Dakota Foster

English 3

Hamlet or The Tradegy of Hamlet: Prince of Denmark is a play written by WIlliam Shakespeare back in the late-1500s. Shakespeare had written many plays and acts while he was alive, but the most famous and well-known one is Hamlet. There are many different parts of the play that are very well known like “To be or not to be” soliloquy by Hamlet. Some cases it can be very hard to understand his writing when first glanced at, in the following paragraphs we will be analyzing one of the soliloquies/monologues in Hamlet.In Shakespeare's plays, he very often uses exaggeration to get his thoughts across through his characters. Also, he likes to show how sophisticated he can by using very elaborate sentences that have to be interpreted. Sentences that have to be searched through, read over and over again to get the full meaning of the passage. These traits of Shakespeare’s writing can be identified in this scene. 

The following monologues takes place in Act 1, Scene 3 from lines 65 to 80.  Polonius is talking with his children, Ophelia and Laertes. These few lines are directed to Laertes. Laertes is the oldest and he is going to college. Laertes has a sort of reputation where could people would consider him a ‘manwhore’. Polonius is warned Laertes about what he should do with himself as he goes along on this journey of life. 

“Look thou character. 

Give thy thoughts no tongue, 

Nor any unproportioned act of his own

Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,

Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel;”

Polonius is telling his son that he should that he see what he can learn and be from other people. He shouldn’t pay attention to other people and be friendly to other people. Not to be mean to others and hold onto the friends that you find that are trustworthy. Shakespeare is using his knowledge that he found when he was growing up by putting him into Polonius. This is a thing that carries on to the people of today. These lessons and advice can be overheard from a parent to a child of today, sometimes the advice can sound different for what goes on today.  

“But do not dull thy palm with entertainment

Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware

Of entrance to a quarrel, but being in,

Bear't that the opposed may beware of thee.

Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice;”

Polonius continues to tell his son Laertes about don’t waste your time with every new guy that meets your path, but also don’t start fights. He says that if you do get into a fight that you should stand you ground and finish the fight. Then, he says listen to many different people but only give your voice to a few people. This advice can be really helpful to Laertes because since he is considered a ‘manwhore’, a lot of different people could try to pick fights with him. Polonius could also be saying this to Laertes because at this time his daughter Ophelia is with a person that Polonius doesn’t trust entirely. The person that Ophelia is with is known as Hamlet, the star of the play. Polonius doesn’t believe that Hamlet actually loves Ophelia, he thinks that Hamlet is just playing her for a fool. Polonius wants Ophelia to stop seeing Hamlet. Polonius is trying to avoid Laertes from getting into the same situation as Ophelia. 

“Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy,

But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy;

For the apparel oft proclaims the man,

And they in France of the best rank and station

Are of a most select and generous chief in that.”

The last part of some of the dialogue from Polonius can be translated to listen to everyone’s opinion but hold back your judgmental thoughts. Spend as much money as you have on clothing, but make sure they aren’t clothing that are to showy or gaudy because clothes make the man. France is basically the capital of where people are judged on their clothing and where they find a person is made by the clothes that they wear. 

In the end, Shakespeare had taken a regular conversation that happens in most families. This advice can be given to a daughter or a son when they are going anywhere way from home. The children could be going to college or just moving away. Shakespeare used his very kind and intelligent words to communicate a very simple idea in an elegant way, a thing that Shakespeare is known very well for. 

   As a matter of fact, you can see how upset Hamlet is in the beginning of his little speech when Hamlet says, "Go thee (to) a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?" Nunnery means a convent, a convent is a community where priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns gather and live together. All of the same sex. But also it could be used in a different manner, used to refer to brawdy house, brawdy house is a place or community where men can visit prostitutes.   He is basically referring that Ophelia is a prostitute, the love of his life of being a sinful and wrong woman. She should not birth any children, because if she does then there will be more people like her which are sinners in the world.

   Looking a little further down, Hamlet is speaking about himself, he says he himself is an "indifferent honest." It sounds like he flipping his words around when he is finished his thought, "but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne me." Hamlet is far from innocent or a person you could look up to a saint in the play he switches up his feelings. 

    One example is Act 1 Scene 5, when his two friends Horatio and Marcellus run back and inform him that they have seen and spoken to the ghost of his father. One night Hamlet stands watch with Horatio and Marcellus, and sees the ghost, which is his father. The ghost takes Hamlet away, to talk to him. He says that he was murdered by Claudius which is his brother, the new king. His father tries to convince Hamlet into murdering the new king of Denmark, step dad Claudius. 

"Murder?

Murder most foul and most unnatural murder.

But this most foul, strange, and unnatural." ( Lines 32-34)

"O, my prophetic soul! My uncle!

Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast." ( Lines 48-49)

The ghost Hamlet's fathers ghost is speaking about his brother, like an animal.

"So, uncle, there are you. Now to my word.

It is "adieu, adieu, remember me.

I have sworn't." (Lines 117-119)

The ending words are Hamlet saying goodbye goodbye, remember me. 

   Hamlet goes on throughout the disagreement with Ophelia in a different way. When he says to Ophelia "I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my back than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them space, or time to act them in." It sounds like Hamlet is speaking to Ophelia like he is in higher power. Like he is above her. He is saying that everyone messes up, and its normal. But somethings just cant be forgiven.

    As he continues in the talk with Ophelia he has a sudden change in character, "What should such fellows as I do crawling between earth and heaven? While Hamlet is saying this line, it sounds rather frustrated, like something is bothering him. Does it have to do with his father? The ghost? "We are arrant knaves (all;) believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where's your father?," are Hamlet's last few words said to Ophelia during the argument. Telling her to go and look back at her sins and see what she has done. 

   Hamlet is just one of Shakespeare's great works of art. Shakespeare uses his writings and plays to real life. The way it is written is what makes it so well known and read around the world. All throughout Hamlet, Shakespeare uses a language that sets off the tone of the play.

In the immortal work of the play writer Shakespeare, there is a play called Hamlet. Shakespeare decided that there should be several speeches that are very important to the story. There are also many things that help to contribute the importance of the story. Some depict a series of emotions that run through the characters. They help to explain more of what the individual character is feeling. The way that shakespeare decided to write the speeches is an excellent way to see the emotions coming off of the pages. 

One of the speeches that I decided to analyze is a speech given by one of the main characters Hamlet. He is going through a really rough time in his life with the passing of his father and the remarriage of his mother he gives off the most emotions through out the entire play. He has a lot of emotional and mental changes that we see through the writing of the speeches.With all that Hamlet is going through his mother and his uncle/stepfather are very worried about him and his abnormal behavior they decide to include some of Hamlet’s childhood friends to get the gist of what is going on. Hamlet gives a very emotional speech to his childhood friends.

In act two scene two of the play , the character Hamlet says “I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, an your secrecy to the King and Queen molt no feather I have of late, but wherefore I know not,lost all my mirth , foregone all customs of exercises, and indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air look you, this brave o’er-hanging firmament , this majestical roof, fretted with golden fire- why it appeareth nothing to me but foul and pestilent congregation of vapors.”(2.2)

The speech given here Hamlet is basically saying he has some suspicions of why they are visiting. Considering he hasn’t seen them in quite some time it is a little unusual for them to be there with him. He brings up the idea that they are there for the King and Queen (His mother and Uncle/Stepfather) to seek out information on why he has been acting so strange. He also says that he is feeling a little bit of betrayal that they have not been around for a long time and that they appeared all of a sudden  with the command from the king and queen. They have all of a sudden appeared and they have came with not good intentions. Hamlet showed a lot of emotions towards his childhood friends because he has been going through some things. He says he has not been the same. He doesn’t enjoy the same activities. He is not the same person. He doesn’t seem the think the same things are fun anymore and things just aren’t going as good as they could go for him. 

Ophelia and Hamlet are in an intense argument after Ophelia rejects the continuous of her relationship with Hamlet. Ophelia returning Hamlet his love letters was her way of rejecting his love. Of course Hamlet doesn’t take this well at all. He is outraged by her actions in fact. Hamlet and Ophelia begin to lock horns. 

In the first couple sentences, Hamlet ultimately dismantles Ophelia’s ego when he says, “Get thee (to) a nunnery. Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners?” A nunnery means convent (used mockingly to refer to brothel). Brothel, is a house where men can visit prostitutes. So, he refers to Ophelia, who is his lover, as a prostitutes; a sinful woman. As a sinful woman, she shouldn’t born any child because then there will only be more sinners in the world. 

When you are directed towards the third sentence, Hamlet says that he is an “indifferent honest”. To be indifferent honest, you are reasonably virtuous, meaning good. But, he sounds a bit contradicting as he finishes the sentence. After all, Hamlet hasn’t been the complete angel in the story so far. For example, In Act 1, Scene 5, Hamlet is confronted by his father’s ghost. The ghost tells Hamlet that he was murdered by the new king of Denmark, Claudius. He then tries to connivence Hamlet to seek revenge for him by killing Claudius. If he won’t kill Claudius for him, at least kill Claudius for Denmark:

“Oh, horrible, oh, horrible, most horrible!

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not.

Let not the royal bed of Denmark be

A couch for luxury and damnèd incest.

But howsoever thou pursuest this act,

Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive

Against thy mother aught. Leave her to heaven

And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge

To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once.

The glowworm shows the matin to be near,

And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire.

Adieu, adieu, adieu. Remember me.“ (Lines 78-91) 

Hamlet’s mind is set upon this and he responses to the naughty sin by saying,

I have sworn ’t.” (Lines 111-112) 

Hamlet goes on in a more reassuring way when he says to Ophelia, “I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious, with more offenses at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in.” It also seems as if Hamlet is trying to speck himself into higher spirits. He says that everyone has their fair share of flaws, but as long as a person can shape them into something good, then they’ll be fine. 

Oh, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown!—

The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, 

sword,

Th' expectancy and rose of the fair state,

The glass of fashion and the mould of form,

(III.I 163-167) 

Is the first few words Ophelia says in her soliloquy after Hamlet has left the room.  She states that he is not the same as before. His mind has been “o’erthrown” (163) meaning turned around, or taken over by something opposite of what he was before. She then starts to give the reader an idea of how Hamlet was before “The courtier’s, soldier’s, scholar’s, eye, tongue, sword, Th' expectancy and rose of the fair state, The glass of fashion and the mould of form,...” (164-167) She is saying that he was, a great role model, so strong, admirable, a gentleman, with a scholar’s wit. She is confused because he was all of these great and noble things and she does not understand what has happened to him. His whole great and romantic personality has went down the drain.

Th' observed of all observers, quite, quite down!

And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,

That sucked the honey of his music vows,

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason

Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;

(III.I 166-172)

Ophelia is continuing to express her feelings towards Hamlet’s “o’erthrown (163)” mind. “Th' observed of all observers, quite, quite down!

And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,” (166-169) She feels like his new attitude has hit her the hardest because they had a romantic connection with each other. She may feel that he has just let that all go and didn’t think about her at all. “That sucked the honey of his music vows, Now see that noble and most sovereign reason...” (170-171) Shakespeare is also a great man of metaphors and similes and many other figure of speeches. This sentence is a great example of a metaphor. Ophelia is comparing Hamlets new attitude to a music note that has lost its happy tune. She continues this thought by saying “Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;” (172) The tune now tune is harsh, instead of how it used to be which was sweet. I found it interesting how Shakespeare chose music notes to compare his attitude to. This shows how unpredictable Shakespeare’s plays are, none of his plays are hackneyed and they are all original.

That unmatched form and feature of blown youth

Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me,

T' have seen what I have seen, see what I see!

(173-175)

She concludes her thoughts by letting the readers know that he is not the same as he was when growing up, it is all ruined by the madness that is inside of him.” That unmatched form and feature of blown youth, Blasted with ecstasy...” She knows that this is not the Hamlet that was raised by the noble family. He has changed greatly and she does not like it. “Oh, woe is me, T' have seen what I have seen, see what I see!...” She is highly affected by his behavior. 

Shakespeare tries to communicate to the audience that she is upset throughout this whole soliloquy because he want to make it as real as possible. Personally, I believe he naturally goes above and beyond in his plays which makes him such a famous and remembered playwright. This soliloquy from Hamlet is a great mixture of Shakespeare’s style. It has emotions 

            Act 2, Scene 2: Lines 623-635

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players

Play something like the murder of my father

Before mine uncle. I’ll observe his looks.                           625

I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench,

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen

May be the devil, and the devil hath power

T' assume a pleasing shape. Yea, and perhaps

Out of my weakness and my melancholy,                           630

As he is very potent with such spirits,

Abuses me to damn me. I’ll have grounds

More relative than this. The play’s the thing

Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.

Shakespeare, I realized often likes to use exaggeration and he restates his thoughts for the play mainly throughout Hamlet’s soliloquies. This is a sophisticated and difficult strategy because Hamlet’s character throughout the play is not constant. His emotions and inner feelings for other characters change from scene to scene, however this is Shakespeare’s area of expertise and as always he succeeds in making the puzzle pieces fit together with skill and deftness. 

Hamlet still distraught over his fathers death, desperately wants to find the culprit behind his murder. Hamlet believing that his uncle Claudius, is the murderer wants to verify his suspicions. “For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak” (622). Because murder is an action that can not speak for itself, it can never be vocally expressed and Hamlet knows that Claudius will never admit through words that he killed the king,  therefore murder can only be seen. Either the action being committed itself or the admitting of the crime. At this part in the story Hamlet wants to find a way to test his uncle and see the face of the murderer. He believes that his suspicions will confirm the moment the crime speaks through his face expressions. 

Hamlet then formulates a plan to reveal his uncle’s crime. Shakespeare does a very exceptional job as he stirs up a really creative nature into Hamlet’s character in this scene of the play. Hamlet wants to lure his uncle into a trap without giving away his suspicions so he organizes the play. “With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players / Play something like the murder of my father / Before mine uncle.” (623-625). Again the language theme rises again as Shakespeare orchestrates a play with in a play. He fiddles with the idea that something very unexpected can happen very soon, thus building up the suspense as the audience craves for more knowledge.  

Hamlet knows that Claudius can not gain any information about the specifics behind the play. Because as a king of Denmark a minor play is very insignificant and is not of importance. At the end of Act 2, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz report back to Claudius, and they mention how their will be an extraordinary play being performed later by some players that were roaming around Denmark. Claudius is completely oblivious to the fact that Hamlet has an entire scheme in place behind this play. He thinks that the play is simply entertainment and it will get Hamlet’s mind off of other things such as his fathers death.

The following lines of Hamlet’s soliloquy is “I’ll observe his looks; / I’ll tent him to the quick. If he do blench, / I know my course.” (625-627). Shakespeare continues to make sure the young prince proves himself to be more brilliant as the scene progresses. Hamlet knows that the contents of the play will come as a big shock to the new King. So as stated in the line “I’ll tent him to the quick.” (626) Tent, means to investigate by drawing one into a trap. This is exactly what Hamlet believes his plan will do. Claudius does not expect the play to be about the King’s foul death. Claudius also is not aware of the fact that Hamlet will be keeping an eye on him during the performance, therefore he will not be able to compose his face of any emotions. So Hamlet decides to observe his uncle’s face throughout the performance. If Claudius flinches or make a sudden movement during the killing of the king then Hamlet will know if his plan was a success and if his suspicions about Clausius were accurate. Thus creating a new path for Hamlet to follow. 

Later in the soliloquy Shakespeare meddles with his use of words and allows the readers and audience to come up with their own predictions on what will happen and where Hamlet’s thoughts are leading to. “The spirit that I have seen / May be the devil, and the devil hath power / T' assume a pleasing shape.” (627-629). After looking at the kings face Hamlets will know if his uncle was the murderer or actually innocent for the death of the king. If he is innocent it will mean that the ghost of the king was actually the devil. Hamlet strongly states that The devil knows how to trick people by turning into someone that one loves and misses dearly just like Hamlet does his father. “Yea, and perhaps / Out of my weakness and my melancholy, / As he is very potent with such spirits, / Abuses me to damn me.” (629-632). At this point it comes to the attention of the readers and the audience that Hamlet may be going mad. He starts to doubt he ever saw the ghost of his father and that he mistook the devil for his father. Hamlet however admits that he is weak and depressed and it was his state of instability that lead the devil to take advantage of him. 

Hamlet ends his speech with the words “I’ll have grounds / More relative than this. The play’s the thing / Wherein I’ll catch the conscience of the king.” (632-634). The tone of the young prince suggests that play will give him more to work off of. He will have more proof and knowledge on whether to trust Claudius or not. At this point in his life all he cares about is the play. He feels it is crucial that he know more about Claudius’s thoughts.

Throughout this entire speech Shakespeare toys with language as he brings in a new setting to the story. The questions about trust and doubt come up as Hamlet devises his magnificent plan. Shakespeare switches gears to the prince confirming his suspicions instead of going along with fully trusting his ghost father’s words that Claudius killed the King. 

For anyone who has read Shakespeare, they know that love always has a conflict to go along with it. In the play Hamlet, the relationship between Ophelia and Hamlet is still questioned and complicated. Out of the entire play, there are scenes that show different feelings they have towards each other, along with fights and other characters opinions. In certain sections of the book, there are certain scene that have a deeper meaning to them. 

     In Act two, Scene one, Polonius tells Reynaldo that he has to go spy on Laertes because he has heard there has been some trouble. After, Ophelia comes rushing to her Father, Polonius, telling him that she has been frightened due to Hamlet’s actions that he presented to her while she was sewing. Ophelia’s talk with her father is significant for several reasons. One, It reveals Hamlet’s emotions and reactions for the first time since he has had his interactions with the ghost. It allows you to see how someone else sees him instead of him talking to himself. Secondly, it shows that Ophelia has obeyed her father by staying away from him just as she was told. 

    When Ophelia first enters to talk to her father she explains what happened while she was in her room. Her tone starts out as being frightened, but then starts to be almost happy that Hamlet came to see her, as well as curious as to how her father is going to react. “He falls to such perusal of my face, As he would draw it. Long stayed he so.” To me, Ophelia is saying he stared and focused on her face for such a long time that he could paint it like a picture. Hamlet was at loss for words and his actions are very confusing. If Hamlet had said what was actually wrong, it may have caused even more trouble for everyone.

     Polonius then says, “What said he?” Although, Hamlet never actually spoke to her. The whole time he was in there, his emotions were powerful enough that no words had to be spoken. Hamlet was also so full of emotion that he wasn’t able to get it out, and didn’t want to reveal his insanity. 

     “At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down.” Ophelia’s tone is scared, but also flattered that Hamlet is coming back to see her, and after Hamlet left, she was more confused because it was so unexpected. In these lines, Ophelia could also be mad at Hamlet because him coming to see her, this action can make it even harder to obey her father’s rules. Ophelia may start to form into Hamlet’s plan to feign insanity. She may be worried about him because he’s “missing” her and it’ll make him worse since she had to reject him.

    Overall, Hamlet has been having trouble treating Ophelia well because he almost sees all women as not good due to his mother marrying his uncle. Hamlet also has a hard time of seeing true love as a good thing, but Ophelia believes that he still loves her deeply.