The Use of Soliloquies in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

The Use of Soliloquies in William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Soliloquies are defined as "the act of talking to oneself". This

dramatic monologue gives the illusion of series of unspoken thoughts.

It is used by a character to reveal thoughts to the audience. They

will either be alone on the stage, or believe themselves to be alone.

The use of soliloquies was popular in Shakespeare's time.

A few of the characters in Hamlet use soliloquies, Hamlet frequently

uses them when he questions things that are going on, he speaks to

himself unaware people are listening in and they think he has gone

'mad.' Claudius also uses soliloquies throughout the play when he

needs to question himself what is going on.

Hamlet has many soliloquies throughout the play, one or more per act.

In act one scene ii, Hamlet reveals his death wish through a

soliloquy, "How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable seem to me all

the uses of the world!" He then protests against the sudden death of

his father and his mother's hasty marriage to his uncle in the same

soliloquy. His next major soliloquy is act one scene v where the ghost

of Hamlet tells of the regicide. The tale of the ghost Hamlet evokes

dramatic reaction within Hamlet's character. Knowing the murderer of

his father, Hamlet discharges the turbulent state of his mind in a

soliloquy. In act three scene iii Hamlet spares Claudius from his

blade because he is offering a prayer, and that Hamlet wishes Claudius

to die in a state of sin. His righteous yet procrastinating means is

justified in his soliloquy.

Claudius' soliloquies overall are shorter than Hamlets' and many are

just short thoughts but serve the purpose of a soliloquy. In his first

soliloquy in act three-scene iii, Claudius confesses to the murder of

Hamlet his brother. He is regretful because he cannot pray due to

guilt, he wants to repent but he does not have the chance. In act

four-scene iii he contradicts his previous soliloquy, as now he wants

his brothers son Hamlet to die as well, so he decides to send him to