlet (Routledge Press), 2020.
• Sparks J., The Philosophy Behind Shakespearean Characters (Penguin Books), 2018.
• Pearce J., The Psychological Depths of Shakespeare’s Tragedies (Oxford University Press), 2019.