The purpose of a soliloquy is to outline the innermost thoughts of a certain character at a point in the play. These thoughts deal with the true feelings of a character and give insight into what a character is thinking about and how their mind works. It emphasizes the difference between a characters public appearance in contrast to their inner thoughts and desires. There are many instances throughout the play that the external appearance of things appears to be true when in reality it is the opposite. The actions others expect to see from Hamlet are constantly postponed through questioning, while he tries to obtain more knowledge about what he is currently pursuing; giving him two different roles behind his one character. He is portrayed as a “madman” by the other characters because he is unable to express his inner emotions and desires with those around him. However, Hamlet’s soliloquies enable the audience to capture his inner feelings and portray his character as cautious, indecisive, and contemplative, rather than mad. Hamlet’s soliloquies enable the audience to understand the meaning behind his actions. If it weren’t for his soliloquies, his true character would not be fully understood by anyone until hi
- (Shakespeare, Lines 547-604)
Hamlets first soliloquy is essential to the play because it highlights his inner conflict caused by the tragic events in the play (Coleridge). Hamlet endures pain and anger because of his father’s death and his mother’s incestuous remarriage, leading him to contemplate suicide for the first time in the play (Hazlitt). He reflects on the greatness of his father and the degrading actions of his mother. These circumstances have led him to believe that all women were morally weak. He expresses these feelings in Act One, Scene two.
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