Shakespeare's Use of Soliloquy To See Character's Thoughts in "Hamlet"

William Shakespeare uses the literary technique of the soliloquy to allow the audience to see deeper into his characters’ thoughts in his play, Hamlet. This technique helps to reveal Hamlet’s true character, expressing emotions that the audience cannot see through his interactions with other characters. Through Hamlet’s soliloquies, one may notice that his reluctance to take actions that involve death can be attributed to his fear of the unknown and his uncertainty in regards to afterlife.

Even though Hamlet seems ardent in his intentions of avenging his father’s death during his encounter with the Ghost, by the second act, Hamlet begins to doubt that the ghost was actually his father. While giving his soliloquy after he has seen the ghost, Hamlet even claims, “the spirit that I have seen may be the devil, and the devil hath power to assume a pleasing shape” (2.2.599-601). Hamlet had made a promise to the ghost that he would erase everything from his mind except for his plotting of Claudius’ murder. At this point, however, he is questioning whether the ghost is his father or the devil, which is a doubt that he will continue to have throughout the play. Hamlet suddenly feels that Claudius must be proven as the assassin of King Hamlet before Hamlet can take action. It is possible that Hamlet’s distrust in this ghost could be associated with his anxiety and confusion about the afterlife, which he reveals in his soliloquy in the third act in which he confesses, “the conscience does make cowards of us all.” (3.1.91) Hamlet is saying here that his conscience and his ability to question and observe situations can cause him to fear them. He also refers to the afterlife as “the undiscover'd country from whose bourn no travelle...

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...ffused with a luminous desperation” (Stampfer, 311). Hamlet uses his soliloquies as a method of discussing what he cannot handle and accept in his life. A side of him is revealed that is much weaker than the character that he appears to be around other characters. Hamlet seems to use his soliloquies as a way to relieve his stresses and worries to the audience, without appearing weak to his companions.

However, by the time that he is about to die, Hamlet seems to come to grips with death, which is revealed in his conversation with Horatio. Hamlet tells Horatio that he is going to take part in the fencing match, despite his doubts, because if God intended for him to die then he would die, and if not then he would live until his time had come. Hamlet is able to die with his fear of death ridden of him, for he is now ready to accept death instead of fearing it.